Dead men tell no lies

PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

The human body is capable of amazing things. Contortion is one. Bending with extreme flexibility. Just like Jimmy was now, crumpled into a lobster trap. Except that John had to break Jimmy’s legs at the knees to get it to fit. His face was blank and slack. Nothing left  of the shock that twisted his features looking down the barrel of John’s gun. Six bullets fired into his chest.

Now, pushing the trap off the boat into the water, John felt nothing of the cold shock that seeped into him when he found out Jimmy had betrayed him.

98 words

Brought back an old character from one of last year’s flash fiction, John the Baptist. Organised crime boss and ruthless with his enemies.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by author Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

Click the icon to read more flash fiction by other amazing writers. It is amazing to see the different stories and genre’s that an image can prompt. I’ll be impressed if this image courtesy of Liz Young inspires any romance stories!

Responses

  1. neilmacdon avatar
    neilmacdon

    I like it that he felt cold shock initially

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    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Me too. Proves he’s human too beneath that ruthless exterior.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. StuHN avatar
    StuHN

    Lou Graboski is swimming with the fishes as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Alice Audrey avatar
    Alice Audrey

    That was a pretty brutal death.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      John is vile, don’t get on his bad side!

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      1. Alice Audrey avatar
        Alice Audrey

        For sure!

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  4. Iain Kelly avatar
    Iain Kelly

    Ruthless way to dispatch an enemy, with just a hint of humanity that might save him.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Maybe that energy can be channelled for better things instead of a life of crime.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. rochellewisoff avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Fatima,

    I suspect there’s a lot more to that story. Good one.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      The backstory is they were long time business partners in crime, perhaps even going back to childhood friendship. For some reason, Jimmy sold John out and partnered up with his enemies. This is how he dealt with it.

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  6. pennygadd51 avatar
    pennygadd51

    Rapid fire, brutal action there, Fatima. I wonder how Jimmy had betrayed John?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Penny! John is vile and brutal and glad it showed. I imagined the two men were longtime business partners in crime, perhaps stemming from a childhood friendship forged in rough times. For some reason, Jimmy left John in the lurch and partnered up with his enemies. Maybe a deal going wrong? Something big enough to push Jimmy into betrayal.

      Liked by 1 person

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  7. Dale avatar
    Dale

    At least he feels something… but Jimmy must have done something more than serious…

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      I could only hint at the emotions that suggest the backstory. Jimmy betrayed a long time friend, criminal business partner and joined forces with John’s enemies. Something big must have caused Jimmy to betray an old friend in this way. John dealt with it in his usual violent way.

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. theministryofshrawleywalks avatar
    theministryofshrawleywalks

    God thats horrible, but brilliant, made me go oooogh

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      ha ha! thank you for reading!

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  9. 4963andypop avatar
    4963andypop

    Such an innocent lead-in, fatima,to a tale that is anything but a trip to the circus! John may feel little now, but i expect Jimmy feels even less…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Oh Jimmy feels nothing now that’s for sure. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. anuragbakhshi avatar
    anuragbakhshi

    Now I wonder what he had done to deserve this brutal ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      A betrayal of an old friend and criminal business partner who not only cheated you out of a huge deal, but joined forces with your enemies is a lot to handle (That’s the backstory I imagined). John did it in his usual violent way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. granonine avatar
    granonine

    Cold shock. Chilling, for sure.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Ice ice baby! Was aiming for sub zero temperatures here. Thanks Granonine 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Dahlia avatar
    Dahlia

    This was chilling more so because of the matter of fact detached tone. Nicely done.

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  13. lisarey1990 avatar
    lisarey1990

    So much story in so few words. A great job!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Lisa!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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