Detective Inspector (retired) Gideon often repeated stories from his days at Scotland Yard, but he was generous with drinks so the regulars at the Dog and Ferret put up with him.
‘A young girl became engaged to a young man,’ he declaimed, for he fancied himself as a Shakespearean actor. Harry’s eyes shot heavenwards. Here we go again, he thought, as he sipped the pint Gideon had just bought. I could recite this one meself.
The girl had changed her name. She told her fiancé but she didn’t tell him why. This would lead to tragedy.
Gideon sipped his whisky and continued, ‘He called unexpectedly on the girl and in her flat he found a postcard: ‘I’ll come and see you this morning. You have my love in spite of all that has happened, and we will try and forget the past.’
‘Our man was mad with jealousy and wanting revenge for his fiancée’s treachery, he hid himself in the flat and waited. An hour later the girl returned and was soon followed by a man. He immediately fell into her arms. Our man sprang from his hiding place and tearing the man from the girls’ embraces, he stabbed him three times. ‘Murderer,’ the girl cried, ‘You have killed my brother.’
‘Her brother had been just served two years’ jail and had been released the day he wrote the postcard. The two had changed their names in order to start afresh.’
Gideon waited for his audience to show their appreciation.
Words: Richard Rooney
Illustration: A.I.
Flash Fiction 250
Flash Fiction 250 