We burst into the ramshackle bar and look around sharply for any signs of danger.
“This is a raid. Scram!” my partner Joel shouts out, his voice filled with menace. They hear him and know that he’s willing to backup anything he says with his fists, or his gun.
So they scram.
Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding
And leave behind only the cowering owner, standing behind the bar counter.
We approach him at a lazy pace, stretching out the moment till it is taut as a garrote in the hands of a trained assassin, and show him our badges.
“You’re being shut down,” Joel drawls, “you’ve just served your last customers.”
“But I have all the papers…” the owner starts saying, when CRACK!…I slap him….hard.
He falls to the floor of his bar, but not before hitting his head on the counter.
Bleeding all over the floor, he whimpers, “I can pay you…”
Joel kicks him hard in the stomach.
The man coughs and splutters out blood.
I turn towards Joel and say, “Imagine his gall? Trying to bribe us….”
Joel scoffs and replies, “As if he could ever dream of matching what Bootleggers Inc. paid us for shutting down his licensed bar.”
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200 words.
Written in response to Sunday Photo Prompt, hosted by Susan Spaulding. The challenge is to write a story in 200 words or less, inspired by the weekly photo prompt. To read more stories inspired by this week’s prompt, click here.
jagahdilmein 
Tsk, these pesky law-abiding citizens trying to run a business. Who do they think they are?
Don’t worry, they’ve been put in their right place.
I like this one. The twist is startling, but not outrageous.
Thank you so much Ed. Just thought I’ll tone down my flights of fancy this time around 🙂
Ведь здесь нет времени для забот и трудностей.