Photo by: Barbara W. Beacham
Kidnappers
A body suddenly crashed through a plate glass window at the Brigadier’s house. An hour later, Detective Garibaldi arrived while Brigadier Yarborough cleaned his Colt Automatic.
“This is the fourth one you’ve killed this month!” whined Garibaldi. “How many can there be?”
“They’re everywhere on Cyprus, apparently,” grimaced Yarborough. His close-cropped hair revealed more salt than pepper. “I thought I could relax here!”
“But why is your wife targeted so often?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? They expect a rich American will pay.”
Just then, a stunning woman stepped onto the terrace. Her filmy nightgown hid little of her impressive curves.
“My wife, Evita,” said Yarborough, without a glance.
“Turkish?”
“I’m guessing they’re Chechen.”
Garibaldi wiped his mouth. “I mean your wife.”
“Oh. Armenian.”
Evita flipped a come-hither look over her shoulder and sauntered back inside.
“Excuse me,” grinned Garibaldi. “I must interview your wife.”
Yarborough watched him go. “They’ve even infiltrated the police?” he muttered.
Sighing, he loaded a fresh ammo clip.
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Every Monday it’s time to finish the story. This week, the line to start with is, “A body suddenly crashed through a plate glass window at the Brigadier’s house.” The photo prompt is a real beauty from Barbara W. Beacham. Look here for more stories answering the challenge! https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/mondays-finish-the-story-march-16th-2015/
EagleAye
Momus News 
An excellent story here Eric! I like how you wove in the wife into your tale with that look…Thanks again for participating and I look forward to what you come up with next week! Be well… ^..^
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Thanks so much, Barb! Glad you liked it. I’ll be here next week! 🙂
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Great! I look forward to what you come up with!
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LOL, they’re after his wife because she’s beautiful and not because he’s rich. Great story!
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Yep, and they pay more attention to her than he does. He’s a silly fool! A dangerous one too. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks much! 🙂
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He is a silly ol fool.
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You can’t trust anyone can you. Great tale loved it….
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Thank you kindly! 🙂
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So much for Detective Garibaldi. Too bad. He was a nice guy, when he wasn’t chasing after someone’s wife.
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I know. Unbeknownst to even Garibaldi, he joined the “conspiracy” to kidnap Yarborough’s wife. Too bad he’s unable to defend himself from the grave. I suspect Yarborough’s paranoia will keep him out of jail for much longer.
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What a shame that Detective Garibaldi’s going to find out too late that nobody wanted to kidnap her… And I wonder if the Brigadier knows what’s going on and uses the kidnapping story as an excuse to his wife’s suitors. Good job 🙂
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That’s the thing I found most interesting about this story. You can take it two ways. One is deliberately making an excuse to kill, the other is, he’s honestly completely oblivious to what’s really happening. This is the way the reader gets to finish the story. You get to decide what Yarborough’s true motivation is. Is he a serial killer, or an idiot?
Thanks much for stopping in. Great comments. 🙂
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I love flash fiction that leaves the outcome to the reader… For me, he’s a serial killer.
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Hahaha..tragi-comedy through and through!
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Thank you so much! I appreciate that. 🙂
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I think he’s an idiot. One too many whacks on the head with swagger-sticks at Sandhurst all those years ago. Perhaps too many Pims at regimental soirees. But either way, the Brigadier obviously thinks the threat is pukka. Jolly good story, old chap 😀
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Haha! Perhaps too many pints at the Dog & Duck Pub and too many blows to the head while starting fights there. I mean, his gorgeous wife is wandering around in lingerie, and he’s more interested in cleaning his gun. Priorities, Man! Priorities! If he’s seeing pukkas then he’s definitely out to lunch. He starts seeing talking rabbits, it’s time for the men in white uniforms to pick him up! Glad you enjoyed the story. Thank kindly, Lyn! 🙂
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Now who came up with the kidnappers theory, that’s what I want to know? Excellent story 😀
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It’s purely the idea of the Brigadier. He commanded an artillery battalion of the big guns (155mm). The huge guns can addle a man’s brain if he works around them for too long. Glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks kindly! 🙂
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This is clearly a descrption of the hunting shooting and fishing classes~ Taking more noice of the old trout
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Pardon that partial error ridden escapee post Eric ~ I was going on to say ~ Taking more notice of the old trout than the young filly and eliminating any signs of competition out of possesiveness ~ Well written ~ 🙂
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Hehe. Sometimes they get away from us. No worries! Yeah, Yarborough seriously has it all backwards. Maybe if he paid more attention to his wife, he wouldn’t have to shoot so many “kidnappers!” Thanks so much, John! 🙂
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I wonder whether any of the dead men were trying to kidnap his wife! That brigadier seems rather paranoid to me. 🙂 Great story.
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Yup. He’s paranoid and not even close to thinking straight. His wife has needs and he’s not trying hard enough to fill them. And no, no one is trying to kidnap her. They’re trying to “grab” something else entirely. 😉 Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you much! 🙂
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A beautiful wife can cause serious problems, especially if she has appetites the husband can’t fulfill. You’ve depicted her so well, flashing her ‘come hither look’ while wearing a ‘filmy nightgown’. A great scene. 🙂
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Yes, she can. I lucked out. I made sure my beautiful wife was beautiful on the “inside” as well as the outside. 🙂 I wanted to spend more time describing the wife in the story, but I was dedicated to sticking to the word limit. I’m glad the parts I included were good enough. Thanks so much! 🙂
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Word limits are definitely a nuisance!
We’re forced to leave out so much of what we think is ‘good stuff’. Your story worked very well as it was. 🙂
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Hmmm… this could continue.
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Yeah, until they give Yarborough a psych exam. He might end up having to leave Cyprus.
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haha–there’s all sorts of trouble going on here! I’ve been listening to the Evita soundtrack again lately, so of course, part of mind went there–interesting story!
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Oh yes. Yarborough and Evita are a deadly duo that’ve put 5 men in their graves, so far. Together, they are serious trouble. Thanks so much, Emily. 🙂
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Ha, the hapless fool…
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That’s what I’m thinking. It’s going to bite him in the butt one day. He’s not the one with a gun…
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My mind works in strange ways. I wondered if it was the case she lured them in, then her husband shot them. A serial killer duo.
Loved your story. Some people just shouldn’t have guns.
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There’s plenty of room for interpretation in this story. That view isn’t so strange, actually. After four “suitors” killed, you’d think she’d be more discreet. She has to know what’s coming yet she’s still looking for more. Maybe she secretly enjoys seeing them killed? She may be no better than the husband! Glad you enjoyed the story, and thank you kindly. 🙂
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She’s a good woman to stay away from. The general may end up killing half the population. Well done, Eric. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Seriously. She’s like the bait in a deadly trap. Young men, stay back! Hehe. Thanks Suzanne! 🙂
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