Short Stories to Entertain

The short delay entering through the glass revolving door gave those interested an excellent opportunity to view and assess visitors to the five-star luxury Grand Hotel prominently located on the cliff top overlooking the sea. He is sitting, chuckling, in the expansive foyer on an uncomfortable but clearly expensive blue satin reproduction Fauteuil chair. The position is particularly suitable as it offers the best view of the main entrance. And there is that stocky inconspicuous man again, i n the dark blue suit and dark glasses going past outside. This is the second time, though until now he has not looked in. A good-looking man carrying a dark brown attache case neatly dressed in an expensive grey suit and blue tie pushes through the door, dodges the lady in the red dress in a state of confusion, and sits down next to him.

“ What’s it to be tonight then? Fish? Pie? Chicken?”   “Breaded plaice, please sweetie and large chips. And some scraps if you’ve got any.”   “Wait. I almost forgot. There’s a note for you. A man came in last night and said, “Do you know Freddie Doogan ?” I nodded and he gave me this. "Freddie Doogan is a guy mixed up with all sorts. He drifts happily between the legal and illegal depending on how much is involved and how much of that he can retain . Just about made it to forty so has seen his way round the block a few times and still manages to stay out of the constabulary’s clutches. Prides himself on being careful. “I’m still enjoying my freedom because I always check the already checked.” He will say. Grew up in the slums that back onto the railwa y line next to the old coal yard so is well versed in street law.  

He had been waiting on the corner for exactly twenty-four minutes. He knew that, the clock on the High Street tower said so. Ten o’clock precisely had been his arrival time. The bottom left-hand pocket of his dark blue Mackinaw was feeling bulky and catching against his hip. The pocket flap is loose. Standing there trying to look innocent but feeling conspicuous, just waiting and wondering if she would turn up. There was that car again. The same one, third time. The black Audi R4 with red wheels, the two men both not looking but still seeing. At least that was the impression or was it simply his imagination deciphering innocence as something sinister. Tapped quick dial. Straight to voicemail.