FF – Evidence
Here is my post for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. It’s another summer rerun so I’m rerunning my original story (with a couple of tiny twiddles), as I had a read earlier and quite liked it. It’s from January 2015. Dee Lovering requested this rerun and the photo was submitted by Georgia Koch.
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Copyright Georgia Koch
Franco’s friends (if it could be said that he had friends) were astonished when he joined “Save Our Barges”. An ex-mobster, charity was never his thing.
He chatted to the great and good, raised funds and worked tirelessly until at last he made it onto the charity’s board… until at last he was granted access to the Betty May.
The charity’s latest restoration project, the Betty May was locked away in dry dock, awaiting much-needed love and a tender touch.
That night the Betty May burnt down to ash. Some of Franco’s secrets were best left buried.
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draliman on life 
That’s a good way to cover your tracks.
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For sure!
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He fooled them all…once a mobster, always a monster?
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Ha! Yes, looks that way…
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There’s always more than one way to bury your secrets.
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There is. Fire always works!
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Good story, I like a little mob action 😉
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Thanks, me too!
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Indeed… best way not to go from ex-mob to con is to burn the evidence…
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Yep! And I bet this won’t be his last clean-up operation.
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Now I’ll be wondering what his secrets are all night!
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Only Franco will ever know… 🙂
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But I’m sure he got the cash out before the fire 🙂
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As long as the dead body hadn’t decomposed all over it… 🙂
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Oh! I remember this one…the Save Our Barges club is especially funny…
Sometimes it’s worthwhile to go back and read the old stuff with a different mind set going.
Ellespeth
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Yes, sometimes I’m surprised at how much I like some of the “older” stuff. And how many little tweaks they sometimes need!
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It’s all a rush to get challenge things out within a week. The fiction challenges, I mean. I cringe when I read my old fiction pieces.
I’d love to write a novel, though 😛
Ellespeth
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Me too. But I’m far too lazy 🙂
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Franco showing he hasnt changed his stripes. ❤
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Once a mobster… 🙂
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That was a long route to getting back to be able to cover his tracks. And a lot of story in 100 words – well done.
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Thanks! Yes, I can’t help thinking there was a quicker way…
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Brilliant story. I wonder what secrets he had buried there!
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Thanks! Sadly I guess we’ll never know 🙂
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Dear Ali,
So much for Franco’s altruism, eh? Good story. I liked the twist at the end..it made me smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I knew it was too good to be true! Some leopards never change their spots 🙂
I’m glad you liked it.
Ali
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Very intriguing. I want to know his secrets!
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Just a pile of ashes now 🙂
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He covered his tracks as well as committing a crime that can’t be traced back to him. Good writing, Ali. 🙂 — Suzanne
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He didn’t stay alive in the mobster game this long by being stupid!
I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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i would think a mobster could find a way to destroy the boat without being on the board. however, that wouldn’t make as much of a story, would it now? didn’t think so.
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I would have though so too, but that would indeed have been a pretty rubbish story 🙂
Maybe he enjoyed rubbing shoulders with a different sort of person for a while!
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or he needed to get close to be sure
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Wonderfully written. Especially loved the parenthetical “if it could be said that he had friends” and “chatted to the great and good”. Bravo!
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Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed my story and the phrasing 🙂
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An ex-mobster probably has a lot of secrets to bury! Great story!
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Yes, who knows what the barge restoration people might have found 🙂
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Hahaha!
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I live near a major river and most of our barges here already smell like they have a dead body (or 100) in them. No charity in their right mind would ever wish to restore them…
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Sounds like Franco’s stashed bodies on all the barges near you, too.
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Creepy! It kept me guessing to the end – knew something was up but not sure what!
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It was unreasonable to expect that Franco had turned over a new leaf – especially in one of my stories 🙂
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Oh, the poor ship, LOL. If anything, Franco is thorough. He doesn’t leave anything to coincidence. Fun story.
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He’s not one to leave any loose ends!
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Of course, there had to be a reason for his (mis)perceived largesse!!!
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Yep, Franco never does anything without a (nefarious) reason!
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I liked the line ‘(if it could be said that he had friends) ‘ as well. It gives an instant insight into his personality.
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Thanks. I’m guessing people in his line of “work” only really have acquaintances.
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I love the “Save Our Barges” idea. It actually brought a smile. Good way to cover one’s tracks, I’d say.
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I wonder if they actually exist somewhere? 🙂
There’s nothing better than fire to wipe out all evidence of wrongdoing.
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Franco definitely knows how to cover his tracks! A fun story, Ali. 🙂
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I’m thinking he’s had a lot of practice 🙂
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Charitable Franco knows how to tie up loose ends in style 🙂
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No half measures for Franco 🙂
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🙂
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Secrets that were worth burning artifacts????? How sad. But I am intrigued to know the secret!
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Me too. I bet it’s a biggie!
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I just knew Franco was up to something.
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His sudden change of heart was too good to be true!
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That’s what makes for good stories.
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What planning and patience he had, too. I can see why you’re happy with this one. Great story, Ali!
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Thanks! Yes, he’s a real advocate of the “long game”.
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Good re-run. Franco is a great, resonant name choice, too: either the evil dictator (Francisco) Franco or the new eldritch evil, James (Franco). Ha! 🙂
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I hadn’t thought of those guys but the name does work doesn’t it?
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Ah, nice! A little bit of mob-action, and some mystery. And ARRGH! I want to know what those secrets were!
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Everyone wants to know Franco’s secrets! Too bad he burned them all up heh heh 🙂
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