Thomas Diehl is the readers’ choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge.
The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.
Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
.
Delayed Vengeance
by Thomas Diehl
Carl’s wife went back into the bar, willing to give in to the illusion shrimp cocktails were fresher on a ship. He himself decided to give in to his instincts to just slump on the railing. Simple joys.
To his right, a woman did the same. She looked oddly familiar to Carl, an impression soon confirmed by her words.
“That must be Margie. Heard of her.”
“Yes. And you are?”
“Cassie.” That name in that voice had a familiar sound to it, though hardly more.
“I remember that name. Sorry, it’s been a while.”
“No problem, you meet and forget a lot of people in your line of work, don’t you? Part of the job I guess. But you’ve retired now, I hear.”
“Yes, I have.”
“Nice pension, too, by your choice of ship. Really good. Enjoy your trip, you earned this”, she finished, slipping him a note and leaving just as Margie came back with a plate of mixed fish and seafood snacks.
“Who was that?” she asked glancing back.
“Don’t know, somebody I must have met on duty. She seemed to know who I was.”
“Aren’t we here to leave that behind for a few weeks?”
“Yeah, I’ll keep my distance from anything reminding me.”
“Good, you deserve peace and quiet. Try the carp rolls.”
He decided not to mention carp were freshwater fish and took the opportunity to read Cassie’s note. “Glad to see you can afford college. Your daughter would really like to go.”
Awesome, I didn’t actually expect to win with this being so far out of my comfort zone (you made me write contemporary fiction 😉 ). Thanks and a tip of the hat to the wonderful competition, some very nice work this last week.