The Amalfi Incident

A piece of flash fiction created for the prompt "Lemon". This was picked up and published in "Crossing Paths" ISBN 978-185929-155-9

The painted houses clinging to the hillside glare orange with the late-afternoon sun. It is almost impossible to look across the harbour without shielding your eyes. A single yacht tugs at its moorings and slowly, silently twists to meet the returning tide.

The man leans forward, elbows on knees and presses his manicured fingers together; he makes a steeple. He considers the shape for a few moments before looking to his right.

'It is good to see you again my friend.' He says. 'How many years is it?'

'You know exactly how many.'

The finger architect nods and agrees.

'Indeed' He says. 'I am paid to.'

He reaches towards the single, tall glass on the table between them and picks it up; ice cubes chatter merrily. He takes a sip and smiles.

'I could retire here.'

'I almost did.' Said the other man and then jolts twice before looking quizzically at the assassin, who is slowly pocketing a silenced pistol.

The limoncello goes back to the mosaic table with a click; condensation pools round the bottom of the glass. The killer stands.

He walks over and places a hat on the head of the dead man, tilting it over his silent, questioning face; the man is now merely sleeping off an afternoon drink.

Overhead a gull cries murder and wheels away up the Amalfi coast.

Reviews

[James Walpole]

Quite dark, took a turn i did not expect and i enjoyed that about it very much. Felt it could have done with an allusion to why the man killed the man? Just a thought, can appreciate that within the flash fiction genre there is a need to be concise and perhaps leaving things unsaid, but to get that in there i think would make it a fuller piece

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks James. It was hard to stay within the word limit for this piece, but I could flesh it out some now though. Appreciate your feedback.

[James Walpole]

No Worries :)