PHOTO PROMPT © Kent Bonham
Paul finished pumping his gas and disappeared inside the shop to pay. Cash. Always cash.
When he stepped outside again, the trunk of his car stood open. His eyes calmly swept the area. There. Huddled in the arms of a trucker. He smirked and made a beeline for the girl. The trucker stepped between them.
“Hold it right there, buddy,” the hulking man said.
Paul pulled the gun tucked in his belt and put a bullet between the trucker’s eyes at point blank range.
“His death is on you,” he told her as he shoved her back into the trunk.
—
Paul is not a good man. Or maybe there is more to his story with this particular girl. Perhaps he is only doing what is necessary. Only time will tell I suppose.
Written for Friday Fictioneers.
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Adam Ickes 
July 19th, 2017 at 10:21 PM
I hate to “Like” this violence, but you tell a captivating story — pardon the pun. Hope the police catch up to him real soon.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:18 AM
Thank you. Glad you “liked” it.
July 20th, 2017 at 3:17 AM
Short and savage.
July 20th, 2017 at 3:22 AM
I find myself echoing Christine Goodnough above. Hmm 🤔 Thank you for evoking a curios response in me. Sign of a good writer, me thinks.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:19 AM
Glad I could evoke a curious response. I’m never sure how my stories will be received.
July 20th, 2017 at 3:38 AM
It is never necessary to kill someone – unless they are hurting you – like this guy Paul. What a complete creep! Nevertheless the story is wonderful! Nan
July 24th, 2017 at 6:21 AM
Paul seems to disagree with you. I don’t, but as I said: Paul is not a good person.
July 20th, 2017 at 4:25 AM
I’m leaning towards Paul not being a “good man”. I like how calm he was when he realised she had escaped. Very self-assured.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:22 AM
Probably a good direction to lean.
July 20th, 2017 at 10:29 AM
Dude didn’t mess around, did he? Super power job, there, Adam!
I’m curious, though. The last line says “trunk” but was it supposed to be “truck” instead? Either way, it’s obviously a done deal on Paul’s part.
July 21st, 2017 at 5:50 AM
He was holding her captive in the trunk of his car.
July 21st, 2017 at 9:07 AM
That’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:16 AM
As Rochelle said, he was transporting her in the trunk. Strangely enough, when I first wrote it, I accidentally put truck instead of trunk.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:58 AM
Well, just making sure, which is fine. It’s happened to me before.
July 20th, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Brutal. Always good to get a shock once in a while. Liked it.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:22 AM
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
July 20th, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Not what I expected. Kind of terrifying. I hope the girl gets away…
July 24th, 2017 at 6:24 AM
I don’t, but I’m privy to more information about her. Paul is not a good man, but I think the girl may be worse.
July 21st, 2017 at 5:52 AM
Dear Adam,
This feels like a scene from a longer, terrifying work. You’ve got my attention. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
July 24th, 2017 at 6:25 AM
It wasn’t meant to be anything longer, but I feel the same way. Sometimes the story just doesn’t want to be contained.
July 21st, 2017 at 11:23 AM
I gotta see more before I can come up with a conclusion. Please make this a longer entry, eventually! Well done!
July 24th, 2017 at 6:27 AM
Glad to see I’ve gained your interest. I’ve got some ideas about turning it into a longer piece. Whether that ever happens or not remains to be seen.
July 22nd, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Great writing. And no, Paul is not a good man.
July 23rd, 2017 at 6:56 PM
I have to think Paul is not a nice man. Killing the trucker was not exactly the sign of a good guy, unless the trucker wasn’t *really* a trucker. Very taut. Well done.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:29 AM
I don’t think he’s a good man either, but you’re questioning the wrong person. The trucker was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s the girl you should be asking yourself about. Is she a good person? And why was she in that trunk in the first place?
July 24th, 2017 at 11:44 AM
You’re right. You never can trust women who just go and crawl into your trunk! What’s up with that?