Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.
As the others go off to sleep, Vinnie and Ethan and Uncle Benny decide to do a perimeter check, just to make sure everything is safe and secure. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Bad Karma and the Family Plan. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
The temperature had dropped a little as the three of
us filed down the porch stairs, careful to be quiet in deference to those
sleeping inside.
“Let’s go this way.” Ethan nodded toward one side of
the house, and we followed his head, eyeing our surroundings very carefully. I
knew agents were watching our every movements. Sure enough, Anderson’s ring
tone sounded from Ethan’s phone. He quickly answered and explained what we were
doing and then hung up. Good to know someone was concerned enough to find out if
everything was kosher.
“I see you’ve been a good influence on Joe,” Benny
commented. “The old Joe would have thrown me out of his house as soon as look
at me.”
“He has softened a little,” Ethan admitted. He
stopped to face his uncle. “I think the real credit goes to Vinnie, though, for
not putting up with his nonsense and having the nerve to tell him the truth.”
I felt my cheeks warm as Benny reached out his hand
and took mine in his. “Thank you, Vinnie. For myself and for my sister. I know
things have gotten much better for her too, and she isn’t putting up with his
shit anymore either.”
“That’s for sure.” Ethan chuckled and we followed
suit. Our laughter was cut short by a sharp snap, such as the sound of a
breaking twig. We froze in place. I tried to gauge which way the sound had come
from, searching for the telltale gleam of a rifle scope. But the next moment,
something small and furry hared across the yard and we relaxed, laughing
nervously.
We made our careful way around the outside of the
house, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. The only sounds were typical
nighttime noises, such as a faraway train whistle, distant traffic, and an
occasional bird call. I was in no hurry to go back inside, and I got the
impression neither were Ethan and Benny. Maybe if we gave him enough time, Joey
would be asleep before we did, and we wouldn’t have to deal with his sorry ass.
Once we made a complete circuit of the house and
found nothing amiss, we took seats on the porch steps. Well, Ethan and I did.
Benny chose to stand, leaning against the stair rail.
“So, you guys are actually in a movie? With Troy
McGarrett?” He sounded more than a little amused. I couldn’t blame him. We were
undercover agents, not Hollywood stars. I would find the situation amusing
myself if I didn’t know the circumstances under which our stint as actors
occurred. “I bet there’s a heck of a story there.”
Ethan reached for my hand and squeezed it as I bit
back the groan that tried to escape me. The only good thing that came out of
that story was our meeting and becoming friends with Troy. “Fine.” I sighed
dramatically, well aware of my diva-ish behavior. Not that I really thought he
needed my permission to tell our story.
Before Ethan had a change to begin the tale, though,
I thought I heard a scratching from the front door, followed by a faint yip. I
knew right away who that was. I hurriedly got up from the steps and hastened to
the front door. Opening it softly, I released our puppy, who was very happy to
see me. I bent down and lifted him into my arms, then resumed my seat on the
steps beside Ethan.
“Think he needs to go?” Ethan asked.
Duh, I should have realized that. I kissed his
little head and set him down. He headed straight down the steps to the nearest
flower bed, did his business and ran straight back to me. I guess that answered
that question. Ethan reached over and ruffled Benny’s fur. He yapped his
appreciation as he settled comfortably against me.
If I thought that interruption would interrupt our
tale, I was sadly mistaken.
to be continued
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