Written for Fandango’s Story Starter #227.
Here’s my story, using Fandango’s teaser,
“it was just for one night”.
Dario swore it was easy money. “Just watch the security monitors, man. Nothing ever happens at the storage facility.”
He was practically begging. I needed the money and it was just for one night so I agreed.
There I sat at 2 AM, eating stale chips and scrolling through my phone, when three cop cars raced in just as a white van screeched out of Unit #3; its rear door flew open, scattering dozens of boxes. Bootleg designer shoes and handbags spilled across the pavement.
Cop cars now had the entrance and exit ramps blocked; the van driver put it in reverse, smashing into my booth and sideswiping a cop car before finally coming to a stop. The guys in the van took off on foot but didn’t get very far.
The storage facility was taped off and I was hauled down to the cop shop to “answer a few questions”.
By 4 AM, I was giving my fifth statement to a detective who was convinced I was the man on the inside, the one who made it possible for the bootleggers to store their knockoffs in Unit #3 of the storage facility.
“For the fifth time” I tried to explain “I was doing my friend a favor by filling in for him.”
“Yeah, I heard your sob story before and it isn’t any more believable now than it was the first time” remarked the cop.
“Ask my friend; he’ll back me up” I suggested, feeling somewhat desperate.
The cop picked up a big black phone and slammed it on the table in front of me. “Consider this your one phone call.”
I called Dario. After a couple of strange beeps, a recording came on: “The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected.” I stared blankly at the phone.
The detective took the receiver out of my hand and placed it in the cradle. “Ok, pal. Let’s start from the beginning. Convince me that you and this mystery friend of yours aren’t up to your eyeballs in this bootlegging operation.”
And I couldn’t think of a damn thing to say.
NAR©2025
#FSS
This is “Off the Hook” by the Rolling Stones
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The Elephant's Trunk 
A betrayal 🥲
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I think the guy is screwed.
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