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Paid In Full: A Dirk Malone Story

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

light ~ cast ~ street ~ tickle ~ sensitive ~ view
cool ~ pigeon ~ dance ~ attract ~ evening ~ glow

Image by Me & ChatGPT

The neon sign cast a sickly light across the wet street as Dirk Malone pulled his collar up against the evening chill. The Blue Canary had been cool before the shooting; now it was ice cold.

“He was “sensitive” about his books …. didn’t want anybody sticking their nose in his business,” the widow told him, dabbing at eyes that never quite watered. Gloria de Carlo had a way of using a handkerchief like a weapon …. a slow dance of silk that didn’t hide much. The dame was a real looker and she knew it. Her husband, Sal, ran the club and, apparently, ran out of luck two nights back, a bullet finding its mark in the office behind the bar.

The albino busboy at the Blue Canary, name of Whitey Ziegler, was a chump …. a two bit stool pigeon who’d sing for a fin and a free lunch. “Piano man was in early that night,” Whitey murmured, pale thin lips barely moving. “Left his coat on the bench like he never left the room, know what I mean?”

The piano man was Lawrence Briggs, a smooth operator who could tickle the ivories and half the female clientele besides, if the gossip was to be believed. Malone found Briggs exactly where Whitey said he’d be …. sitting at the piano under a single bulb’s glow, running his fingers over the keys like they were his latest mistress.

“You attract a lot of attention, Briggs.”

“Occupational hazard.”

“So’s murder.”

Briggs’ hands stopped. Turned out Sal had caught him with Gloria a month back …. caught him and let it slide for a price. Last payment came due Tuesday night, paid in full in lead instead of cash.

Malone watched the cuffs go on, the club lights throwing shadows down that same wet street. The view never changed. Neither did people.

NAR©2026
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This is “The Piano Player” by Dave Sinclair

MLMM Monday Wordle #488

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

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