- Flux Magazine
"Left Holding the Bag" by Shelby Liddicoey
They rolled up in a black flivver in the rundown part of Illinois. The air was
clear and blue unlike the city around them. The tenements stood shoved together
with little run down vacant shops. She stepped out of the car from the passenger’s
side into the sea of trash and filth. She ignored whatever was scampering across her
foot as she made her way to the trunk of the car. The driver had already made his
way to the trunk by the time she got there.
“It’s too late,” he spoke harshly.
She nodded her agreement the he opened the trunk of the car secretly. Lying
in the trunk was everything they needed. She turned and looked at the old antique
shop next to them. They each grabbed one of the two new shiny Thompsons that lay
inside. He then closed the trunk hastily and she followed him inside.
The store was dreadfully empty and dirty. It felt almost abandoned. He made
his way to the back counter where the only fence able items were held. He slid over
the counter and opened the case as she watched for anyone returning to the store.
She studied him as he took a handful of diamond rings and inserted them into the
right inside pocket of his suit.
The store was the easiest hit they ever had, but then a man walked out of the
employee room just in time to see the couple walking out the door, and the case still
wide open. The man called after the couple, running outside.
“Thief!” The old man yelled after them.
The man turned around showing the Thompson clear as day. “Get back inside
Dapper, I don’t want to hurt you,” he snarled.
The old man at that moment launched himself at the thief. That was his
second mistake.