YOU ONLY DEFECT ONCE
~ By Chris Rhatigan
The cop said: "We have enough on you for petty larceny. You tell us about Anthony, we'll take that into consideration."
Otis sipped the shitty coffee. Other than that, he kept his mouth shut.
He got five years for burglary.
The day he was released, Anthony called him. Said he had been convinced Otis would rat him out.
Said he could make it up to him -- job he needed Otis on with a big payoff.
They met and Anthony opened his arms.
"No hard feelings, right bro?"
Otis took a gun from his jacket. Shot him til the gun went click.
© 2011 ~ Author CHRIS RHATIGAN
another DEBUT ~ AT THE BIJOU
Absolutely*Kate: That's another reason I dubbed him Rat-a-tat Rhatigan. Chris can gun 100 words to shoot a gazillion places, and damn -- I really like the guy. Doesn't everyone love Chris?
 |
| International dapper NOIR Author, NIGEL BIRD |
Author Nigel Bird: Kate?
Absolutely*Kate: Yes, sage Nige?
Nigel Bird: Would you mind
if I took over the show? Seems everyone's getting in the act AT THE BIJOU. Great things you're doing here - I'm really very impressed. I hope you already knew.
Absolutely*Kate: This is why we call it "show-stopping", on our side of the pond, good sir. Do proceed, and thanks. Authors taking Authors the higher is so what it's all about.
Chris Rhatigan.Soon as I saw Death By Killing I knew I liked the guy.
Straight and to the point and bigging up short-stories in a way that they deserve with reviews and recommendations to send me all over the web.
So we got to know each other.
Wasn’t long until he was leading me astray into the world of peer-editing over at Crimefic-Writers. He didn’t tell me how he managed to get such a great bunch together, and I don’t need to know.
Next he took over working at All Due Respect. It’s a perfect home.
Pulp Ink kind of evolved. I suspect neither Chris nor I had the confidence to go it alone, so we did it together. The man’s incredible. Yes, indeed.
He was like a surfer, gliding over the tops of difficulties that arose and keeping a cool, level head when the storm-clouds grew. If I were in the trenches of some crazy war, I’d ask him to come along and take my side.
The man has eagle eyes. Can spot a mistake from 100 yards. Sees an error in point of view from a mile off.
He’s got a super sense of smell. Could sniff out an unnecessary line or word in a French cheese-maker’s.
There’s a brain in the man the size of the Mekon’s, only it’s squashed in to allow him to keep his good looks.
By rights, with a brain like that, there shouldn’t be any room for any other vital organs, but you should see what he’s got under the hood. A heart the size of a buffalo for starters.
It’s like that ‘When God was giving out...’ unfairnessness that happens.
Worse, he combines the two to produce some of the finest writing you’ll come across – unfair from a man of such tender years – and he can put something down to fit any genre you ask him about.
Absolutely*Kate: That I know Nigel.
I asked for NOIR and he slip'slid this gem
quick as a gunner on a spree under my door in the night.
No witnesses, all tough guy star quality. But Chris, has heart, right? Everybody loves Rat-a-tat Rhatigan.
 |
| CLICK LINK in text to the right Better yet ~ BUY THE BOOK! |
Apart from romance. That he leaves for real life. He got married in the summer, a low key bond of love (and still managed to get Pulp Ink out on time!).
Talking of love, I do love the guy. He’s a model to follow, yet they broke the mould (damn the mould-carriers).
It’s not long until he finishes his studies. Joins my own noble profession of teaching. Maybe he’ll disappear for a while with his good wife, Thailand maybe, or Vietnam. Do a bit of educating there.
One thing I know. If Chris Rhatigan were teaching my kids, I’d be doing cartwheels and jumping-jacks.
Rat-a-tat, Rat-a-tat. The Fred Astaire of the keyboard. Listen:
Rat-a-tat
Rat-a-tat
Rat-a-tat
I heard it Nigel.
I heard it Kate, absolutely.
I'm still listening Chris.
Best BIJOU regards.
 |
| NOIRtorious AUTHORS Every other day that's NOIRvember |
Yeah, youse guys. I heard it too.
November
Goes
AT THE BIJOU
Be there
or be square Bub.
Talkin to you too, Toots.
Curtain
rises on:
C L I C K show LINKS below:
By ~ KEVIN MICHAELS
BIJOU cup o'Joe
JOSEPH GRANT
BIJOU DEBUT!
AJ HAYES
ABSOLUTELY*KATE, BOGEY & PALLY PRODUCTIONS
"NOVEMBER GOES NOIR, AT THE BIJOU"
Special BIJOU Thanks to lasting stars Marlena Dietrich and Fred Astaire.
AT THE BIJOU salute to rising stars, Julie Morrigan and Nigel Bird.
BIJOU Wardrobe: Ms Morrigan by DorotheaVintage / Mr Bird by EverlastingTux
"NOIRVEMBER" term coined & minted
by the trendy Harry B Sanderford
10 comments:
Absolutely Kate absolutely rocks. Thanks for having me here. This series is shaping up to be awesome.
And Nigel, wow, I wasn't expecting that.
Short and tight as a carhop at the Clock Drive-in on the traffic circle on Pacific Coast Highway In Long Beach -- except for the roller skates. My Man Rhatigan! I tole ya he was good!
Otis is definitely not one to cross - nice short tight writing, pour me another glass of that hooch Jo, I'm enjoying the show!
helen-scribbles.com
Fantastic in it's brevity.
You hit every nail square on the head Chris
Love that story! Very nice work, Chris!
And warm, wise words from Nigel, too. What a great showcase.
see?
rat-a-tat
rat-a-tat
Great story Chris- definitely packed a real punch!
KM
More like a shot to the gut, my esteemed comrade. Rat-a-tat Rhatigan is the real deal, the gunner o'tales and the shoot'em up success-stories which aid and abet fellow authors on the rise.
A show'gal could get used to a fella like that becomin' a regular AT THE BIJOU ~ "Where Writer's Raves are Readers Faves"
(shameless plug done) YOU rocked our joint Chris, perhaps only outshone by Nigel's tux, Julie's gown and how Marlena and Fred want'ya to keep succeeding.
We all do.
Grace o'thanks for this killer piece ... and all you do for Writers 'round WebTowne
Whoa baby! -- Forgot to say your TITLE had a cool vibe of foreboding.
~ Absolutely*Kate
AT THE BIJOU and beyond ...
Short and hellishly sharp. All you needed to know wrapped up in one hundred and one words.
Bullseye.
Nice, nice work.
Post a Comment