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About the Author: Joe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. He and his wife, Jane, now live in Texas. Joe's stories have appeared in more than one hundred magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Shenandoah. His novel, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, was published by Harvard Square Editions October 2015. His second novel, Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller was published by HSE in June 2017. Joe was among one hundred Italian-American authors honored by Barnes & Noble.
My morning began by picking up eighty-seven-year-old Molly Hart, running naked on Utica Avenue. Try getting that image out of your head. My squad car was unmarked, and Molly imagined herself as twenty and ready for action.
“Hi, Blue Eyes,” she said.
I invited her to take the back seat, and her face crumpled into disappointment when I didn’t join her. As I drove to her house, she cycled between banging on the steel grill separating us and sulking. Her husband Bill also suffered from Alzheimer’s, and when I rang at their asphalt-shingled, row-home, he came to the door naked to the waist, wearing red-striped pajama bottoms and one Minnetonka slipper on his right foot. His face stuck on surprised as I tried to explain the purpose of my visit. I took his elbow and ushered him to my car, thinking that he would calm her down. Instead, Molly screamed that she wasn’t having sex with an old man. Bill straightened, disclaiming that he was married to “that crazy woman.” I put him into the front seat and smoked a Lucky Strike as the two of them hurled insults at each other. A guy and gal from social services arrived who knew the couple. They explained that Bill and Molly drifted in and out of awareness and would be more actively supervised. Molly blew me a kiss as she was led back to her house. I sighed in sadness. I’d known her for most of my forty years from when I’d trick-or-treated her and Bill as a kid.
Bravo! What a fascinating read and story!
This story is tight, economical, and presents what feels like a real-life scenario. Loved the reappearance of Molly Hart at the end. Somehow the story feels like an excerpt from a novel. I was pulling for justice to prevail somehow. Two thumbs up.
Hey Joe--Great story; great writing! Hit all the highlights prescribed for a mystery: Interesting, believable characters; plausible motive; satisfying twist ending. A very enjoyable read!
Thanks for reading and for the kind comments. If you have time, please check out my website and sign up for my blog. You'll find short stories, the first chapter of my novels and some Italian history. http://joe-giordano.com/ Best regards, Joe.
Good story I enjoyed it
I liked the story. I did want Detective Bragg to prevail and bring the daughter to justice. I was a tad bit disappointed in the ending, but a beautifully written story.
Liked the story. Detective Bragg should have used the Amoxapine on Laurel and forged a new will for Evelyn
Good story! It moved well, and I enjoyed the twist at the end.
Great story. Really enjoyed it.
Very good short story. I hope that some British director read it and make a thriller. It has all the requisites to become a British stile successful movie.
Loved the story, but I'm having a hard time sleeping...trying to get the image of Molly running out of my head...
Hi Joe, Thanks for sharing the story. The visuals from the beginning are stuck in my head. I wanted to see her pay for the crime of killing her father but... sometimes things are out of our control. Worry about the things we can control. Have a great day! -Ray
Like better endings
Good story.
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