Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge to write a 200-word story based on a photo prompt. Thanks to C.E. Ayr, long-time member of the Sunday Photo Fiction community for this weeks intriguing photo.
The old church stood in a part of town called The Paseo, home to every wanna-be painter this side the Red River. Inside, I was greeted by a woman of innumerable years and teeth yellowed from too much tobacco. We exchanged pleasantries as she led me to the first gallery. Every painting had a story. She was a wealth of knowledge, this one, but none of it interested me.
“Tell me your story,” I said.
“No story,” eyes darting from side to side. “Just an old woman with a gallery.”
That, I doubted.
I asked to see her work, so she led me to a small backroom. I’m no art critic, but I knew bad art when I saw it. A brilliant deception I might add.
“Where are the abstracts?”
No abstracts she professed.
I said I was no art critic, but I am an art detective and I was running out of patience. For years I had searched for the missing Picasso. Not a painting, but a forger; the best in the world. I knew in my gut she was standing two feet away.
“Let’s cut to the chase,” I said. “How much to forge Les Demoiselles d’Avignon?”
Word count = 199
Redbuds and Roserocks 
Nice twist, not a cop, but someone looking to use her services! Nicely done Susan 🙂
Thanks Iain
Brilliant 🙂
Thank Reena
Excellent piece, Susan, full of intrigue and excellent descriptions.
Thank you C.E. I’m glad you enjoyed it,
This is the first story I’ve read based on the prompt, but there is a mystery behind that address, isn’t there?
Keith wrote an excellent piece where the number was front and center. I chose to make it a backdrop only. So many interpretations !
The number is so “in your face” that I had to include the address in the title of my wee tale.
James I cannot find your wee tale – can you add a link?
It’s on the linkup, but here it is again: https://poweredbyrobots.com/2018/07/01/595-hitori-kakurenbo/
thanks and I found it on the link up = sorry _ I forgot SPF had the linkup and just added my entry there too
peace
I am going to Keith’s now
James _ i feel that too!!
I have seen a few shows about forgers (in real life0 and this had a nice ring of realism even more for me because I saw those shows…
and I really like this line:
“Just an old woman with a gallery.”
Thanks. That’s the fun of working with limit words. Some sentences end up being jewels.
you are so right – the word limit brings out some nice denseness
🙂
and is partly what I love about flash fiction
Dicey… finding just the right forger.
You reminded me of a show I used to watch called “Remington Steel” maybe that was just the character… took his name from the razor he used to shave his face. 😉
I remember the show but don’t think I watched it. Most stories end up reminding us of something. Hopefully in a good way. Thanks for commenting Jules
I really wasn’t expecting that ending! Excellent
(Thanks for the plug!)
Thanks Keith!
Great twist, and great voice Susan.
Thanks Anurag. I’m glad you liked it
One thousand plus, I reckon. Great twist Susan
Undoubtedly! Thanks Michael for the read.