Flash and Bang

by J. Alan Hartman

  Mumbling, the man then turned to Belloc, who recognized him as a one-time busker, who apparently had gone on in the world and had now reached the level of homeless beggardom.

  He walked past a pub called Stad Aalst. This public house could serve as the perfect scenery for a movie based on a Charles Bukowski novel. At the corner where the Dambruggestraat and the Offerandestraat met, he turned toward the Lange Beeldekensstraat. In the Offerandestraat, a loft of pigeons were picking in vomit. Pigeons had always annoyed Belloc—he called them flying rats—and now he routed them again. This caused a passer-by to point out to Belloc that pigeons were also God’s creatures.

  “As far as I’m concerned they may all become Catholics,” he growled. “Then maybe they will go and shit on the church.”

  According to Belloc, nothing remained of the former glory of the Offerandestraat. Where it used to be the street to shop for better-quality shoes, it now had become a Pakistan-cum-Indian and Moroccan junk store, with here and there a Moroccan barber, a few quick-and-dirties and an Italian restaurant run by a Bhutanese. In places, texts only in Arabic had been chalked on shop windows, and Belloc wondered what uniformed police were doing to enforce language laws in the area. Belloc resolved to have this matter raised in the city council by an alderman friend.

  Some shops were even offering Ramadan discounts. The only thing that reminded Belloc of the past was the Italian clothes store Uomo, which was still selling the same quality. He did not understand how they managed to survive, for it was common knowledge that Moroccans bought at Moroccan shops and Turks at Turkish shops and nowhere else—“own people first” being their slogan, carried on into the third generation. Uomo was lucky in the sense that black people preferred Italian clothing. Belloc stopped and watched for a moment. He saw a black man enter the store, neatly dressed in a costume and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Once, a racist friend of his had said that when a black person donned a pair of glasses, he started to behave like a left-wing intellectual. Whatever that meant, for Belloc knew few people who belonged to that category.

  The farther he walked, the more he wondered if there still were any natives living here, for the white people he met usually spoke Polish or Russian, and he knew that the various emaciated drug addicts and alcoholics did not live in the district, but only came here to get their stuff. One member of the latter category was standing in front of Zeeman’s, rolling a cigarette, his hands trembling as if he were suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Beside him stood a dark-skinned, hook-nosed man, shouting into his cellphone like he wanted to make himself heard in North Africa or Pakistan, although it could well have been Algeria or India. Or maybe it was just to make himself heard above the din made by a group of rattling women who were greeting each other a bit farther on, sounding as if they had just covered hundreds of miles of the most impenetrable jungle to see each other.

  Some vacant shops across the street looked neglected. Belloc laughed out loud when he saw a stained sign above one of the shops that said “Fresh fish daily,” while on the door there was a torn piece of condensation-soaked paper that read “Closed for stock-taking.” Beside it was a small shop that bought and sold all conceivable kinds of things; in its window there were a few videos with sun-bleached covers. He did not know whether it was coincidence or on purpose, but videos of Lethal Weapon and Hitler were lying side by side.

  He walked past the house where Vincent van Gogh once lived, before he was expelled from the Antwerp academy with a report saying that he could not draw.

  At home, he had a reproduction of the canvas Skull of Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette, which Vincent had painted during his time in Antwerp. During that period he had painted a number of canvases in the north of the city. Belloc knew—from research, as he was a great admirer of van Gogh—that Vincent had himself treated for syphilis at the Stuivenberg Hospital, which had still been under construction at the time.

  A bit farther down the street, he saw a net for loose chippings against the second floor of a town house. The front of the house certainly looked damaged.

  Belloc remembered his smile when he had seen a similar net on an old people’s home and secretly wondered whether it was meant to catch the old ones jumping from the windows.

  Because he had been looking upwards all the time, he bumped into a lad whose parents had probably come from somewhere in an African country.

  Angry with himself, Belloc said, “Please accept my apologies.”

  “You did that on purpose,” said the boy defiantly.

  “Now listen to me, son,” Belloc said, suddenly both father and cop, “just fuck off and go home. Your mother has fried fish ready.” While saying this, he could not help laughing at himself, wondering how long ago it was since he had last used that expression, which used to be a common saying in Antwerp at one time.

  “I’ll report you to the police for racism,” the lad said.

  “Do as you please. You are the ones to talk of racism! Arabs look down on Berbers, Turks on Kurds, Moroccans call Algerians and Tunisians thieves, Senegalese say that Congolese are monkeys and Ugandans hate Ghanese and vice versa, while the whole of Africa is collectively against Nigeria, and you think you’re the ones who should make comments,” Belloc growled, stepping aside and, ignoring the boy, walked on.

  Across the street, Belloc saw a small panel truck parked near a grocery shop, advertising Casablanca-Moroccan Lager 5%. At the same time, he saw a man dressed in a djellaba with the hood turned up put something on the side of the truck and, a little later, also on the grocer’s shop window.

  The man disappeared as quickly as he had come.

  Belloc crossed the street and read:

  KORAN 5

  Al-Ma’idah

  Verse 91: Certainly Satan desires to cast enmity and hatred among you by wine and gambling, and to hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer.

  Suddenly, Belloc felt a sharp pain. He tried to turn, but he was grabbed, while somebody pushed the knife further into his back and somebody else whispered in his ear, “Racist.”

  Our Gallery of Suspects

  Herschel Cozine

  Herschel Cozine has published extensively in both children and adult publications. Work by Herschel has also appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazines, Sherlock Holmes Magazine, Wolfmont Press Toys for Tots Anthologies and Woman’s World. His story, “A Private Hanging” was a finalist for the Derringer award. Herschel has published numerous short stories with Untreed Reads, and his Nurseyland Crimes stories have been combined into a collection, along with new stories, titled The Osgood Case Files. He also appears in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Second Helping and The Killer Wore Cranberry: Room for Thirds.

  Bobbi A. Chukran

  Bobbi A. Chukran is a native Texan author of mystery and suspense fiction and an award-winning playwright. She's the author of Lone Star Death, the "Nameless, Texas" series, Halloween Thirteen, Dye Dyeing Dead and others. Her work has been published in 'zines such as Mysterical-E, Dark Eclipse, Kings River Life, Over My Dead Body, Mystery Reader's Journal and in several anthologies. Bobbi blogs about her stories and inspiration at http://bobbichukran.blogspot.com.

  Su Kopil

  Su Kopil’s short stories have appeared in numerous publications including: Destination Mystery (DarkhouseBooks), Fish or Cut Bait (WildsidePress), Woman’s World Magazine, and Over My Dead Body. A book cover designer, dog devotee, and bibliophile, you can find her online at sukopil.com or follow her on twitter @INKspillers.

  P.A. De Voe

  P.A. De Voe is a cultural anthropologist, which accounts for her being an incorrigible magpie for collecting seemingly irrelevant information. She writes contemporary and historical mysteries—the latter take place in 14th and 15th century China. The Judge Lu Ming Dynasty Case Files is a set of short stories modeled after crime stories traditionally written by Chinese magistrates themselves. P.A. De Voe’s teen ancient China adventure/mystery trilogy features a magistrate’s bi-rac
ial daughter whose world is turned upside down when an enemy accuses her father of treason.

  Laurie Stevens

  Laurie Stevens is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright. Her debut novel The Dark Before Dawn, is the first in the Gabriel McRay psychological suspense series. Deep into Dusk is the second. The two books have earned nine awards including the Kirkus Star, being named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011, and the 2014 Silver IPPY award for Best Mystery/Thriller. Laurie is a hybrid author, first independently publishing her books, then securing an agent and obtaining a two-book deal with Random House, Germany. Todes Schuld makes its debut in 2015. An active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, Laurie also sits on the Board of Sisters in Crime, Los Angeles. Her short stories have appeared in numerous magazines and e-zines including the anthology, Last Exit to Murder. To learn more about the author, visit her website at http://www.lauriestevensbooks.com.

  Tim Wohlforth

  Tim is the author of three Jim Wolf novels. Wolf lives on a boat at Jack London Square in Oakland with Monty, an eight-foot-long Burmese python. The latest novel, The Curse of the Chameleon, has just been published by Krill. It begins with the murder of an American Indian and ends in Macau. Another book, The Pink Tarantula, features Crip and Henrietta. Tom Bateman, a paraplegic PI, can’t get rid of his green-haired, pierced “helper.” Harry, a standalone, deals with eco-terrorism. Over 80 of his short stories have been published. Four of his books are available in audio format. www.timwohlforth.com.

  Suzanne Berube Rorhus

  Suzanne Berube Rorhus writes from the arctic clime known as Michigan, though she still guards her Southern accent carefully. Her work includes “The Golden Ganesh,” which appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine; Cereal Killer (available from Untreed Reads); “A Murder Far from Home,” as part of the Untreed Reads anthology Moon Shot: Murder and Mayhem on the Edge of Space, and Cuffed, a series of true tales written with a police officer coauthor. She is now working on a police procedural novel.

  Sandra Murphy

  Sandra lives in the land of shoes, booze and blues, St. Louis, Missouri. On a hot summer day, the smell of hops from the brewery stirs up the voices in her head, clamoring to get out. She lives with her faithful companion, Ozzie, a Westie-ish dog, who doesn't mind listening while she talks to her characters. She has had several short stories published as standalones through Untreed Reads, including “Bananas Foster,” “Sweet Tea and Deviled Eggs,”“The Obituary Rule” and “Superstition.”

  Julie Tollefson

  Julie Tollefson grew up in the sand hills of Southwest Kansas, where she landed her first paying writing gig investigating such hard-hitting stories as “Do blondes really have more fun?” for her hometown newspaper. She’s a regular contributor to Lawrence Magazine, and her short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Fish Nets: The Second Guppy Anthology. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. She and her family live in northeast Kansas. Visit her online at http://julietollefson.com, or follow her on Twitter, @jtollefson.

  O’Neil De Noux

  O’Neil De Noux has 31 books in print, and over 300 short story sales in multiple genres: crime fiction, historical fiction, children’s fiction, mainstream fiction, science-fiction, suspense, fantasy, horror, western, literary, young adult, religious, romance, humor and erotica. His fiction has received several awards, including the Shamus Award for Best Short Story, the Derringer Award for Best Novelette and the 2011 Police Book of the Year. Two of his stories have appeared in the Best American Mystery Stories anthology (2013 and 2007). He is a past Vice-President of the Private Eye Writers of America.

  John M. Floyd

  John M. Floyd’s work has appeared in more than 200 different publications, including The Strand Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Woman’s World and The Saturday Evening Post. A former Air Force captain and IBM systems engineer, he won a Derringer Award in 2007, and was nominated for an Edgar Award in 2015. One of his stories was selected by publisher Otto Penzler and guest editor James Patterson for inclusion in The Best American Mystery Stories 2015, and another has been chosen for the upcoming Mississippi Noir (Akashic Books). John is also the author of six books: Rainbow’s End, Midnight, Clockwork, Deception, Fifty Mysteries and Dreamland (coming in 2016). He is the author of the standalone short stories “The Early Death of Pinto Bishop” and “Watched,” both published by Untreed Reads.

  JoAnne Lucas

  Bio of a blonde:

  JoAnne Lucas writes of the Fresno/Clovis, California area of the great San Joaquin Valley. She has long been a member of Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. Her stories can be found in print and electronic anthologies such as Valley Fever—Where Murder Is Contagious, A Woman's Touch, Destination: Mystery, DIME and others.

  Andrew MacRae

  Andrew MacRae is the author of two novels, Murder Misdirectd, and its sequel, Murder Miscalculated, both featuring a former pickpocket who cannot keep from getting into trouble. In addition to numerous short stories, he has recently curated and edited several anthologies, including, Destination: Mystery! from Darkhouse Books. Through Untreed Reads he has published a short story collection titled The Case of the Murderous Mermaid and Other Stories, and he appears in the Untreed Reads anthologies Moon Shot: Murder and Mayhem on the Edge of Space and The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Second Helping.

  Judy Penz Sheluk

  Judy Penz Sheluk’s debut mystery novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose (Barking Rain Press) was published in July 2015. Her short crime fiction is included in The Whole She-Bang 2 (Toronto Sisters in Crime) and World Enough and Crime (Carrick Publishing).

  In her less mysterious pursuits, Judy works as a freelance writer/editor. She is currently Editor of Home BUILDER Magazine and Senior Editor of New England Antiques Journal.

  In addition to the Short Fiction Mystery Society, Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime (International/Toronto/Guppies), Crime Writers of Canada, and International Thriller Writers. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com, where she interviews other writers and blogs about the writing life.

  Albert Tucher

  Albert Tucher is the creator of prostitute Diana Andrews, who has appeared in more than sixty short stories in such venues as ThugLit, Shotgun Honey and The Best American Mystery Stories 2010, edited by Lee Child. Diana's first longer case, the novella The Same Mistake Twice, was published by Untreed Reads in 2013. Albert's work also appears in the Untreed Reads anthologies The Untreed Detectives and Discount Noir, as well as the standalone short stories Calories, The Retro Look and Value for the Money, all of which feature Diana. Albert Tucher works at the Newark Public Library, where he is legendary for his coffee consumption.

  Earl Staggs

  Earl Staggs earned a long list of Five Star reviews for his novels Memory of a Murder and Justified Action, and has twice received a Derringer Award for Best Short Story of the Year. He served as Managing Editor of Futures Mystery Magazine, as President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars. Several of Earl's short stories appear in the Untreed Reads anthologies The Killer Wore Cranberry, The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Second Helping and The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fourth Meal of Mayhem, as well as several standalone shorts. He welcomes any comments via email at earlstaggs@sbcglobal.net and invites you to visit his blog site at http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com.

  Barb Goffman

  Barb Goffman’s Don't Get Mad, Get Even (Wildside Press 2013) won the Silver Falchion Award for best short-story collection of 2013. Barb also won the 2013 Macavity Award for best short story, and she’s been nominated fifteen times for national crime-writing awards, including the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. When not writing, Barb runs a freelance editing and proofreading service, focusing on crime and general fiction. Barb's short stories appear in all four volumes of the Untreed Reads The Killer Wore Cra
nberry anthology series. Learn more at www.barbgoffman.com.

  BV Lawson

  Author, poet and journalist BV Lawson's award-winning work has appeared in dozens of publications and anthologies. A four-time Derringer Award finalist and 2012 winner for her short fiction, BV was also honored by the American Independent Writers and Maryland Writers Association for her Scott Drayco series, with the debut novel, Played To Death, named Best Mystery in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and a Shamus Award finalist. Scott Drayco also features in the Untreed Reads standalone short story Ill-Gotten Games. BV currently lives in Virginia with her husband and enjoys flying above the Chesapeake Bay in a little Cessna. Visit her website and sign up for her newsletter at bvlawson.com. No ticket required.

  Walter Soethoudt

  Born in Antwerp, Flanders, September 20, 1939, and married for 48 years to Nadine Megan Lusyne, Walter was a publisher for 47 years. He turned to a career as Literary Agent who handles full-length fiction and nonfiction, with a special interest in crime, suspense, thrillers and films noir.

  His publications include Uitgevers komen in de hemel (2008); Publishers Go to Heaven, his memoires; De nacht die de dag vergat (2012)—Dutch; The Night Who Forgot the Day, a story about the first 4 months of 1916 in WW I, starting in the trenches of Flanders and ending in the Easter Rising in Dublin. He is also working on the not-yet-published 4th part of a series called Dark Past (about films noir and everything that goes with it—blacklisting, redlisting, etc.).

  Walter is an Honorary Member of the Vereniging van de Vlaamse Filmpers (Flemish Film Press), and Honorary Member of Boek.be (the Flemish trade organization for editors, booksellers and importers).