The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion: A Short Story
by Andrew Barger
In "The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion" Andrew Barger brings a precocious monster of antiquity back to life. At times the tale is dark, at times it is funny. This is a short story contained in his first collection entitled MAILBOXES - MANSIONS - MEMPHISTOPHELES.The Abenaki Indian Tribe is awarded 15,000 acres in a U.S. Supreme Court decision for land taken illegally by the U.S. government in 1850. Their goal: to construct the world's largest casino inOgunquit, Maine, a quaint New England seaside village of 1200 in winter and explodes into the largest gambling casino in the world. The influx of people required to run the casino and support services (65,000) are absorbed into the bordering towns.Richmond Rand an ex-Marine sniper and identical twin infuriated by highly compensated CEO bonuses, plots to "shoot to main" but not kill the golden boys of the corporate world with the help of two accomplices.In a bizzare event, Richmond wins 17 million dollars on a slot machine and plans to kill his accomplices. However, in order to accomplish hismission he switches identity with his twin Richard who has no knowledge of the scheme. The accomplices are found dead in the trio' hotel room. Did Richard the inncent brother pay for the sins of the older twin? Sensational murder trial!