Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Henry shuffled his feet under the chair. His nervous posture made this almost an open and shut case, the detective thought to himself. Even though no one actually saw the man commit the crime, the evidence clearly stacked itself against him.

“Sir, how did the artwork come into your possession?”

Henry glared at the detective. “I believe it was planted by those who mean to do me harm.”

“And who would that be?” the detective now perturbed with no confession.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Try me, son.”

It was at this time that Henry positioned himself in a more relaxed pose in the chair. He put his hands behind his head.

“We can work out a deal if you had accomplices.”

“That’s just it officer. You won’t be able to bust them. I am their lone fall guy.”

Now, at the verge of irate, the detective slammed his hands to the table. “You’re gonna tell me NOW!”

That instant, Henry shot up in his seat as if someone put a fire underneath him. His eyes wide, with the palest of looks his face could create.

“THEY MADE ME DO IT!!!”

“Who? You’re gonna have to tell me so I can help.”

“OK, ok. The former presidents Garfield, Coolidge and Taft made me do it. They came to me in a dream. I was to steal and dispose of all the memories of the popular presidents so they could move up popular ranks. When I refused, they said they would kidnap my ex-girlfriend. They meant to do her harm, sir.”

“That’s absurd!”

“Really? Then you tell me who in their right mind would steal portraits of former presidents from bank lobbies?”

Is it possible Henry had committed the perfect crime? Or was he just an idiot…

Word Count: 299