Tricked

A short story I wrote based off of a picture prompt!

Robert ambled down a London sidewalk in between two buildings, browsing the storefronts. His hands rested in his pockets as rain drizzled down around him. Puddles splashed with every step he took, splattering mud up his pants. Two men bickered in a doorway Robert passed. Cars lumbered by, exhaust fumes clouding the small street-way.

But he paid no mind to any of that.

His attention stayed fixed on the windows, while out of his peripherals, he watched an old couple walking ahead, slumped and bent toward each other with an umbrella over their heads. Rain pattered on the black umbrella, spilling over the sides.

Robert risked a glance forward to where the couple slowly walked. The woman’s grey hair was in a tidy bun, the man’s short and white. They had on tan clothes and black shoes. A black handbag swung from the old lady’s wrist, and Robert’s hands twitched as he focused on it.

He’d bet a pretty penny there was cash in there. Old ladies always carried a lot with them.

Pretending like he was window-shopping, Robert upped his pace, the distance between him and the couple shrinking. Slip close, grab the bag, and run.

He did just that, except when he grabbed the bag, he…didn’t run.

The old lady yanked the bag––and him––back with surprising strength, the umbrella falling to the ground.

What the––

“What do you think you’re doing?” The old woman snapped, except it wasn’t an old voice at all.

Robert gaped at the actually young face caked with makeup to look aged. Fire flared in her eyes, her face set in a deep scowl.

Robert shook himself out of his stupor and stumbled back, preparing to flee, but ran into a sold form. He whirled around to see that the old man had moved behind Robert, blocking his escape. On closer look, he saw that the guy was also young, probably thirty or so.

What’s going on?

The guy crossed his arms, straightening from the slump to his real, six-foot height.

Robert swallowed. He shifted so he could see them both, the rain now pouring down around them, and gasped.

The woman had pulled out a gun and aimed it at his chest. “Robert Stone, you are under arrest for theft and breaking and entering.”

Robert cursed. They’re cops!

He sidestepped the man and took off, his feet pounding in time with his heart as he raced down the sidewalk. Hurriedly wiping water out of his eyes, he sped up as shouts and splashing feet followed his retreat.

Darn, darn, darn! They must have been in waiting for him, knowing he tended to go after the elderly. He would have to chan––

“Gah!” Robert yelled as a strong hand clasped around his shoulder and yanked him to a stop.

Before he could get away, the woman twisted his arms behind his back and cuffed them. She’d thrown the purse to the ground, and he could see that it was empty as it sat in a puddle, filling with water.

“How dare you trick me!” Robert shouted, struggling to get away, but he knew this was it. He’d been caught.

“Sit.” The guy cop pointed to a bench under a store overhang and shoved Robert to it.

Robert stumbled into it and eased himself onto the bench, glaring at the two as they grinned at each other.

“Well, the captain was right; these disguises are bloody effective.” The woman touched the bun of what Robert now knew to be a wig.

The guy laughed and motioned for her to watch Robert as he jogged back into the rain to recover the bag and umbrella. He returned, and with a hand firmly wrapped around Robert’s arm, led them to a waiting police car at the end of the street.

Robert slid inside, and the door slammed shut.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.

–– Katie Marie