PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
What Constable Willow hasn’t told Old Hilda is that a man is dead and that her employers are suspects.
Last June, Gecko opened a dance hall at the old church. Most of the religious in this backwater remain aghast at sullying sacred ground, no matter that the congregation abandoned the crumbling structure a quarter-century ago.
Gecko and his ilk celebrate in the usual ways; ways some would call godless. Imelda loves to dance and needs cash; entrepreneurship some would call godless. She needs big city thrills.
Madame tried to reason with Gecko; to force Imelda to stop.
Now Gecko is dead.
[101 words]
This is part 2 of a 2-part story. Read part 1 here.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the spring-y host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Excellent part 2, Lisa. Constable Willow best watch herself. There be some seedy goings-on over here…
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:) Thanks, Dale.
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😁
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I wonder if Gecko will be the only one who ends up dead
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Thanks, Neil. Anything’s possible at this point, I think.
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A blunt end for Gecko and there seems to be further trouble on the horizon!
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And where is Imelda?
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Well, you’ve thickened the plot considerably. (K)
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:) Thanks, K.
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Oooh, now we’re getting somewhere …. down the road to perdition. Excellent characters and a great write, Lisa.
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Nancy, thank you :)
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The religious don’t hesitate to kill, it seems. Intriguing part 2.
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Thanks for reading and your theory, Joy.
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Good setup Lisa…
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:) Thanks!
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Dear Lisa,
Sounds like you don’t mess around with Imelda. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thanks. So far in the story, she is just a name. Madame is the one I’d be keeping my eye on.
Shalom,
Lisa
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There’s a fine line between disapproving and feeling you have to do something about it. It’s just been crossed.
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Sandra, you’re so right. I think Madame is going to be surprised also in the near future.
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:) In my experience – not fiction at all, and, for the record, I’m with Gecko
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:) I gotta admire someone who is willing to go against tradition and inject new life into old haunts. I understand Imelda being willing to do what it takes to get out from under the rule of her mother (I see Madame as Imelda’s mom) and the oppression of the small community’s judgments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Paul. I’m sure you’ve seen some stuff along the way.
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I have, and your story resonated strongly.
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this sounds interesting!
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:) Interesting is the perfect word for what’s going on here. Thanks, Clare!
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An intriguing second part. I’m enjoying this!
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Ah, life in a small town. Thanks, Keith!
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i’m not sure whether he deserved it or not, but poor gecko. :(
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I know what you mean, Plaridel. So easy to dismiss the death of a “villain” and say good riddance, but in this case we don’t know enough about Gecko, and certainly not enough to feel he deserves death.
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Very interesting continuation
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Thanks, Sadje.
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It’s a pleasure
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Madame’s ‘reasons’ sounds a little extreme. Interesting development here. More to come?
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I agree. Between Madame and The Church, no wonder why Imelda wants to get away. Probably no more chapters. Thanks for reading :)
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I meant Madame’s ‘reasoning’. Auto-correct!!!
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:)
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Glad to see Hilda is back. LOL It just so happens I spoke to my sil this morning. I don’t know why I find seeing her name as funny. It is not often to hear that name.
Anywho … back to the story. I like the way this is unfolding, Jade. Could there be more considering that Gecko is dead?
Did you know that Florida has tons of Gecko’s?
Have a good weekend, Isadora 😎
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Izzy, glad the story is tickling you. No I didn’t know about the geckos!
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Now, you have something for Trivia night. My cats chase on our screen enclosed lanai. The little buggers slip through any crack there is. At least, they’re keeping their hunting skills sharp. Enjoy your weekend 😍😎
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Annonymous is me, Isadora, Maybe, I should go underground. LOL Happy Easter 🐣
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Happy Easter, Izzy!
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:)
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Ooo the mystery deepens. Don’t cross Ireland. One wonders what it was Gecko did exactly… then again, perhaps it’s better not to know
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Thanks for reading and your comment, Laurie. Lots of unanswered questions for sure.
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Ooooh, great mystery here. I’m wondering if next week’s prompt will lend itself to Part 3!
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Linda, one can always hope ;) Thank you.
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I am left wondering which of dancing or killing Gecko is the worse sin in Madame’s world.
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I think abandonment is the worst sin in Madame’s world. I appreciate your reading and consideration of the plot.
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Was Gecko, killed by mistake, the story gets interesting
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Michael (I see you as liking this just before this comment by “Someone”) my thought on Gecko is that he was an unfortunate pawn in somebody’s game. I think that someone is pleased that Gecko’s murder has shut down the dance club as it was the leverage the church community needed (i.e. devil’s work led to murder) so shut it down. With the club shut down, the mastermind’s thought is Imelda will stop dancing and prostituting herself to earn enough money to get out of town. That said, you can imagine whatever you like with the story :)
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A good many of the ‘religious’ are only ever loving and peaceful when it serves their own needs. Madame is a chilling character and I fear for Imelda and the constable. Great write, this screams for a longer piece.
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You’re so right. Gabi, thank you very much.
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The limelight was an infamous club in an old church in NYC. It was there for decades, don’t think anyone was killed over it despite the godless things that went on ;). Madame does not seem like anyone I’d want to cross.
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Ah! Very cool there was such a place and that you know of it. Thanks for reading, your share, and I agree about Madame.
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I’m anonymous above. @thisobscurelife
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This is certainly intriguing and I hope there’s more to come. Madame, in particular, is a shifty one, I’d love to know her story.
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Heather, thanks much :)
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Dancing is forbidden! Gecko should have stuck to car insurance. Churches are some of the most beautiful buildings. An abandoned church would make for a great dance hall with excellent acoustics. Organized religion rolls like the mafia. I get that vibe from Madame. This comment’s all over the place. That’s why I didn’t play last week. My focus is… Ooh! A piece of candy.
https://youtu.be/3BMw-ZzTjys?si=oOe0FsoSRtbBtQ-D
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Nobbin, your comment has officially, unofficially, and any other cially won a prize for best comment of this this week. Thanks for making me laugh, nod in agreement, and get a sugar jones. Prize is a new boom box. Dance on, my friend :)
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file:///C:/Users/thugr/Downloads/MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy!InputApp/NeebsGamingHankAndJedGIF%20(3).gif
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Ah! It didn’t work. It’s a gif of a guy goofy dancing with a boombox on his shoulder.
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I loved what you did with this story, Lisa :-)
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Thanks much, Carol Anne :)
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