A Catfish No More

Crime Fiction by Andrew Ricchiuti

Palmer spent the last thirty days in a private room hidden in a sanitarium. Except for Benny, he spoke only to one doctor and one nurse. He only saw them. Now, healed, he was ready to re-enter the world. A world he hoped wouldn’t recognize and hound him for running internet scams,

“Any luck finding the people who used my picture?” Palmer said.

“Nope. Nobody local,” Benny said. “Which means probably some hackers overseas stole your image and used it in their romance scams. They’ll be hard to find. Even for me. If I can’t find them, they can’t be found. Nobody can hide from me.”

“You really don’t think you’ll find him?”

“Nope. Cyberland is a big world. Even if we did, your picture has probably been sold and resold over a hundred times. You’re face has been all over the web. Never to be forgotten. Good thing you have a new one.”

Palmer ran his hands over his face. New. It didn’t feel familiar to him yet. Still, significant work had been done. What did he expect?
            Benny watched him. He kept silent. He saw Palmer move his fingers over his face again. Palmer looked at Benny for encouragement.

“The plastic surgery was probably the best thing I could have done,”   Palmer said. “Thanks again for suggesting it and for your help. Do I look like the picture you showed me?”

“Exactly.”

Palmer followed Benny into the Early Hours Club. Night people sat at most of the tables, leaving only a few unoccupied. Some of the bar stools were empty. Three heavily muscled men stood in the corner. They watched Benny and scanned the room around him.

Almost everyone in the club greeted Benny when they saw him enter the room. He returned hellos to only a few people, and then only with a quick nod. Nothing friendly to anybody. None of the occupants seemed offended or surprised at that reaction.

Benny led Palmer to two seats at the far end of the bar. Two men moved to make room for them. Then, they did a double look and stared at them. Benny ignored them. Palmer tried to do the same.

Palmer sneaked a glance at the men. He felt them still staring at him. They reminded him of the wise guys he used to see in the old gangster movies.

“How do you like this place?” Benny asked. “You said you hadn’t been out in years, so I figured this is what you need.”

Palmer looked around the club. Other than the wise guys, he liked the look and sound of the place. It hummed with people sounds but didn’t have the overwhelming noise he remembered from the clubs he visited in his youth. More important, nobody seemed to recognize him from the pictures of him that appeared all over the internet.

“This is great,” Palmer said. “No one noticed me. No women screaming at me and claiming I ruined their lives. Nobody claims I swindled their money. Not one woman who says I promised to marry her.”

Benny laughed. “I don’t think anybody would believe a guy could be too good-looking,” he said. “Who would think having women loving you and chasing you would be a problem.

The two wise guys looked at them again. One of them raised his phone and snapped a photo of Palmer.

Benny stood and walked over to them. He grabbed the phone. “Open your photos,” he said.

“Why?”

“I want to delete the picture you just took.”

“No way. Give me the phone back.”

Benny moved the phone behind his back. He turned his head and nodded to his side. The three men moved from the corner. They stopped next to the wise guys. They placed themselves on either side and one in the middle. Each moved their hand to show a gun within close reach. They waited and looked at Benny.

Benny removed the phone from behind his back. He handed it to the owner. “You delete the picture,” he said.

The guy took the phone. “Okay,” he said. “It’s gone. See?”

Benny took a quick look. “Go,” he said. ” Both of you. Now. And keep quiet about this.”

They hurried out of the bar. The three men moved back to their corner. Nobody said anything.

“What was that about? Palmer asked.

“I don’t want your picture shown yet. We need to talk.”

“Why? Who are you?”

“That’s what we need to talk about. And, about your surgery.”

Palmer jumped up. The three men in the corner started to move towards him. Benny waved his hand in a stopping motion. They sat down.

“Calm down,” Benny said. “I’ll explain.”

Palmer waited. Before Benny could speak, the bar door burst open. The two wise guys and a third man ran into the bar with guns in their hand. They raised their guns and aimed at Palmer.

The three men in the corner jumped up, pointed and fired their guns. The wise guys fell to the floor. One of the corner guys stepped over to them. He stared at the men on the floor. He looked at Benny.

“Outside,” Benny said. “You know what to do. Not in here.”

The three men each picked up a man up from the floor and dragged him outside.

Benny grabbed Palmer. “Time to go,” he said..

Palmer didn’t move. “What just happened?” he said.

“Later,” Benny said. He pushed Palmer out the door. “We gotta leave. There’s probably others behind them.  And, we should stay away from the police.”

Palmer pointed to the bodies. “What about them?’ he said.

“Not a problem,” Benny said. “This is my place. Everybody does what I say if they know what’s good for them. They’ll clean this up.”

Palmer saw the bodies had already been moved.

“They’ll turn up in a dump.” Benny said. “Let’s go.”

They waited on the street. A large SUV screeched to a halt next to them. One of the rear doors swung open. Benny jumped in and pulled Palmer inside. Benny yanked the door shut. The vehicle sped away.

“What was that about?” Palmer said.

  “Hold off,” Benny said as he shut the window between the front seats and the rear compartment. “Can’t be too careful. Never know who you can trust.”

“About what?”

“Look. This a small old fashion town. There’s not many places like this.  It’s like the old days. We run the town with the state and local politicans. Everybody gets a cut of the income. Nobody gets too greedy. No investigations, no crusades. It works.”

“So? What does this have to do with what happened in the club?”

“There’s a dispute for control of some activities in the city. We run the gambling, drugs, women and most everything else. That was an attempted assignation.”

“They wanted to kill you?”

“Not me. You.”

“Me?’ Palmer said. “Why?”

Benny pulled a photo from his pocket. “Recognize him?”

Palmer stared at the picture. “That’s me,” he said. “I mean it’s the new me. The me after the plastic surgery.”

“Right. It’s also my boss, Roy. Or, I should say my former boss.”

“You made me look like the picture. Why?”

“The boss isn’t around anymore. I still need him. You’re close in size. You’re his double now.”

“Where’s the boss now?”

“Dead. There was a successful assassination attempt on him a few weeks ago. Just like they tried on you in the bar. They missed you. They got him, but he’s supposed to be recovering.  Not true. He’s dead. Nobody knew except me and my bodyguard. The bodyguard is gone. The plastic surgeon is gone. I took care of all that. This driver’s is new. Everybody else thinks Roy is alive and ready for revenge.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Palmer asked.”Why did you make me look like him?”

“I told you. We’re in a fight for this city. The politicos are watching to see who wins. They don’t care who as long they continue getting their money. I need the boss around and visible while I make my moves for control. Nobody’ll suspect anything. It’ll keep anyone from trying to kill me.”

“No. They ‘ll go after me. Like in the bar.”

“Don’t worry. You made it out okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

At least not now, Palmer thought.  But, what about later?

“Look at it this way,” Benny continued, “You get to start over. No women claiming you swindled them. No guys after you trying to protect their women. You got what you wanted. You know what else?  You probably don’t realize this yet, but you get a good life now.”

“What do you mean?”

“You live the boss’ life. You have or get anything you want.”

“How?”

“Nobody knows you aren’t the boss. Only me. All the guys think you’re him.”

“They can’t tell the difference?” Palmer asked. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I’m the only one that deals with him.” Benny held up his hand. “We’ll talk more later. I’ve got to see somebody right now. Just a few minutes.” He slid open the window between them and the driver. “Pull over here,” he said to the driver. He opened the door and stepped out. “Be back soon.”

Palmer watched him go. He thought about their conversation. Benny took his old life from him. He couldn’t go back. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t miss anybody or anything. But, for how long? Could he trust Benny? Why should he trust Benny?

He decided.

Palmer leaned forward. He reached through the compartment’s window and touched the driver’s shoulder. The driver looked at him, surprised. “Yeah?” he said. “What can I do for you, Boss?” Palmer thought he seemed pleased that Palmer noticed him.

“When Benny gets back, we go to my place,” Palmer said. “Give me your gun. Don’t say nothing to Benny. Just drive there. I’ll tell him. Okay?”

The driver hesitated, then shrugged. “Okay. You’re the boss.”

“That’s right.”

Palmer patted his shoulder and closed the partition.

Benny returned minutes after Palmer’s talk with the driver. He didn’t say what he did or where he went. Palmer didn’t ask. Benny opened the partition between them and the driver. He tapped him on the shoulder. “Go,” he said.

The driver shot a quick look at Palmer. Benny didn’t notice. Palmer nodded the okay to go.

After five minutes, Benny looked out the window. He leaned forward to the driver.

“Where are you going?” Benny said. “This isn’t the way.”

Palmer stopped him. “I told him to take me to Roy’s place,” he said. “I want to change clothes and look more like him. I want to look around and get a feel for him. It’ll make it easier for me to pass for him.”

“All right. Good idea. It should be okay. We’ve got people watching his place.”

Ten minutes later, they stopped at a stand alone multiple unit building.

 Benny scanned the area. “Looks safe,” he said. He opened the door. “Let’s go. Inside,before anyone sees us”

They entered the building and went through a dark passageway. “Your place is up one floor and in the back,” Benny said. “All the other rooms are our guys. We’re safe here.”

They climbed a flight of stairs. The floor contained one door. Benny pushed it open. “Your place,” he said. “Enjoy it.”

Palmer walked into the bedroom. The closet overflowed with clothes. He selected a comfortable shirt and pants. The driver’s gun felt familiar. It was similar to what he used in his target shooting days.  It fit in one of the pant’s pockets. Palmer looked at himself in the mirror. Everything fit. Very stylish and good quality. He liked the look. He stood straight. He looked like a boss.

“You ready?” Benny yelled.

“I”m coming,” Palmer said. He walked into the outer room towards Benny. ‘What’s next?”

Benny stared at him. Palmer could see in his eyes he felt something was different but didn’t know what. Palmer stared back at Benny. He didn’t break the look. He was the boss. Time for Benny to treat him with some respect.

“I want to get you out to a few more places,” Benny said. “Let you be seen. Show you’re alive and not hurt.”

“Good idea. Before we go, explain everything we run and do. Tell me.”

“Why?”

“Makes me believable. It’ll help me play the part.”

“Not necessary. Just do what I say.”

“Humor me.”

Benny stood. Again he studied Palmer. Something was different. “All right,” he said.”C’mon. We can do it while we’re in the car.”

Their car arrived. The same driver sat behind the wheel. He gave a careful hello nod to Palmer.  Palmer and Benny entered the back of the car.

“Where’re we going?” Palmer said.

“Just a few places,” Benny said. “I want to parade you around to show you’re okay.”

They made several stops. Each contained underworld members. They accepted Palmer without any question. They congratulated Palmer, as Roy, on his near brush with death.

Palmer sensed Benny watching him.

“You’re doing good,” Benny said. “Nobody suspects anything. Even the people who say they’re Roy’s friends can’t tell. Keep it up.”

“It went pretty smooth,” Palmer said. “I feel comfortable, You did a good job explaining everything to me.”

“Yeah,” Benny said. “I did, didn’t I? Maybe too good.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. I just had some bad thoughts about this. They’ll go away.”

Palmer liked that. He preferred Benny off balance. He figured once Benny strengthened his hold on the organization, Palmer wouldn’t be needed. He probably have a fatal accident.

“Let’s call it a night,” Benny said. “I’ll call for the car.”

They went back to Roy’s place. Benny spoke little on the return ride. He didn’t seem as friendly to Palmer. They separated and went to different rooms.

Palmer wondered if he finished his usefulness. What then?

It didn’t take long for Palmer to find out. Benny entered his suite. He held a gun in his hand.  He pointed it at Palmer.

“Time’s up,” Benny said. “You went over well. Nobody doubted you. I don’t need you anymore. It went even better than I thought.”

“What are you going to do?” Palmer said. “Shoot me here? What about the guys?”

Benny shook his head. “Not yet,” he said. “I might need you again. You’ll just disappear. The guys won’t think anything of it. They’ll think you’re just lying low and issuing all orders through me. They’ll get used to me giving the orders. After a while, you’ll either die from your wounds or from another assassination attempt.”

“You’re sure you want to do this?”

“Why wouldn’t I? C’mon. Pick up your jacket. Let’s go.”

Palmer got his jacket. He walked towards Benny who still pointed the gun at him. He widened his eyes and stared behind Benny.

Benny swiveled his head for a moment. He turned back to Palmer.

Palmer held the gun he took from the driver. He fired two shots at Benny. Both bullets hit him in the chest. He fell on the floor still holding his gun. Palmer fired again. This time, he shot Benny in the head.

Men came running into the room.

Palmer pointed to the dead Benny. “He tried to kill me,” he said. “The other guys must have got to him.” He nudged the body with his foot. “Get him out of here. Make the body disappear. That’ll make the others wonder what happened.”

“Sure,boss. Whatever you say.”

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Bio: Andrew Ricchiuti lives in Southern New Jersey and reads and writes short fiction. He has had fiction accepted or posted on Yellow Mama, The Yard, Friday Flash Fiction, and Schlock.

Cover Photo By:pexels/Sav Ioan

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