"Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday," by Sean McCluskey, in Mickey Finn, Volume 3, edited by Michael Bracken, Down and Out Books, 2022.
Some stories are mostly about the telling, by which I mean a tale which might seem ordinary if presented in the usual manner takes on extra merit by being given an unusual structure. As the title of this story implies, we have an example today.
In effect, we are going to find out how the adventure ends and then return to see what led up to it. I am reminded of Richard Stark's novels about the thief Parker . Stark's books are usually told in four parts, three of which are seen from Parker's point of view. Part Three shifts to another character, often ending with him being fatally surprised by Parker's reappearance. Then in Part Four we find out what our protagonist had been up to.
Alon Schulman's daughter has been kidnapped by bad guys who want in on his smuggling operation. (The way he learns of the kidnapping is one of the cleverest parts of the story.) Schulman contacts a law firm who sends Crenshaw who they describe as efficient and discreet. He also turns out to be deadly as heck.
One reason this story is best told out of order is that several people turn out to have schemes of their own, and can't be trusted But you will enjoy it and you can trust me on that.
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