Tale of the Week 287: NYPD - Winner's Circle!

**Caillagh de Bodemloze** · January 23, 2019, 08:27 AM

Creative Workshop Competitions - Check out our sister competitions here on TWC! << Picture of the Week | Tale of the Week | Writers' Study General Competitions | Graphics Workshop Monthly Competition >>

NYPD

By FOX 52 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

This competition attracted some excellent writing, but in the end our winner was isa0005 with his tale set in a cyberpunk future. Instead of showing us a detective solving a mystery, or pursuing a criminal, isa0005 started a little later in the story. He's given us hints of action and intrigue, together with a clear description of how law enforcement works in this universe - and he's left us with no doubt about the value placed on a man's life there.
For this win, isa0005 receives one Writers' Study competition point, which gives him a total of eight.

isa0005's winning story is shown below:

TotW 287: NYPD - WINNING SUBMISSION The Kona Kai Saloon, a 20th century tiki bar with a 22nd century local Hong Kong twist, was quipped with exotic faux-Polynesian decor, gaudy Hawaiian shirts and a plethora of tropical cocktails. One half expected some bikini clad silicone smile to burst through its doors. Instead it's usual clientele was the average Hong Konger wage slave, Corporate neo-colonialists and up-and-comers in the South Chinese criminal underworld.

The body fell to the floor some three feet from the bar, amidst surfer paraphernalia and spilled mojitos, the crack of a ferromagnetic slug echoing for what must have been miles.

“Is that how you greet all your friends Herr Richter?” Asked Hermann, the pistons in the bartender's old Bavarian auto-prosthetic shifting into overdrive as he reached for a dirty glass.

“Ha! Only those who don’t respect the badge and uniform.” Said Richter, gesturing to his casual attire and distinct lack of any formal identification. Placing his chrome firearm on the counter to cool from its recent use he ordered a vodka “make it a double.” He was in a celebratory mood.

“One double vodka coming up. Poor bastard, let me guess, he was late on some debtor's payments? Or perhaps he failed to submit his paper work in triplicate?” The bartender reached for a dusty bottle behind the counter and unscrewed its top, his arm jerking as though it were haunted as he placed the drink on the counter.

“Corporate espionage. Was a real slippery one too. Chased him from Mauritius to Macau.” Above, a vidscreen echoed under the slow spin of ceiling fans and the the crack-pop of pinball machines ringing outback.

“Uniformed officers from the Kowloon City Police Department stormed the headquarters of Japanese corporation Kobayashi Technologies earlier this afternoon. After a year long investigation the KCPD has released evidence linking the international conglomerate to numerous criminal syndicates” began the reporter.

“Kobayashi, that sounds familiar"

“Ganbei!” Richter raised his glass in salute to a job well done, drank finishing it in one gulp. Smiling from ear to ear, he revealed nicotine stained teeth and years of bad dental care "It should, I work for the bastards."

“Well then, I assume you won’t be paying the bill this month”

“Are you kidding? Have no fear barkeep, who do you think tipped off the KCPD in the first place?” With a look of satisfaction Richter slapped a credit chip on the counter “here’s everything, plus interest.”

“My, my Herr Richter, you are full of surprises! Will you be helping me clean up this mess as well?” the bartender gestured towards the body, the smell of cauterised flesh wafting under his nose.

“I’m a Corporate Investigator not a crime scene cleanup crew, you’re on your own pal!”

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry or voted in the poll.

TotW 287: Submission thread | Voting thread

Our current submission thread is for TotW 288: After the Battle.

**isa0005** · January 23, 2019, 08:31 AM

Wow!
Thanks everyone who gave me their vote!
Didn't think I'd even get a vote, there was some really great submissions!

**Swaeft** · January 23, 2019, 06:21 PM

Well done, please stick around for the TotWs when you can

**NorseThing** · January 23, 2019, 06:28 PM

It pays to post. As a matter of fact, your post was a great example of why we do not always vote for ourselves in the polls. Isa -- you deserved this win, Now if only I could remember if I voted for your submission or that of another fine fellow member. Lol!

**Admiral Van Tromp** · January 23, 2019, 06:47 PM

Congratulations!

**Turkafinwë** · January 24, 2019, 03:26 AM

A very well deserved victory isa0005!

Congratulations!

**The Wandering Storyteller** · January 24, 2019, 03:28 AM

Congrats!

**Alwyn** · January 27, 2019, 05:32 AM

Congratulations isa0005!

I enjoyed all of these tales. Thanks to the authors, to theSilentKiller and Caillagh for running the competition and to all who voted.

**Kilo11** · January 31, 2019, 12:48 AM

Definitely a winning story isa! I especially loved the grit and dirtiness of it, and how well you were able to casually convey corruption in that near-future society. Just a great piece of flash fiction!