IAIN KELLY

THE PROPERTY DEVELOPER

The cannons sprayed water through the night sky onto the roof of the blazing building.

A crowd of nearby residents gathered to watch.

The old theatre, dwarfed by surrounding modern apartments, had lain empty for several years. It was preserved and protected for reasons of architectural heritage.

Remarkably, the surrounding buildings were untouched by the flames and smoke.

By midnight the fire would be extinguished.  The damage would be extensive. Demolition the inevitable outcome.

Within a year another uniform set of apartments would have blossomed.

So long as no one looked too closely, he thought.


jhc-2
Copyright J. Hardy Carroll

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

93 responses to “THE PROPERTY DEVELOPER”

  1. Sandra Avatar

    A skilful fire-setter, it seems. Still, with a bit less care, two apartment blocks could have blossomed. Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra – I suspect it’s not his first time…

      Like

  2. Jane Dougherty Avatar

    Ha! I see we think along the same cynical lines. Good story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Absolutely! Thanks Jane 🙂

      Like

      1. Jane Dougherty Avatar
  3. Reena Saxena Avatar

    There is quite a lot between the lines. One of the advantages of microfiction 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Reena

      Liked by 1 person

  4. shehannemoore Avatar

    Yes. How to get anything done. Good story .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Shehanne, a little shortcut here and there just to get things moving lol

      Liked by 1 person

      1. shehannemoore Avatar

        Happens all the time .

        Liked by 1 person

  5. MrBinks Avatar
    MrBinks

    I really like this; nicely written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Irene

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Danny James Avatar

    They always return to the scene of their crime.

    DJ

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Which may be their undoing. Thanks Danny.

      Like

  7. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Pretty much the story of the building in the photo. It was a bagel shop in a 150-year-old building. Was it arson? Hard to say. I know that the lot was really valuable and they built a high rise there.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks – interesting to know that was what actually happened!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. k rawson Avatar

    Well done, as always Iain. Knowing the actual history of this photo, I think you cut to the truth on this one. Your narrator is a developer, but the writer may be a psychic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, thank you. Such a shame, looks like it was a lovely old building.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. neilmacdon Avatar

    I liked what wasn’t said here

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  10. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Hey, Iain, you are on fire this week! Thanks for using the correct plural of cannon ie. cannons!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re welcome – I see what you did there 🙂

      Like

  11. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    Very identifiable. Love your take.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. trentpmcd Avatar

    Looks like we had similar thoughts today. That’s one reason I never read any of them until after I click “Publish”.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, a couple of others too – property developers are getting a bad rep this week!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. trentpmcd Avatar

        I have read Jane’s story, so, yeah, a lot of arson and wicked property developers.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    That’s one methodical arson. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      All about efficiency. Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  14. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    So much to story left unsaid, but understood.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Clare

      Like

  15. magarisa Avatar

    The last line tied it all up nicely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, that was my hope.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. James Avatar

    Ah, another arson story, though I should talk since I leveraged that theme as well. I felt bad about the old building. I’m glad there’s a process by which historic buildings are preserved, but we have all too many cookie-cutter neighborhoods and shopping centers in the world already and they’re growing exponentially.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Great story! This reminded me of the old days in Spain when property developers used to start fires on mountainsides so that the land would be redesignated and allow them to build.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It seems there’s a lot of this going on!

      Like

      1. bbryanthomas Avatar
        bbryanthomas

        Build’m fast. Good story Iian

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Lynn Love Avatar

    I thought it looked like a theatre too, though couldn’t quite tell what it is. Yes, who needs architectural heritage lying empty when there are luxury apartments that can be built. And who cares if the local people can’t afford to live in them, just so long as a few hundred thousand can be made? Nicely done, Iain, though sadly believable

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The best architecture manages to blend or refurbish the old in with the new. You don’t see much of it…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        Takes too much thought and effort and money. So much easier to level the lot and throw up a blank block in its place.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. pennygadd51 Avatar

    A fluent take on the prompt, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Penny

      Like

  20. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Such an awful and sad realistic feel here, Iain. And to see that it is what, in essence, truly happened… Makes it even more so!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  21. granonine Avatar

    I’m not sure why, but to me, arson is one of the most despicable of crimes. I hope this guy gets caught. Soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Unfortunately it seems they get away with it much too often.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. granonine Avatar

        Yes. Seems they commit this crime multiple times before they’re finally caught.

        Liked by 1 person

  22. draliman Avatar

    Darn these big developers (whom I’ve decided are behind it and it’s not just a happy coincidence). No appreciation of culture.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Culture vs. Money – there’s only ever one winner.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Varad Avatar

    A very expected, but satisfying denouement. Nicely done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Varad

      Like

  24. Norma Avatar

    Nice one Iain. 🙂 No I don’t mean this one…that one…this. You know what I mean.

    Like

  25. Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly) Avatar

    Progress brought to you by a match… I’ve always wondered about those “accidental fires.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 Thanks for reading Susie

      Like

  26. Vivian Zems Avatar

    What a horrible man!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yep, but not entirely fictional it seems.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Vivian Zems Avatar

        I’m sure not….sigh!

        Liked by 1 person

  27. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Yes we had one do that in Aus. Historic pub… ‘accidently’ demolished by developer. The fine was not worth the pain. Terrible

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      From the comments this week, it seems to happen more than I thought…

      Liked by 1 person

  28. D. Avery @shiftnshake Avatar

    I despise that guy already. Good telling of the tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading 🙂

      Like

  29. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    Really liked your take on the prompt and beautifully done, as always.
    I guess, scientists need to develop secret medicines for greed control in this chaotic world.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That would be a good thing to cure!

      Like

  30. Balaka Avatar

    OMG!! we wrote similar stories..I read it after posting mine..I guess we think alike…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s been a common theme this week!

      Liked by 1 person

  31. rgayer55 Avatar

    Greed drives it’s own train. Excellent use of the prompt, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Alice Audrey Avatar

    Arson? Grrrrrr.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  33. rachelmalik99 Avatar
    rachelmalik99

    Hi Iain, this is a great story. I love that word ‘remarkably’ as the perspective definitively starts to change…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rachel, really nice comment.

      Like

  34. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    As a lover of history and preservation, your story makes me cringe.
    Good write.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  35. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I think this happens often… there are always those who benefit from destruction.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  36. neeltheauthor Avatar

    As usual a wonderfully written story, Kelly. Good story. Arson seems to be the guiding theme with quite a few of us fictioneers. Mine included arson orchestrated murder.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Neel – yes, a lot of sinister fires this week!

      Like

  37. Lavanya Avatar
    Lavanya

    The story between the lines is much bigger than the story written. You are a master of innuendo, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  38. Nan Falkner Avatar

    Arsonists are the lowest of scum. They kill and ruin other peoples entire lives so they can watch (in their minds) the glory of the fire. Very good story Iain. Nicely written!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Nan

      Like

  39. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    It sounds like a job for fire investigators. There’s usually some detail the arsonist misses. I hope they discover it. The criminals usually think they’re too smart to be caught. Good writing with great description, Iain. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Suzanne

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Dahlia Avatar

    Oh so that’s how it is done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Handy tip to remember 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  41. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    I hope the fire investigators dig deep and the developer has his fingers burned and pockets emptied. Is that too strong? 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I don’t think so 🙂

      Like

  42. Woman walking Max Avatar

    Very topical in the UK – good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – unfortunately so.

      Like

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