Flash fiction / puzzle thriller

Take Away

Always check your receipts… A short story told through pizza receipts.

The following receipts are from a pizza restaurant in South London. They were key evidence in the investigation of the disappearance of 9-year old Macie Adams.

TRANSCRIPT:

Receipt #1:

1 x HAWAIIAN (XL) 9.99

— EXTRA PINEAPPLE

— EXTRA HAM

CUSTOMER COMMENT: HAWAIIAN EXTRA LARGE PLEASE. MORE EVERYTHING!

Receipt #2:

1 x ITALIAN MEAT SPECIAL 12.99

— SWAP SALAMI FOR NDUJA SAUSAGE

— ADD RICOTTA CHEESE

CUSTOMER COMMENT: PLEASE REPLACE ITALIAN SAUSAGE. ONLY NDUJA. EXTRA RICOTTA

Receipt #3:

1 x CHEESY GARLIC DOUGH BALLS 3.99

— DIP 1: CHILLI SAUCE

— DIP 2: PEPPER SAUCE

— NOTE: EXTRA GARLIC

CUSTOMER COMMENT: GARLIC EVERYTHING, THANKS! CHILLI OR PEPPER SAUCE

Receipt #4:

1 x PEPSI LIGHT 1.5l 2.50

1 x EVIAN 1.5l 2.50

1 x FANTA ORANGE 1.5l 2.50

CUSTOMER COMMENT: PEPSI LITE ZERO BOTLE, EVIAN, FANTA AND STRAWS THANKS

Newspaper article:

MISSING GIRL, 9, SAVED BY PIZZA CHEF

Lewisham. A missing girl was saved from kidnappers thanks to an observant takeaway pizza chef.

Dean Francis, 20, noticed strange messages in a series of orders from a customer.

His boss alerted police who attended the customer’s address, where they found 9-year old Macie Adams handcuffed in a basement.

The quick-witted victim had asked her kidnappers to order pizza for her 9th birthday. She even persuaded them to add comments on the PizzaPower delivery app.

Mr Francis, a 2nd year student working part time as a chef at the popular South London pizza restaurant, noticed the hidden acronyms and alerted authorities.

Thanks for reading!

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