IAIN KELLY

HITMAN

Phillips pressed himself against a wall. The alleyways of the old town were the ideal place to confront his pursuer.

He had noticed her in the bar earlier. He flattered himself that she was paying particular attention to him out of personal attraction.

She had followed him when he left. Hitmen were becoming dangerously attractive these days.

The footsteps drew closer.

‘Are you willing to negotiate?’ Phillips called out.

‘My employer will accept only one outcome.’ Her voice was smooth as silk.

Phillips consoled himself that this time was self-defence.

He raised his switchblade to neck height and stepped out of the shadows.


HPIM0533.JPG
© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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.

The character of Phillips previously appeared in my short story OLD FRIEND.

101 responses to “HITMAN”

  1. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    He made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Actually, it wasn’t an offer. He shot him in the face. 🙂

    Nicely done

    Liked by 1 person

  2. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Tense little story and a fatal attraction. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  3. Balaka Avatar

    That is a good thriller…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  4. cfoleywriting Avatar
    cfoleywriting

    Oooo I like this story! You pack a lot of plot into this, and I love the way it ends – leaves me to imagine the kind of epic face-off the two would have!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, much appreciated 🙂

      Like

  5. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Intriguing!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Lynn Love Avatar

    Well, it’s kill or be killed in their world – she’d understand! Savage little tale, Iain, nicely told

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        My pleasure, Iain 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Annie Avatar

    So that’s where knights have been hiding – in the alleyway! Great story, Iain!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Annie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    I can’t imagine a happy ending here – unless….err, no!
    Please click to read my FriFic

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      No, I think it’s too much to hope for!

      Like

  9. Courtney Wright Avatar

    Hm.. which one will die?? Good one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Courtney 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. shehannemoore Avatar

    Wonderful writing as aye. Sorry I have been so busy I have not had time to leave comments last few posts xxxxxxxxxxx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      No worries, I know you are always watching 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. shehannemoore Avatar

        Oh there are blogs I never miss.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. joyroses13 Avatar

    Great job! Though.I wasn’t ready for it to end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Best to end while the going is still good! Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. joyroses13 Avatar

        Ha Ha! True. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  12. hombrehompson Avatar
  13. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover Avatar
    Life Lessons of a Dog Lover

    Nicely done. How did you get such a dark tale from a such a sunlight scene?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I know. At least I’m not the online, there are a few dark takes from such a nice photo. I see narrow alleys in an old town and I immediately think spy thriller! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    Love the third paragraph – well, the whole story really. Except for the knife part. That made me shudder.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Alicia, I’m glad the knife part had an impact as it was designed to.

      Like

  15. Christine Goodnough Avatar

    Dark, dark — like the alley shadows.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Christine

      Like

  16. granonine Avatar

    Suspense–and leaving us to create our own outcome 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. rgayer55 Avatar

    I sense he may have brought a knife to a gunfight.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A classic mistake to make.

      Like

  18. plaridel Avatar

    i’d like to think he’s got the upper hand, but i’d been mistaken so many times. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, someone walks away from this encounter, bit who? 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    I like how he assumes she’s attracted to him… may she be swifter! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She may well be, both swifter and attracted to him 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. gravadee Avatar

    Super thriller.
    This can become a book or maybe a movie

    Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, definitely a character I would like to write more about.

      Like

  21. patrickprinsloo Avatar

    Oh dear and I thought they would end up having an espresso together.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not this time unfortunately!

      Like

  22. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I also thought that they would end up having a coffee together after a dammed good fight,🤕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      No happy endings here I’m afraid.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oooo who will leave that battle alive? They might be well matched. A lot of good tension in this one

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laurie, glad you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. wmqcolby Avatar

    Got some good suspense and action going on here. Very cool, Iain. Personally, I would have used a gun instead of a switchblade. Their clean and knives get messy. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Guns attract attention and not so easy to conceal. Our man is old school 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  25. wmqcolby Avatar

    I meant “they’re” not “their.”
    And here I complain about people’s grammar …

    Liked by 1 person

  26. draliman Avatar

    That’s a dangerous world they both live in. I just finished reading “Orphan X”, reminded me a bit of that. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Nice compliment, thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. ceayr Avatar

    My kind of story, short, brutal and well done. Excellent.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, appreciate the praise.

      Like

  28. Rebecca Stonehill Avatar

    So impressive what can be done in 100 words! I liked the smooth as silk voice. And the open ending! Nicely done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rebecca

      Like

  29. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    Thrilling read. Would love to read more about Philip.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. I think he will pop up again in future stories, if he survives this encounter! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Mrs. Completely Avatar

    Well done, Iain! Love the whole mood. :o)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  31. Nan Falkner Avatar

    Dear Iain, I’m glad Phillips was prepared – lucky for him! This story is so good, I truly enjoyed it – very Cloak and Dagger! Nan

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Nan

      Like

  32. Nan Falkner Avatar

    Such an engaging and terrifying encounter. Glad he was prepared! Nan

    Liked by 1 person

  33. L.E.R.T Avatar

    The moment when the hunter becomes the hunted. Clever twist at the end. Well done. Cheers, Varad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, much appreciated.

      Like

  34. jellico84 Avatar
    jellico84

    Evil little back alley tale well told.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. justjoyfulness Avatar

    Oh dear! I hope they only kill each other with their gaze 😀 Nice little cat-and-mouse tale!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That would be nice! 🙂

      Like

  36. mandibelle16 Avatar
    mandibelle16

    Oh! Great job leaving us hanging! Who succeeds?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I hadn’t really thought what happens next, but Phillips is a character I can see returning, so I guess he gets out of this one!

      Liked by 1 person

  37. James Avatar

    Handgun cancels switchblade. *BANG*

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      So crude, there’s no artistry in a handgun! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. James Avatar

        It’s effective.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Sascha Darlington Avatar

        Don’t you remember the scene from Indiana Jones where this fabulous swordsman shows off and then Indie swears, pulls out his gun and shoots him? It IS very effective. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Iain Kelly Avatar

        And also very crude…and funny! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  38. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Great story. So concise. I semi-expected her to pull out a gun or to ambush him somehow. One should not underestimate just because she’s a woman. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure he doesn’t underestimate her, hence his preemptive move.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sascha Darlington Avatar

        🙂 I’m not good at chess.

        Liked by 1 person

  39. neeltheauthor Avatar

    It’s a dog eat dog world out there, isn’t it? Well written, as usual, Lian.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  40. Michael Wynn Avatar

    Got to look after number one, after ll she had her chance

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    I love the penultimate line and that assassins are becoming dangerously attractive!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Clare

      Like

  42. Dahlia Avatar

    Who won?! An engaging thriller Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe I’ll put it to a vote to decide! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dahlia Avatar

        Good idea!

        Liked by 1 person

  43. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    Great thriller, Iain. He sounds quite experienced. I wonder how many other hitmen/women he’s run into. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He’s managed a long career in an industry that is notorious for a short life span!

      Liked by 1 person

  44. csheldonblog Avatar

    Good piece of work 🙂 Does this come before or after “old friend” I love it how you manage to include things from your other writers in friday fictioners!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I hadn’t thought of an exact timeline. I would guess after. Thank you 🙂

      Like

      1. csheldonblog Avatar

        maybe I should go back and read lol

        Liked by 1 person

  45. subroto Avatar

    Intriguing end, wonder who survived in the end? Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  46. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    I love this suspenseful ending!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dawn

      Liked by 1 person

  47. Miles Rost Avatar

    Round 1. FIGHT! Well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Miles 🙂

      Like

  48. Vivian Zems Avatar

    The story unfolds….intriguing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Vivian

      Liked by 1 person

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