It wasn’t fair, Phillips knew, but he had given up any pretence of gentlemanly conduct long ago. Those that played fair ended up dead.
He had watched her enter the apartment and check for anything suspicious. She didn’t spot the concealed microphones planted behind the light fittings.
When he heard the shower turn on, he crossed the street.
Now he crept across the hallway, gun drawn.
A breath to steady himself. In one motion: door flung open; three shots fired through the shower curtain.
Something felt wrong. He pulled the curtain aside. Empty.
A breeze. He turned and saw the open window.
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.
Other stories featuring the character of the spy Phillips can be found HERE.
That’s a gripping start.
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Thank you
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Ah that shower curtain! A Hitchcockian moment
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An old staple, but still effective.
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What a terrible miss ! Intriguing story.
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Thanks Moon
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Hmmmm …. Very James Bond. But looks like he has met his match 🙂
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Thank you, he certainly has 🙂
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…And there in the street he saw a naked woman running towards two men in party dresses…We should combine forces!
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Haha, that would be great to see those two dramas collide 🙂
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Please do 😀
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Ahhh! She outwitted him, love it! Continue on! 🙂
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Thank you, lots of different ways it could go 🙂
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The great escape! Brilliant Iain
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Thanks Keith
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She slipped him. He should know this would happen. Well done, and I’m hoping to hear or see more about it!
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Thank you Miles – you think he would’ve seen enough movies to know what was coming!
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Hope he gets back at her the next time if there is one.
Looks like the start of one deadly winner takes all game. Good one. Kelly.
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Only one can survive… Thanks Neel
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Dear Iain,
When he fired those shots I was afraid a naked body would fall through the shower curtain. Well written piece of intrigue.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I couldn’t make it that easy for him. Thanks Rochelle.
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And Diana Prince was perched on top of the building, smirking. Good read there, Iain.
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Ha, I hadn’t thought of bringing Wonder Woman into it, but why not?
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Well, she was one step – several steps? – ahead of him there. Maybe next time? Nicely paced thriller Iain
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Way ahead of him, I think he has his work cut out. Thanks Lynn.
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He’s going to have to sharpen his game 🙂
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Well done. Looking forward to their next “meeting.”
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He’s got a lot of work to do to catch her.
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A bit like Psycho! Except with a gun. Really cinematic, though.
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Thank you, I’ll take that compliment all day long.
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Maybe he should have used a water pistol. Try that with your wife sometime and let me know how it works out for you. 🙂
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Erm, I think I can already tell you to the answer to that one without trying it…!
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He evidently needs a reminder – Don’t get too cocky. Nicely played out.
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Always useful to be reminded not to be complacent – especially in his line of work! Thanks Alicia.
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I want to know where the bullets finished up! Nice action story, Iain!
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The sequel is the tiler who gets the call the next day to come and replace three broken tiles! 🙂
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Hahaha!
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Tense story with an excellent twist!
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Thank you
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That shower is certainly attracting a lot of action! Gripping!
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Amazing the amount of dramas that can happen in a shower!!
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🙂
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Ah, me suspects she’s smarter than the average hitman, eh! Loved it!
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Certainly won this round! Thanks 🙂
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Nice touch of tension and use of the open window trick. 🙂
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Thanks Mark
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Knowing his intentions won’t she get him first next time. You created tension very well.
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He will certainly have to watch his back.
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Thought maybe he’d turn to see her pointing a gun at him. BANG!
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I did, too. Justice served on a drip. 😑
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That could certainly be one outcome if the story continued for a few more words.
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Aha, she’s onto him! Wasn’t sure who to root for here, but either way, the trick ending was more satisfying. Great tension!
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Thanks Joy – as with anyone who is a spy, both have some moral ambiguity.
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Ah, good point.
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Sorry to be such w wet blanket, but the most obvious lesson here would be: lock your door before showering.🙃
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Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but the most obvious lesson here would be: lock your door before showering.🙃
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Ha, very true – unless her plan was to draw him into that room deliberately…
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I’m glad she fooled him. Smart cookie.
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Thanks for reading.
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Without knowing anything else, I find myself cheering for the woman.
Great story!
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Most people seem to feel the same, which is quite interesting – she may be a very bad person!
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I thought for sure the three shots came from HER gun and he was stupefied to see himself bleeding… That said, good for her on getting away!
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Ah, interesting reading, thanks Dale.
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Well done. This was really well constructed with a great twist at the end. Very visual. I could really see it.
Here’s mine…I’m right down the end this week: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2017/08/17/minding-the-dog-friday-fictioneers/
xx Rowena
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Thanks Rowena, will be sure to read yours 🙂
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Ooh masterful! I am liking this game of cat and mouse – I wonder who is going to come out on top
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She definitely seems to have the upper hand just now.
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She’s on the defensive now but I bet she has a trick or two up her sleeve. He’s not as clever as he thought. Nice one!
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I think he’s more than met his match. Thank you.
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I thought this was headed in a completely different direction when I read concealed microphones in the shower! Good stuff.
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Thanks David
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This is a gripping tale. The suspense builds up very well and the ending is unexpected too. Good one!
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I almost expect to hear the sound behind him of a gun being cocked.
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Loved this! The anxiety is palpable.
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Thanks Sarah
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The word count didn’t allow for what happened next.
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a butcher’s knife would have been preferable. maybe next time. 🙂
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That scenes already been done as good as it can be done 🙂
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Oooo great tension. I was sucked in from the first! I certainly want more
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Thanks Laurie
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… and we’re off and running! Good start on an intriguing story, Iain. Fun from start to finish. Marvelous.
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Nice build up in tension. The end just added more suspense, which I liked.
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Thank you
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Taut and thrilling, loved how she hoodwinked him 😀
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Thank you
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He saw the open window….. was she standing with a gun behind him? Had she got a whiff of this killing? this is interesting. suspense is well-built up.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/phobia.html
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Thank you
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He obviously gave himself away somehow!
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Not as smart as he thought he was.
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I like how you wrote this Lain. The action, step by step.
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Thanks Dawn
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Such a gripping story. I want to know more
well written
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
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Thank you
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Well written tension and drama Iain. You certainly left this reader wanting more
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Great action scene. I like her, she’s smart.
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Thanks Gabi
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Outsmarted! Excellent action scene.
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Thank you
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Well done! So who is the good guy and who the bad?
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Or are there any good guys left at all? Thanks for reading.
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Good question!
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Seems he’s met his match…now for the next episode….
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