IAIN KELLY

ALL PART OF THE GAME

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.


closet-shower-2
Copyright 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.

Other stories featuring the character of the spy Phillips can be found HERE.

102 responses to “ALL PART OF THE GAME”

  1. jacquelineobyikocha Avatar

    That’s a gripping start.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    Ah that shower curtain! A Hitchcockian moment

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      An old staple, but still effective.

      Like

  3. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    What a terrible miss ! Intriguing story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  4. justjoyfulness Avatar

    Hmmmm …. Very James Bond. But looks like he has met his match 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, he certainly has 🙂

      Like

  5. Martin Cororan Avatar
    Martin Cororan

    …And there in the street he saw a naked woman running towards two men in party dresses…We should combine forces!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, that would be great to see those two dramas collide 🙂

      Like

    2. Varad Avatar

      Please do 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  6. joyroses13 Avatar

    Ahhh! She outwitted him, love it! Continue on! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, lots of different ways it could go 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    The great escape! Brilliant Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith

      Like

  8. Miles Rost Avatar

    She slipped him. He should know this would happen. Well done, and I’m hoping to hear or see more about it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Miles – you think he would’ve seen enough movies to know what was coming!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. neeltheauthor Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Only one can survive… Thanks Neel

      Like

  10. rochellewisoff Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I couldn’t make it that easy for him. Thanks Rochelle.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Varad Avatar

    And Diana Prince was perched on top of the building, smirking. Good read there, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, I hadn’t thought of bringing Wonder Woman into it, but why not?

      Like

  12. Lynn Love Avatar

    Well, she was one step – several steps? – ahead of him there. Maybe next time? Nicely paced thriller Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Way ahead of him, I think he has his work cut out. Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        He’s going to have to sharpen his game 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  13. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Well done. Looking forward to their next “meeting.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He’s got a lot of work to do to catch her.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    A bit like Psycho! Except with a gun. Really cinematic, though.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, I’ll take that compliment all day long.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. rgayer55 Avatar

    Maybe he should have used a water pistol. Try that with your wife sometime and let me know how it works out for you. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Erm, I think I can already tell you to the answer to that one without trying it…!

      Like

  16. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    He evidently needs a reminder – Don’t get too cocky. Nicely played out.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Always useful to be reminded not to be complacent – especially in his line of work! Thanks Alicia.

      Like

  17. pennygadd51 Avatar

    I want to know where the bullets finished up! Nice action story, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The sequel is the tiler who gets the call the next day to come and replace three broken tiles! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. k rawson Avatar

    Tense story with an excellent twist!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Jane Dougherty Avatar

    That shower is certainly attracting a lot of action! Gripping!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Amazing the amount of dramas that can happen in a shower!!

      Like

  20. Jelli Avatar
    Jelli

    Ah, me suspects she’s smarter than the average hitman, eh! Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Certainly won this round! Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  21. any1mark Avatar

    Nice touch of tension and use of the open window trick. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  22. Indira Avatar

    Knowing his intentions won’t she get him first next time. You created tension very well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He will certainly have to watch his back.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. James Avatar

    Thought maybe he’d turn to see her pointing a gun at him. BANG!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Christine Goodnough Avatar

      I did, too. Justice served on a drip. 😑

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That could certainly be one outcome if the story continued for a few more words.

      Like

  24. Joy Pixley Avatar

    Aha, she’s onto him! Wasn’t sure who to root for here, but either way, the trick ending was more satisfying. Great tension!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Joy – as with anyone who is a spy, both have some moral ambiguity.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Joy Pixley Avatar

        Ah, good point.

        Liked by 1 person

  25. Christine Goodnough Avatar

    Sorry to be such w wet blanket, but the most obvious lesson here would be: lock your door before showering.🙃

    Like

  26. Christine Goodnough Avatar

    Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but the most obvious lesson here would be: lock your door before showering.🙃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, very true – unless her plan was to draw him into that room deliberately…

      Like

  27. granonine Avatar

    I’m glad she fooled him. Smart cookie.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Alice Audrey Avatar

    Without knowing anything else, I find myself cheering for the woman.

    Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Most people seem to feel the same, which is quite interesting – she may be a very bad person!

      Like

  29. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ah, interesting reading, thanks Dale.

      Like

  30. Rowena Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rowena, will be sure to read yours 🙂

      Like

  31. beautyswot Avatar

    Ooh masterful! I am liking this game of cat and mouse – I wonder who is going to come out on top

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She definitely seems to have the upper hand just now.

      Like

  32. draliman Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think he’s more than met his match. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  33. David Borrowdale Avatar

    I thought this was headed in a completely different direction when I read concealed microphones in the shower! Good stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks David

      Like

  34. Fluid Phrase Avatar

    This is a gripping tale. The suspense builds up very well and the ending is unexpected too. Good one!

    Like

  35. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I almost expect to hear the sound behind him of a gun being cocked.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sarah Avatar

      Loved this! The anxiety is palpable.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Thanks Sarah

        Like

    2. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The word count didn’t allow for what happened next.

      Like

  36. plaridel Avatar

    a butcher’s knife would have been preferable. maybe next time. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That scenes already been done as good as it can be done 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oooo great tension. I was sucked in from the first! I certainly want more

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

  38. wmqcolby Avatar

    … and we’re off and running! Good start on an intriguing story, Iain. Fun from start to finish. Marvelous.

    Like

  39. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover Avatar
    Life Lessons of a Dog Lover

    Nice build up in tension. The end just added more suspense, which I liked.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Dahlia Avatar

    Taut and thrilling, loved how she hoodwinked him 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Kalpana Solsi Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Liz Young Avatar

    He obviously gave himself away somehow!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not as smart as he thought he was.

      Like

  43. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    I like how you wrote this Lain. The action, step by step.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  44. gravadee Avatar

    Such a gripping story. I want to know more
    well written

    Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says

    Liked by 1 person

  45. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar

    Well written tension and drama Iain. You certainly left this reader wanting more

    Like

  46. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    Great action scene. I like her, she’s smart.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  47. magarisa Avatar

    Outsmarted! Excellent action scene.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. athling2001 Avatar

    Well done! So who is the good guy and who the bad?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Or are there any good guys left at all? Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. athling2001 Avatar

        Good question!

        Liked by 1 person

  49. Vivian Zems Avatar

    Seems he’s met his match…now for the next episode….

    Liked by 1 person

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