The hard grit made for an uncomfortable place to lie.
He stared through the binoculars, searching for any sign of movement.
Midnight came and went. Dread crept over Phillips.
The double agent, codename Grasshopper, had been a high-valued source in Stasi headquarters for over ten years.
When the flash red signal was received, it was only Phillips who could be trusted with Grasshopper’s extraction.
The lay-by on the autobahn remained empty. Each approaching vehicle raised Phillips’ expectations only to dash them as the headlights flashed by.
He contemplated what could have made the Grasshopper jump. An emergency defection meant they had been discovered. If Grasshopper was caught the whole network would fall.
Another car approached. This one turned into the lay-by. The car came to a stop, the headlights flashed twice as instructed.
Grasshopper appeared. She looked as Phillips remembered her. The hair was still dark and luxurious, the body slim and athletic, wrapped in a tight black dress and knee-high boots.
She always did have style, even with only a secretary’s wage to live on.
Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Other stories featuring the British spy Phillips: THE PHILLIPS SPY STORIES.
It is amazing where the prompts take us. How you got to a Spying networks I don’t know, but then I came up with Noah !!!.
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Ha, thanks Mike, that is the joy of reading everyone else’s takes, so many good ideas and stories!
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incredible piece..in awe.
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Thank you so much.
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Grasshopper’s Hawt! 😀
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I think it helped make her a successful double agent.
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Full of intrigue. Loved this, kelly.
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Thanks Neel.
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LOL! Great story Iain! I understand how hard it is to dress in style on a secretaries salary! I enjoyed this!
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Thank you PJ!
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A most entertaining piece of flash fiction, Iain.
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Thank you, much appreciated.
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The mystery of spies somehow gets enhanced with styled glamor. Good one!
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Thanks Reena, a little bit of glamour always helps 🙂
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Certainly 🙂
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That is a great code name for the secret agent. I am not aware if it has been used before. Lovely read.
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Thank you, I will claim it for my story! 🙂
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Learnt some things new. Thanks, Iain.
Great story .
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You’re welcome, thanks Moon
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You capture Phillips’s sense of foreboding and unease so well. Would love to know what happens next too.
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Thank you Sarah Ann – as with most good spy stories, it probably doesn’t end well for everyone!
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Hoohoo, a double agent. Intriguing! And knee-high boots? Knockout
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Thanks Chad
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I like where you went with this Iain, very creative.
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Thanks Michael.
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