Iain Kelly

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.