IAIN KELLY

SNOW DAY FOR A CONTRACT KILLER

The official advice was not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Ordinarily he wasn’t one to listen to official advice, he wouldn’t have much of a career if he followed the rules.

But heading out to work today, when no one else had left their houses, when there were no other cars on the road, when the land was so quiet and serene, would have been suspicious behaviour.

So he stayed home. He watched some trashy daytime TV, listened to the latest weather warnings on the radio, read a book. He ventured outside to clear the driveway and built a snowman for the fun of it.

The call came that evening.

‘What happened?’ the anonymous voice asked.

‘I took a snow day.’

He was met with silence, then, ‘It needed to happen today. Tomorrow is too late.’

‘I can’t control the weather.’

‘There will be repercussions for your breach of contract.’ The line went dead.

Oh well, he thought. After staring at the snow for the last week, he’d been contemplating retirement somewhere warm, sunny and far away.

By the time the snowman had melted the house was empty with a ‘For Sale’ sign in the garden.


26-jade-wong-march-4th-2018
Copyright Jade Wong

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Al Forbes. For more details visit HERE.

To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

27 responses to “SNOW DAY FOR A CONTRACT KILLER”

  1. joem18b Avatar

    definitely a first for me – assassin taking a snow day. cheers.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. JM Williams Avatar

    I laughed when I read the title. Everyone love a snow day…well except maybe The Man.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks – the weather is a great leveller, no matter what your job 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. JM Williams Avatar

        If only the bureaucrats understood this. I’ve had to go to school in a typhoon! Lol. Oh, Korea.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. draliman Avatar

    The treacherous conditions actually saved a life, maybe more!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A good way to look at it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    With the chilling voice of his employer I think he’s right to be retiring. With no one else venturing out he’d have been noticed and his liberty would have been at risk. The snow put him in a no-win situation.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Definitely a good time to get out and get some sun and relaxation – which is what I would do if I could give it all up and get away from this snow!

      Like

  5. ceayr Avatar

    So that’s how you get out of the business!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      As long as you have some savings tucked away.

      Like

  6. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Snow place like home on a day like that -preferably thousands of miles south!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Or Dubai 😉 Thanks Keith

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Susan Avatar

    I enjoyed your story Iain. I wonder if he will need to watch his back in that warm, sunny place he is hiding?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think he will have to wherever he stays – best to keep moving around I think!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Anna Rymer Avatar

    A really clever take on the prompt… you’re writing is always so smooth and enjoyable… really like it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Anna, very flattered 🙂

      Like

  9. James Avatar

    I understand you’re getting some pretty snowy weather your way. Makes sense you’d write such a tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, the line about wanting to move somewhere for some warm sunshine is just my basic thought at the moment!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar

    Well captured the sense of ennui of the killer. Good writing, as usual Kelly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Neel

      Like

  11. rogershipp Avatar

    Snow days alter schedules for the most unlikely occupations! Enjoyed !!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That was my thinking, thanks Roger.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. anuragbakhshi Avatar

    Caribbean next?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sounds good to me!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. athling2001 Avatar

    Well done. Great story. I really like the tone. Not frantic ups and down. Just calm and cold, like the weather, like the character of the narrator.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Like

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