Another motel, another room, another picture on the wall. This one a broad wearing suspenders changing the tyre on a car. It wasn’t the worst one I’d seen.
Too many pillows on the bed. I picked one up and sat it on my lap, my back sat against the huge cushioned headboard.
The bedside lamp threw shadows up the wall and across the ceiling. It threw a shadow over the gun pointing at me from the corner of the room.
‘Been waiting long?’
‘Anytime spent in this dump is too long.’ she answered.
‘I’ve been in worse.’
She stood and slinked across the room. ‘Where is it?’
‘I was told to give it to Mickey.’
‘Mickey won’t be able to make it,’ her eyes flickered at the gun and I knew I wouldn’t ever see Mickey again.
‘What if I told you I don’t have it?’
The first look of doubt traced across that angular face. I heard the hammer on her gun click.
I didn’t wait to find out what happened next. The sound of my shot was muffled by the pillow on my lap.
She dropped to the floor with a red pool sprouting from her chest.
I hustled out of there. Time to find another room with another picture on the wall.

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Susan Spaulding. For more details visitย HERE.
To read more of the stories based on this weekโs prompt, visitย HERE.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธย ‘a first class read from start to finish…The book zips along, keeping the reader guessing until the end and making it quite unputdownable.’
A JUSTIFIED STATE, out now in PAPERBACK and on AMAZON KINDLE.
AMAZON UKย /ย AMAZON US
36 responses to “THE PICTURE ON THE WALL”
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Neat twist at the end there!
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Thank you ๐
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Great story, Iain.
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Thank you Robbie ๐
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Like it Iain, gripping stuff.
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Thank you ๐
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Thatโs one bad ass guy you have created Iain
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Survival of the fittest Michael
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Whew! Did not see that coming. Loved it!
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Thank you ๐
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You set the scene so well – then everything changed., Excellent
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Thanks Keith
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Yikes. Nice take!
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Thanks Danny
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Scottish noir, gotta love it!
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I think they call it Tartan Noir, but I’m not a fan of gangsters in kilts.
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Laughing. I am not a fan of everything Scottish being dubbed ‘Tartan’!
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Great stuff.
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Thanks Di ๐
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I guess her number was called! Nice twist, Iian, enjoyed this.
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Thank you Jacquie ๐
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Oh man that was nice!!! You’ve got a new fan!!
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Thank you so much Violet ๐
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A short thriller. Both parties are ready to shoot, only a matter of who fires first. Job done, move on.
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Thank you
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Brilliant take on the prompt, Iain!
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Thank you so much Annie. Hope you are well ๐
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I am well, Iain, thank you. I hope you are too ๐
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๐
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Some action-packed drama that is. I like your story, Lain.
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Thank you so much
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Interesting story, Iain. It left me with a lot of wondering what happens next.
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Thanks Susan
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Shadows hide those extra lumps in a pillow…
A fitting response ๐
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Thanks Jules
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