IAIN KELLY

THE PICTURE ON THE WALL

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.


spf-july-8-2018-1-of-1
Copyright Susan Spaulding

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 visit HERE.

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


TAGLINE

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘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 UK / AMAZON US

36 responses to “THE PICTURE ON THE WALL”

  1. jenanita01 Avatar

    Neat twist at the end there!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. robertawrites235681907 Avatar
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Robbie 🙂

      Like

  3. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Like it Iain, gripping stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  4. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    That’s one bad ass guy you have created Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Survival of the fittest Michael

      Liked by 1 person

  5. quiall Avatar

    Whew! Did not see that coming. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    You set the scene so well – then everything changed., Excellent

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Danny James Avatar

    Yikes. Nice take!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Danny

      Like

  8. ceayr Avatar

    Scottish noir, gotta love it!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think they call it Tartan Noir, but I’m not a fan of gangsters in kilts.

      Like

      1. ceayr Avatar

        Laughing. I am not a fan of everything Scottish being dubbed ‘Tartan’!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Di 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Jacquie Biggar Avatar

    I guess her number was called! Nice twist, Iian, enjoyed this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Jacquie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Violet Lentz Avatar

    Oh man that was nice!!! You’ve got a new fan!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Violet 🙂

      Like

  11. Abhijit Ray Avatar
    Abhijit Ray

    A short thriller. Both parties are ready to shoot, only a matter of who fires first. Job done, move on.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Annie Avatar

    Brilliant take on the prompt, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Annie. Hope you are well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Annie Avatar

        I am well, Iain, thank you. I hope you are too 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Piyali Avatar

    Some action-packed drama that is. I like your story, Lain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Susan Avatar

    Interesting story, Iain. It left me with a lot of wondering what happens next.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Jules Avatar

    Shadows hide those extra lumps in a pillow…
    A fitting response 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jules

      Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.