He ate the last crumbs, rolled up the wrapper and tossed it in the back.
Still hungry. Should’ve stopped at a store for provisions on the way.
Across the street nothing happened. He stared at the unmoving windows and door.
How long had it been? Three hours. Another five before the night shift took over.
The door opened. Not our guy. Just the old woman across the hall.
He felt tired. Maybe a stroll in the fresh air would help.
No, best stay put. Roll the window down at least.
Birdsong. Traffic. The sounds of a neighbourhood.
And keep watching.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
With all the turmoil going on around the world, it felt nice to write a story where, on the surface at least, nothing is happening.
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
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Iain Kelly 
72 responses to “THE STAKEOUT”
Watching, waiting, listening. The life of a PI, I guess. I felt the boredom.
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I thought we could all do with a little quiet time just now.
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Nothing is happening, but violence is waiting just round the corner
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That’s the modern world we live in.
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A well-told thriller with no thrills.
Where is Emilio Estevez when you need him?
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No thrills, no spills, just peace. Not much of a film tagline for Stakeout III.
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I think I can hear his stomach rumble.😀
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Ha 🙂
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Nice tension building.
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Thank you
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Dear Iain,
Well drawn picture of a stake out. Tense, yet boring.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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This sounds like one litter filled car to be avoided, 😉
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All part of the job.
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Wow. I want to know who and why he’s watching. Sounds like a good p.i. novel.
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Thank you Eugenia, you got exactly the sense I wished to convey.
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Watching waiting, soon sometime never. You set the scene perfectly Iain.
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Thank you Keith. I wonder how many stakeouts end with nothing happening – in films they always seem to be there at the right moment to catch the bad guy!
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Absolutely!
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Very interested in who he is trying to see doing what! 🙂
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Let your imagination run with it! 🙂
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Very nice, Iain. I particularly liked the experience of it, the atmosphere. And, yes, we could use a little quiet at this time. 🙂
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Thank you – so much going on, I want a job where I can just sit quietly!
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It’s not all car chases and catching your man, is it? I could feel the time drag. Well done!
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Thanks Dale, it’s nice to take some time out and slow down for a change 🙂
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Yes, it is! 🙂
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You’re a brave man, Iain, regaling us with a story in which nothing happens (on the surface). Your technique is so good, you succeed. Kudos!
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Thanks Penny, I like to set myself these little challenges!
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For some reason your piece reminds me of the Monty P sketch “A minute passed”!! Good stuff Iain, its nice to see nothing going on…
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Love Monty P. That could be a good tonic to watch right now in fact.
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Such a lot of bad news, it’s reaching critical mass now
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a quiet before the storm. i could see suspense building.
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Thank you
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Surveillance would drive me crazy. You’ve drawn it clearly!
I finished “State of War” a couple of days ago. Best yet! One of my favorite characters died. Another one lived. So much intrigue, corruption, deceit, hunger for power, little value in human life if it doesn’t fit the over-all plan. You’ve grown with each book, and it’s been exciting to watch it happen. So, what’s next?
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Thanks on both counts, Linda! Glad you liked the book, and your thoughts mirror my own – I felt my writing was improving with each one – so glad you felt the same as a reader. A couple of ideas for something next – all I will say is it won’t be sci-fi or set in the future, or deal with politics – too much of that in the real world now! Still awaiting first review on Amazon, if you are able to leave a couple of kind words it would really be appreciated – and thank you for being such a loyal and encouraging reader 🙂 ❤️️
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You’re very welcome :). I will take care of the review on Amazon as well.
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I’ve looked for a way to leave a recommendation for your books, but so far I’m not having any success. How do I get to a place where I can do that?
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Not to worry Linda. Amazon seem to be very picky about who they let review items. There should be an option there for you to leave a review on the book page, but if there isn’t, never mind, thanks for trying 🙂
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I’ll look again 🙂
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Well done, Iain. I felt like I was there.
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Thank you
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You’re welcome.
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I could feel the tension building. Maybe the guy he was looking for escaped while he was munching 🙂 🙂 🙂
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You get the feeling he’s not the most committed to his work 😉
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The reality of police work. And when he gets back to the station he’ll have to fill out 3 hours of paperwork explaining how nothing happened…
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They never show that bit in the movies either.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
YOWSA—WELL-DONE!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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yes SIR !
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The spy, the PI and the Undercover police, they all find comfort in food doing the hard slog of waiting and watching and waiting . Well told.
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Thanks James
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Are the joys of being stuck in a small hot space… Oh wait
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Yeah, I’ve done a lot of lockdown comfort eating too…
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I sure have too!
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It must be so difficult to keep alert for eight hours!
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I struggle at my work anyway!
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I could never do it! I’d wander off out of boredom or frustration. And I could feel his frustration mounting.
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Thank you Fatima
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That’s going to be a hard five hours, nothing to eat, wanting to sleep and nothing to do. I should imagine he’ll succomb to slumber. Well written, Iain.
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Thanks Michael
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You say there’s nothing happening, but the tension is building. It’s palpable. Good one.
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Thank you
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Nice one but I think our man deserves a good steak out after this.
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Ha, love it 😉
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When is the provision store going to open? I am feeling sorry for the guy 😒
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Perhaps he can order a take out to be delivered to him!
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It’s only in books where detective work is filled with action… the dreary waiting… (and the lousy pay)
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Thanks Bjorn
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Presenting mundane with such beauty
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Thank you Ruby 🙂
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I don’t think I could do it!.
Amazingly told.
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Thanks Dawn
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