IAIN KELLY

THE SECRETS OF A LADY

The detective looked at the cluttered space. Perhaps the motive for killing a harmless elderly woman, known for her successful fiction novels, was hidden among the mess on this desk.

He pulled open a drawer, careful to avoid the stains of red blood. Nothing there, but when he tried to close it, the drawer hit something.

He pulled the drawer out and reached into the gap behind it. His fingers closed round an object stuck to the wall.

Three old 3.5 inch floppy disks. A handwritten sticky label – ‘The Real Story.’

Somehow he knew. The answer was on these disks.

Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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).

To read more stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

74 responses to “THE SECRETS OF A LADY”

  1. OIKOSâ„¢- Art, Books & more Avatar
    OIKOSâ„¢- Art, Books & more

    Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. OIKOSâ„¢- Art, Books & more Avatar
    OIKOSâ„¢- Art, Books & more

    Great! Thanks for sharing, and have a nice day! xx Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Michael, you too 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  3. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    She may have become a character of her own imagining!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It could all be a dream! Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  4. Linda Curry Avatar
    Linda Curry

    Now to find a computer still operating that takes floppy disks.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Someone will have one in a loft somewhere! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  5. Sadje Avatar
    Sadje

    Very intriguing story Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Sadje 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Yamini Ali MacLean Avatar
    Yamini Ali MacLean

    Hari OM
    A tale that requires expanding!!! (Like the bloggy makeover too…) YAM xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you (gearing up for the new book launch with a new look!)

      Like

      Reply
  7. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    Good luck reading those floppy discs. LOL. I’m sure there’s a computer geek out there who can solve the mystery. Well constructed story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Someone will still have a disk drive for them 🙂 Thanks Rochelle

      Like

      Reply
  8. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Well, good grief! Now I’m left imagining all sorts of explanations. . . .

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      She obviously has the truth about someone who doesn’t want it coming out…! Thanks Linda 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. trishsplace Avatar
    trishsplace

    How great that you’ve a book coming!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Trish, looking forward to people reading it 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  10. elmowrites Avatar
    elmowrites

    Oooh! The beginnings of a bigger mystery for sure. I wonder how Rochelle feels about being murdered this week… hopefully it won’t happen too many times!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      🙂 I thought she might have mentioned it, but maybe she thought it best not to! Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    The killer left the answer – the motive for killing? No killer will leave such clue.

    The lady had secrets that she had documented in the disks ages ago, right?
    The Missing Girl – Anita Sabat

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      That’s right, I guess the killer didn’t know about the hidden back up disks behind the drawer 😉

      Like

      Reply
  12. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    I too have a detective in my story this time!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. scr4pl80 Avatar
    scr4pl80

    Great intro. Immediately thought of Jessica Fletcher. Nice new blog space 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Janet! Preparing for the new book launch with a blog refresh, glad you like it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    Very interested to know what’s on those discs!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Have you got a floppy disk reader?! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. creatingahome Avatar
    creatingahome

    Great story! The killer sounds either volatile or they underestimated the old lady.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Old ladies are often underestimated – do so at your peril! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    A lucky break for the detective! Lovely fluent writing, as always, Neil.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. pennygadd51 Avatar
      pennygadd51

      I must be going doolally! I meant Iain, of course. Sorry!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    2. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Penny 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  17. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar
    Inside the Mind of Isadora

    He sure got lucky when the drawer wouldn’t close.
    A bit of an old style disc for him to work with. I’m
    sure it will be worth it to solve the mystery. Nice one, Neil.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Isadora

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar
    Inside the Mind of Isadora

    HA HA HA … I read the comment by Penny above and had Neil still on my mind.
    Mmmm … Neil must be leaving his mark behind, and Penny and I found it. I suppose
    we’re detectives too, Iain. HA HA HA

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      🙂 I was starting to get a little paranoid! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar
        Inside the Mind of Isadora

        No need … just my distracted mind. HA HA

        Liked by 1 person

  19. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    I like how you split that last bit into two sentences. Too bad the old broad had to die first 😦 Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      But she will have the last laugh it seems 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  20. trentpmcd Avatar
    trentpmcd

    Wait, where am I? I don’t recognize the place… Anyway. I am sure there are many secrets still on old disks. Hopefully we can still find a drive that still works. At least they weren’t 5″ floppies, or, worse yet, 8 inch! (I don’t know if I have seen an 8″ since I was in college.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yes, I remember those big floppies that were actually floppy! Thanks Trent, hope the blog revamp wasn’t too confusing! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. trentpmcd Avatar
        trentpmcd

        After the first 1/10 second not too confusing. It’s a nice, very clean look.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    it looks like she wrote about her murder without even realizing it. anyway, congrats on the new look of your blog. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks, all set for book launch 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. GHLearner Avatar
    GHLearner

    Hah, I have an external USB Floppy drive. Let me write you a quotation, then I’ll provide the data for you. 🙂 Great take, Iain, and I like the new layout.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks, my detective may be in touch! 🙂 Thanks, all set for book launch next month!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Reena Saxena Avatar
    Reena Saxena

    You remind me of the TV Show “Murder, She Wrote…”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yes, the photo has that vibe too 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Floppy disks hey? That’s a trip down memory lane. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I do find comfort in the old tech, it’s nice that vinyl and cassettes are making a comeback! Thanks Sandra

      Like

      Reply
  25. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    Sounds like the start of your next novel.Nice one Neil – sorry, Iain! Like the new look by the way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha! Neil/Iain, I don’t mind! Thanks Keith, it seems to have gone done well with the FriFic readers.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Those disks must be read. Indeed, they contain the questions for which we now have he answer. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Bill, a perfect way to look at it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  27. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Murder on the Floppy Disks, yes it’s a title not used by Agatha Christie 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Hmm, not sure it’ll be a best seller with that title! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  28. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    Entertaining story, with a tantalising mystery. I’d like to know the answer too, – ‘the real story’. I hope your MC shares it when he finds out. I really like this one. And I just had to laugh at your word of warning about old ladies in a previous comment. So true.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Margaret, glad you liked this one! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. Vartika Avatar
    Vartika

    Reading floppy disk, difficult task. Intriguing story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Vartika

      Like

      Reply
  30. poetisatinta Avatar
    poetisatinta

    Great a greater mystery to unfold!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    Ah-ha! Now the hard part, finding something that can read 3.5 inch floppy disks. I bet everybody said the same thing. Oh well.

    Your blog looks different. I thought I was in the wrong place for a 3.5 inch second.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks, someone will have an old PC out there that can read the disks.

      New look for new book launch, hope you like it!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar
    Eugenia Parrish Author

    Oh, this is great! What a lead-in to a mystery short story? Even a novel?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Eugenia. We shall see…

      Like

      Reply
  33. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Oh, an intriguing mystery! I’d read more of this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

      Reply
  34. oneta hayes Avatar
    oneta hayes

    Please tell me what was on them. Pretty please. A whiney please. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha! I will have to think of a sequel! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. MythRider Avatar
        MythRider

        I agree. There must be a story to those floppy disks worth knowing.
        But I want to know what the not so real story is that must be retold by those floppy disks. I see more than one squeal on the horizon. ;0) Or maybe the novel someone earlier suggested.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        I’ll need to find the time to write it! Thanks 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. MythRider Avatar
        MythRider

        Time! Yes. I understand.

        Liked by 1 person

  35. Rowena Avatar
    Rowena

    I’m sure my husband has at least one old computer which could read that either in the garage or our office.
    They made it quite easy leaving that disk in the desk. Bit of a gift.
    Great story and casts more light on this week’s effort.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Like

    Reply

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