Welcome to a piece of Wednesday Word’s flash fiction on Darkling Dreams!
A good friend of mine, P.T. Wyant, is doing a blog post every Wednesday called Wednesday Words with a new prompt for a bit of flash fiction writing, just to get in the habit of writing something, anything. (Even if said flash fiction is complete garbage at the time. Garbage is better than nothing though, right?) If you’re looking for some inspiration yourself or just something to aimlessly write, then go check out her blog for this week’s prompt!
With that being said, I am going to share what I came up with for this week’s flash fiction Shard based off a three word combination prompt. So here is my very rough around the edges minute of inspiration based off her prompt. I’d love to hear what you guys think of it!
(Please excuse any errors you may see, I said it was rough around the edges.)
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Smoking Gun
“Well hello there, gorgeous.”
Marian tensed, her hand immediately reaching into her purse for her concealed weapon as she turned around, her guard up. Her body stilled as her gaze landed on sea-green eyes and a charming smile. She let out a quiet breath, relaxing her stance.
“Don’t you know not to sneak up on a girl like that, Michael?” More like not to sneak up on an undercover federal agent.
“Sorry, babe. I wanted to surprise you.” Michael held out a bouquet of carnations with a red balloon tied to the stems. “So, surprise.”
“What are these for?” She pursed her lips as she took the gift.
An amused chuckle left his lips. He took her arm and guided her into the restaurant. “You, my dear Cathy, are the first girl I have ever met that does not remember the day of their one month anniversary with their boyfriend.”
Pink crept into her cheeks. Was it really one month already? Lords, she had totally forgotten and lost track of time. Trying to juggle her secret identity and her real life was wearing her a bit thin after one year undercover. The simplest details were slipping her mind when she had to remember her cover always. Of course this was part of her cover so she should have remembered it. Although, she had a slight track record with him for being known as a little…forgetful. It made for a good excuse sometimes when she needed it.
“I suppose my mind escapes me sometimes. I never have been very good with dates and times.” She gave him a sheepish smile while Michael thanked the waiter and pulled out her chair for her. She took her seat and allowed him to push her in.
“That… That is quite true. I can’t argue it. You’ve forgotten our own date on occasion.”
Her brow creased in feigned guilt. “I’m dreadfully sorry about that yet.”
Not really. It was either blow you off or blow my cover. You’re a nice guy, on the outside at least, but you are just part of my job description. Perhaps even my smoking gun.
Michael waved off her apology. “Stop with the apologies already, we’re cool, babe.”
Marian forced a smile and looked down at the menu while Michael ordered them some drinks. This was going to be a long night, she could tell that much. Her mind was still back on the job, having been so close to getting a face to face with the Widower. If she could have gotten that, she would have had a ticket of gold in her hand for the department. It could have been the end of the–
“Cathy? Earth to Cathy? Are you in there, babe?”
Her eyes snapped up from the menu, yanking out of her thoughts. For a second she had forgotten her alias was Cathy Banks and had thought he was calling to someone else. “Hmm? Oh, sorry. I got distracted by all the yummy dishes they have listed.” Her smile was overly sweet.
Luckily for her, Michael was a bit of an idiot and he bought right into her lie, throwing the waiter a gleaming smile as he placed a glass of white wine on the table for her and a bottle of Budweiser beer for him on the table between them. She really shouldn’t drink on the job, but…she had to blend in and play along.
Too close a call, girl. Way too close. Get your head on straight.
“Are you two ready to order?” the waiter asked.
“Not just yet.” Michael looked to her. “I think we need another moment.” With a nod he walked away to attend to the other tables and Michael engrossed himself in his menu. “See anything you like?”
She turned her attention back to the menu, leafing through it. “Not just yet.” Her eyes caught on the price range of Ripley’s and she nearly did a double take. Geezus, how can he afford this place? Her eyes shifted over the top of her menu, studying him intently. Or am I right and he really does have some side operation and hand in the illegal activity?
Well, that’s what she intended to find out, by whatever means necessary. Even if it had meant dating him.
“This looks pretty good.”
Marian quickly composed herself when Michael looked up. “What does?”
“Eight ounce sirloin steak with green beans and a baked potato.”
“What page is that on?” She really wasn’t interested in the food, but she had to at least appease him, and the more she played into making him happy and feeling…superior, the easier she could sweet talk information out of him.
“Second to last.”
She flipped through the menu until she came to the right page. A crinkled slip of paper slid out of the menu, landing upside down on the edge of the table. Her lips tugged down, suspicious and cautious as she picked it up to look at it.
It could just be an old receipt or one of the waiter’s papers.
Her blood ran cold and her heart stopped for a second as her eyes landed on the contents of the paper. A single drop of blood smeared the top left corner, and it had one simple message scrawled in red, sloppy ink:
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Now you can find this flash fiction work and others on my profile on Wattpad! Click here for my profile and go dive into a sea of Shards of Imagination!
Darkling Dreams 