Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, the standard, and the prompt photo.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture below, which this week is supplied by Brenda Cox.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Lies
Police! I shout.
I am Detective Inspector Penman, we are not armed, we just have some questions, you are not in trouble.
Please, there is no point in hiding, we have the place surrounded.
I keep talking until he emerges, rather uncertainly, from behind a mountain of crates in the dark alleyway.
I lift my right hand in greeting as my left slides towards the back of my belt.
I wonder how many lies he will be able to count.
I am not a policeman.
I am alone.
I am armed.
I have no questions.
He is in fatal trouble.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Should have inspected him more closely. Chilling end.
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Yeah well, too late now…
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I like the smooth transition from the familiar cops’ patter to the killer’s credo. Chilling. Well done.
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Thanks, Patience, I like ‘smooth’ and ‘chilling’!
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Good one! So complete, compelling and fatal 🙂
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Thanks, Trish, that’s a pretty great comment!
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Brilliant, I no longer read yours, preferring to hear the narrative. Cracking tale!
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Really, sir?
I am surprised and delighted that the readings work so well.
You’ve made my day!
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If you weren’t naughty enough already, now you’ve started telling porkies!
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C’mon, Keith, none of us are perfect!
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True!
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I don’t suppose he’ll get past “hey, wait a minute, you’re not a…” before he breathes his last 🙂
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I don’t suppose so, Ali!
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So, just. Wow. Excellent ending.
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So, just. Wow. Excellent comment!
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A very clever assassin. Great twist!
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Thank you, Brenda
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I think it was the pictured location made my mind fold your story towards the Philippines where vigilantes shoot down drug dealers.
A very menacing piece this week.
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Sounds like a worthwhile hobby!
Thanks, James
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A very scary scenario you’ve laid out for us this week.
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One does one’s humble best, Bear!
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Yikes, that’s pretty spooky!
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Good spooky, I hope!
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You bet! 😊
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Ooooh… Intriguing.
I hope that guy realises that he’s in trouble and makes a run for it though.
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Nah, Bernadette, his goose is cooked!
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Too bad for him
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Diabolical. What a surprise! 😉
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Thank you, Susan, I love ‘diabolical’!
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I wonder if people really fall for the cop thing. All I have to say is “Run Forrest, run!”
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This one did.
And he hasn’t seen the movie!
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You threw me off in the beginning, with the policeman trying to talk kindly. First solid clue was the left hand sliding slowly to his own back.
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Misdirection is my middle name, Linda
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So matter of fact. And so dark. I love it!
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Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts!
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This is deliciously evil.
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I love ‘deliciously evil’!
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Enjoyed this. A great set up, cleverly written and cleverly performed by the assassin.
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Thanks, Dora, glad you enjoyed.
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I don’t know about where you live, but here, impersonating an officer is a serious offense.
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I’m sure that will prey on the narrator’s mind as he shoots the poor victim in the face!
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Really well crafted. One of your best, for the precision of the menace. Fancy making your readers count the lies – what chutzpa!
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Thanks, Penny.
The counting is an optional extra!
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Mentir pour mieux tuer !
J’aime beaucoup cette histoire.
Bravo MONSIEUR
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Merci, Madame, je sais que tu aimes bien les histoires sanglantes!
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Not at all how I was expecting it to end. I thought the suspect/victim would be surrounded by patrol officers, knocked to the ground, and asphyxiated with someone’s knee. Oh right, you live somewhere other than the US.
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As always, I am happy for you to create your own scenario based on your particular cultural (I use the word loosely) background!
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Not sure I’d trust the police in this scenario either, but it sounds like this guy is in trouble whether he knows it or not.
I found the switch from speech to narrative tripped me up, but then I’m a stickler for old-fashioned punctuation!
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I know that my short, sharp, frill-free writing is not to everyone’s taste, Jen, but, as Shakespeare said, you can please some of the people some of the time…
Thanks, as always, for stopping by.
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Absolutely. My attitude is “iwant critique so I give critique” “. I have no expectation that anyone else follows it and I certainly don’t want anyone else to feel criticized.
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The old ‘I’m a policeman’ gag. Nicely done!
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Still works, apparently!
Thanks, Mason
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It’ll always work so long as we have police. THe authority and fear they hold means anyone thinking a person a police officer will likely do as they say.
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Can’t trust the police these days, fake or real! Great story CE.
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Rather cynical, old bean!
Thanks, Iain
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Dear CE,
Uh oh. Inspector indeed. Sinisterly well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gosh, m’lady, a killer who tells fibs!
Whatever next?
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That’s a lot of lies for one quick story. Well done.
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Just packed them in, Anne!
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I knew I could count on you for a murder. Deft and sinister as always
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Thanks, Neil, I wouldn’t let you down!
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Inspector Penman, don’t do it, you will regret
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No Inspector, no regrets!
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Loved those five lines at the end, and the image of the hand snaking towards the back of his belt. Very menacing, you do this so well.
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Glowing with pleasure at your words, Sandra!
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