Chris decided to walk to work. She had a bounce in her footsteps, a song in her heart. The odd looks her way made her laugh.
The project would finish today. She’d fly home tonight and the next ten days were hers and hers alone. No more projects, no deadlines. Ten days to work on her latest novel. Another laugh bubbled up. Chris didn’t mind people peering as they passed by. They’d never recognize her under the wig and makeup. The mobs of people served as camouflage. She was just another blur.
She glanced at the café as she passed. Beautiful people in the beautiful weather. How they could stand the exhaust of the vehicles while they ate, she’d never know. More than miles separated her home from New York City. The corner table had a reserved sign on it. Chris mentally checked that off her list.
11:08. She got to the building right on time. The doorman held the door for all the worker bees heading for lunch. She wove her way among them, passing the reception desk unnoticed. Check. Slipping into an empty elevator, she waited for the doors to close before she hit the button for the twentieth floor.
A glance at her watch put extra speed in her footsteps as she left the elevator, heading for the stairs. Nearly two minutes off schedule. Her heartbeat thumped, but she handled everything smoothly. A wire here, a button there. Practice did make perfect. 11:23, check. They’d get to the café any moment.
Chris tied a scarf over her wig and pulled the fancy sunglasses out of her handbag. A huge vent was near the roof door. Her case was tucked under its ledge. She snagged it and settled into the shadow of a billboard. Assembly was easy. Tab A into Slot B. Check. As she worked, a part of her listened, smelled, felt, and filed everything away.
He was being seated at the corner table as usual. She watched through the lens as he got comfortable. Three joined him. All in boring business suits, all carrying attaché cases. As she watched, they ordered. 11:52, within the estimated timeframe. Check. Still she waited.
When the waiter put a bowl of soup on the table, Chris knew it was time. Amusement registered within the part of her on observation duty. She took a slow breath and eased off the safety. He bent to his soup. She squeezed the trigger. He dove face-first into the soup. She broke the weapon into components. No time to waste. The security system would be back up in three minutes.
As always, she was disappointed she couldn’t watch the mark and aftermath up close. The feeling was filed away with other details. She stayed on schedule and was in her hotel room by 12:35. The bank manager’s murder splattered across the news. She hardly noticed as she typed up observations.
Research made a novel come to life.
© 2010 Jessica Rosen
The first lines are a #storystarters I wrote and filed away a couple months ago. Have you searched the hashtag on Twitter yet? Treats for your muse.
Tagged: author, fiction, flash, flash fiction, writer, writing
The bubbly murderess. OMG. Love her. Is that bad?
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Bad? Of course not. A little twisted, maybe. It’s part of your charm. Thanks!
Take care,
Jess
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Love it! I love flash fiction!
http://www.denwrites.com
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Thanks for stopping in, Dennis.
Take care,
Jess
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Nothing like proper research. I think I like this gal.
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Reading books only gives so much insight. True research is hands-on. (The aforementioned represents the beliefs of the character and is not necessarily representative of the author.) Thanks, peggy.
Take care,
Jess
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Holy crap that was good. O.O Nicely done. 😀
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for checking it out.
Take care,
Jess
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haha! Her job sounds like more fun than mine…
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Which part of the job? It’s all the same to her.
Take care,
Jess
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Ooh, that last line is just dead on. (No pun intended?) I think this is my favourite of your stories I’ve read so far. I wasn’t sure exactly where it was heading but it sure got there.
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Thanks so much, I do appreciate it. I wanted to do something a little different with this one. It’s good to know it came across well.
Take care,
Jess
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Think I’d shoot the mark first, then decide to become a writer (& draw on the research) only after as some sort of retrospective justification…
Nicely done.
Bests
Marc Nash
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That’s another interesting approach, Marc. Thanks, very kind of you.
Take care,
Jess
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Just brilliant, Jess. It’s very important to love the work you do. 🙂
Well written, and your killer was charming and seemed like fun. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
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Thanks, Gracie. That means a lot to me. I’m sure she sees herself as novelist first and foremost. The rest is just research. Intriguing to think what else she’s done in the name of research.
Take care,
Jess
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Well we are only as good as our research. I can’t wait to read her novel 😉
Great story!
~2
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I’ve been thinking about her novel(s) as well. Sincerely doubt this is the first time she’s done something like this. Thanks for your nice comment.
Take care,
Jess
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Jess, this is edge-of-your-seat fantastic! Super build up and perfect reveal. Well done!
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Thanks so much, Deanna. I really appreciate that. Wanted to do something a little different this time.
Take care,
Jess
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Wow, that’s dedication! I guess hands-on research really is best. Good story!
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All for the sake of art, right? Thanks a bunch, Eric.
Take care,
Jess
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Research is what makes the story. One of these days she’ll have to stick around to research the aftermath.
Great concept.
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Thanks, Laurita. I’ve been thinking along those lines, i.e. what extent she’d go to so that she could watch the event and aftermath.
Take care,
Jess
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Research! Ha! Well she certainly seems to enjoy her work. Hope the novel comes out well. 😮
Good character development here. She’s a real piece of work.
~jon
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Thanks, Jon, I’m glad you liked it. What would one sacrifice for one’s art?
Take care,
Jess
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I loved this piece! Very interesting concept-one almost hopes she manages not get caught so she can write that novel.
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Hey, Katirra, thanks. I have a feeling this isn’t her first outing. Heaven knows what she’ll do for a follow-up.
Take care,
Jess
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Hey, you gotta have your reference. 😉
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Too right, Carrie. Thanks for stopping in.
Take care,
Jess
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I’m with Jen: this is definitely my favourite! The heroine is really charming, in a despicable kind of way! Great stuff! I could see a whole novel with her as the star character.
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Thanks, Cathy, that means a bunch to me. I really enjoyed her. There but for a moral or three go the rest of us.
Take care,
Jess
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That was awesome. Did not see that coming…Research!
I write about zombies sometimes. I always thought that watching movies was research but now…? LOL 🙂
Well done.
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Oh dear, zombies? Perish the thought of that sort of hands-on research. Thanks for the kind comment.
Take care,
Jess
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