Mystery, Short Story

Tres Chic

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Only Murders In My Mind
Weekly Writing Prompt #80 and the
photo prompt shown below.
Here’s where the image took me.

Image from Mike Jackson @ Only Murders In My Mind

Seemingly engrossed in her copy of Le Monde, the tres chic young woman on the train had an air of aloof mystery about her. She scanned the pages with sharp, focused intensity, paying no heed to the passengers who stole curious glances, wondering about the contents of the briefcase that sat by her side. Some whispered speculations about her being a spy while others imagined she was a courier for a foreign diplomat; no doubt they all admired her modern and attractive appearance.

Her fellow passengers might be surprised to learn the young woman was not just a spy; she was, in fact, the bureau’s highest ranking double-o agent on a crucial mission. The newspaper was a clever disguise, hiding coded messages that only she could decipher. The briefcase contained top-secret documents that could change the course of international relations.

Without warning, the train screeched to a stop inside a tunnel, causing a commotion among the passengers. The young woman remained calm, her hand reaching for the briefcase with practiced ease. Just then the lights went out; the inside of the train was in total darkness. After a few tense moments, the lights were restored and everyone sighed in relief. However, that relief turned into exclamations of bewilderment when the people realized the attractive young woman was nowhere in sight.

Where could she have gone? Was she still on the train or did she and her briefcase make a surreptitious exit into the darkness? Everyone had their suspicions but no one could say for sure.

NAR©2025

This is “Spy World” by Wall Of Voodoo

Weekly Writing Prompt

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