When you eliminate the impossible.

by Raymond Finn
originally published at 10:42AM on Wednesday, September 17, 2008

He stood over the corpse of his boss, and wondered why she’d changed sides. He’d never have believed it was possible for her to turn rogue. But she was the only one who’d known where he was. Where his fellow agents were hiding. As each agent died, he looked for a leak. A mole. A traitor.

In the end, she was the only one left. Above suspicion. But it was the only explanation that made sense.

Now what? He had killed her, with no hard evidence except the incontrovertible process of elimination. He was done for. He’d be tried for crimes against his country. That was okay, he decided. He’d done his job.

But why… he wondered. Why had she turned? And… why had she been so surprised to see him pull a gun on her? If she was guilty, why the shock when the bullets crashed into her chest? And what was it she was looking at when he entered the room?

On the desk, the video of the brainwashed agent killing his co-workers in Paris, played in a loop. She hadn’t been able to believe he’d been a rogue either.

Prequels

Sequels

Comments

  • from brian w:

    Nice twist!

  • from ALRO613 ♪ LoA ♫:

    Awesome twist; i agree with Brian.
    Nothing like a little brainwashing ;)
    great work.

  • from Mistress Elsha Hawk:

    oops, wrong man, er, woman!

  • from g2 (la pianista irlandesa):

    Twist o Rama!
    Very nicely done!

  • from OrangeOreos:

    Ouch. Poor guy, and poor dead boss, as well!

  • from Kermitgorf:

    Awesome spy thriller..double agents intrigue. action has it all. well done.

  • from Oy:

    Who is the man behind the curtain… I might have to sequel this!

  • from Raymond Finn:

    Man behind the curtain?

    I guess I didn’t make it clear.

    The agent who kills his boss, was actually brainwashed. He had been the one killing his fellow agents.

    His boss had video footage of him doing it. But hadn’t confronted him yet.

    The agent, is just about to see, that HE was the real killer. And he’s killed his boss for nothing. (Or else it was post-hypnotic suggestion… who knows.)