The apartment building was obviously a pre-Columbian artifact.
Just inside the unlocked door was the row of mailboxes. No buzzers. How quaint.
Number 4 was Maria Mordella. Perfect.
Just outside Number 4, I held out the single rose, but my left hand, hidden in my jacket, held my 9 mm.
After an age of the Universe, a lady opened the door.
She was older than the building.
“Ms. Mordella?” A nod. “Complements.” I gave her the rose and left.
It was only after a 34-year-old Maria Mordella met an unfortunate accident that I discovered Cruella Mordella really was my target.
***
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Roger Bultot. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
Trent's World (the Blog) 
And people think the life of a hitman is easy! Great take on the prompt, Trent.
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There is so much to keep track of when you have an assignment! Thanks.
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And I have to say you chose the image to fit that story perfectly.
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It’s the other way around – this is a challenge where we are given a photo and need to write a 100 word story based on that image :)
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Oh dear. I had that wrong. That is a fun conept. Nevertheless, the story fits so well with the image. A great way to trigger story ideas. You did it well.
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There are a few challenges like this – I really love doing them, both to keep me on my toes and to see what others come up with. Typically, if it is not a photo challenge, I either use one of my own photos or drawings. I’ll sometimes do a new drawing for a story or post, though I don’t as much as I once did.
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Your love of the craft comes through in the writing, Trent.
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Thanks.
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Great story and what an ending. There is a good lesson in life here. Be sure of your target if your intention is negative or don’t do it at all.
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Yes, and the big lesson is to not let your biases get in the way – a bit of snob never believed this could be his target, and yet…
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Bias – it seems to be the buzz word atm, as it should be. If we are aware of them we can make better judgements.
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Everyone has biases in almost everything they do – I just watched a video about trying to get rid of cognitive bias in scientific research. Maybe I need to make one for getting rid of biases for hit men ;)
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Oops you did it again. Or did you? Good one Trent!
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Ooops… I think that guy might get over Brittany, but Maria the Younger won’t get over the hit man ;) Thanks!
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Ah, Trent, looks can be deceiving.
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Yes, and some people have those deep ingrained biases…
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Yes, you are right
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Damn, poor Maria! LOL. Loved this.
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A little confusion with a name and.. yep poor Maria (the younger). Thanks.
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It’s all about the intel…
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It is. Just one piece of missing information, even something as simple as a nickname, and the wrong person “accidentally” falls out of a 32nd floor window…
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Such a cool story. Love it!
Pat
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Thanks!
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Well, with that kind of name, what did you expect? ;)
Loved the atmosphere and the old-to-older comparison!
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Thnaks! Unfortunately our “hero” (antihero?) didn’t hear the nickname until after he hit the wrong Maria…
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Yeah … and …. well … I’d stay outta the way of that older woman …
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Yes, in her profession she did not become an -old- lady by being nice… which, of course is reflected in that nickname.
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Yeah … and keep them dalmatian puppies FAR AWAY from her … ;)
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Yes, far, far away!
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Great story. I like your descriptions of how old things are. Gives the story a real flare.
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Thanks. With such short stories as FF it is hard to add too much spice in the words, but it is fun trying.
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Those kind of errors are impossible to undo! :-)
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Right. Or, actually, impossible to make right!
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I imagine Ms. Mordella with a sweet smile that deceived the bungling hitman.
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Ms. Mordella does have that sweet smile, which she keeps on even when she does her “dirty work”, which is where her nick-name comes from ;)
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Cruella by name… Beware of the sweet old ladies! Great story.
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The first rule in hitman school should be “never judge a book by its cover” and the second, “Beware sweet old ladies!” Thanks.
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Teehee! Gotta hit the right target if you want paying!
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Yep. Being a hitman is one of those occupations that your salary depends on your success… Hitting the wrong target? No paycheck.
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Murder and mayhem, and a fun story to soften it. Who would name a child “Cruella”!
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It wouldn’t be Friday Fictioneers without a few good stories about murder and mayhem ;) Well, her man really was “Maria”, she was just called “Cruella”, because, well, she earned it the old fashioned way.
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Clearly he failed the basics of his hitman’s course. Ensure you have the correct target, it means you might get paid. Poor Maria.
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He did OK in hitman school, but became sloppy with success. His big problem here was his biases – he had the correct target initially, but his silly biases made him take out poor Maria the Younger instead.
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Wow!! good story…
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Thanks, Ruth!
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Cruella, eh? And she seemed like such a nice old lady!
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Looks can be deceiving, and Maria/Cruella is great at play acting!
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Aha! Just like Clouseau!
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Well, I was thinking that our hero, the hitman, was a lot like Clouseau! Let’s just say, Cruella didn’t have to win an Oscar to fool him ;)
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Excellent Trent 💜
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Thanks, Willow :)
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Ageism is a blessing at times!
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Yes. When the hitman has you on his list, hope it is a guy with as many biases as this guy seems to have.
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An easy mistake to make – for him, anyway!
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She didn’t fit the profile he had in his head, so very easy mistake to make… for him.
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A sloppy assassin, I love it!
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Either sloppy or very biased….
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The name was a give away, if only he’d known.
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You’d think they’d give him the nick-name before instead of after, but, no, he just didn’t have the right info…
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I love this
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Thanks.
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Dear Trent,
Oops. Taken in by that sweet old lady? Ah the life of a hitman.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ooops. Yes, that “sweet” old lady had a trick or two up her sleeve, one of the reasons she became an -old- lady ;) The life of a hitman is never easy.
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Slight remorse? This could be a wonderful fleshed-out story.
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Maybe a bit of remorse. It’s always bad when you hit the wrong target… Thanks.
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