| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 20, 2025 | Chapters: |
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A Bogart Kind of Mystery
A chapter in the book Trouble In Red
Trouble in Red!
by Begin Again
| Background Would you like to have some fun? I've written the first chapter (UNDER 500 WORDS). Now, I hope YOU will join me in writing the ending of the story. |
Some dames walk into a room as if they own it.
This one walked in like she'd already sold it and was here to collect.
The first thing Ethan Cole noticed was her dress. It was red — the kind of red that didn't whisper, "Look at me" — it demanded it." The second thing he noticed was that every hair on his body stood on end as if he'd just stepped onto a live wire.
The third thing?
Deep in his gut, a voice was screaming, "Run!" But he never was good at listening to warnings.
She slid into the booth across from him like they had a standing appointment. No introductions. No pleasantries. Just dark eyes, full lips, and the most intoxicating cologne drifting from her cleavage.
"Ethan Cole," she murmured. Not a question. A confirmation.
He exhaled slowly and took a sip of his whiskey. "That depends."
"On what?" She ran her tongue across her lips. There was no mistaking the look in her eyes.
"On who's asking."
She smiled at that. A slow, practiced smile meant to make a man drop his guard.
His brain said it didn't work, but he knew his palms were sweating.
"I don't have time for games, Mr. Cole." She leaned in, voice an urgent whisper. "You're running out of time."
The ice in his glass cracked. So did something in his chest. His line of work came with its fair share of warnings — most from men whose idea of a second chance came with a bullet. But this wasn't that.
This was worse.
Ethan set his glass down, eyes steady on hers. "You wanna tell me what's got you so jumpy, sweetheart?"
She flinched. Just a little. Enough for him to catch it.
"Listen to me," she said, low and sharp. "When you leave here, don't go home. Don't go back to your office. And for God's sake, don't trust —"
The lights flickered. A heartbeat later, the fire alarm screamed through the club.
The woman's eyes went wide. Not with fear. With resignation.
"It's already started," she whispered.
Then, before he could ask what, she was gone — vanished — into the chaos.
Ethan shot up, scanning the crowd, but all he saw were panicked bodies rushing for the exits. The bartender was shouting something. Someone knocked over a chair.
Ethan spotted a single white napkin on the table where she was sitting. It had a message in black ink — "888-444-3232 — Call me sometime."
His stomach turned to ice while other body parts took on the heat.
She'd planted a kiss in lipstick-red, a bold and deliberate mark that sent shivers down his spine.
A hand clamped onto his shoulder from behind, sending a jolt through Ethan's body.
A deep voice, sounding familiar, echoed in his ear, "Ethan Cole. You're coming with us."
He turned, instincts screaming, but it was too late to run.
This one walked in like she'd already sold it and was here to collect.
The first thing Ethan Cole noticed was her dress. It was red — the kind of red that didn't whisper, "Look at me" — it demanded it." The second thing he noticed was that every hair on his body stood on end as if he'd just stepped onto a live wire.
The third thing?
Deep in his gut, a voice was screaming, "Run!" But he never was good at listening to warnings.
She slid into the booth across from him like they had a standing appointment. No introductions. No pleasantries. Just dark eyes, full lips, and the most intoxicating cologne drifting from her cleavage.
"Ethan Cole," she murmured. Not a question. A confirmation.
He exhaled slowly and took a sip of his whiskey. "That depends."
"On what?" She ran her tongue across her lips. There was no mistaking the look in her eyes.
"On who's asking."
She smiled at that. A slow, practiced smile meant to make a man drop his guard.
His brain said it didn't work, but he knew his palms were sweating.
"I don't have time for games, Mr. Cole." She leaned in, voice an urgent whisper. "You're running out of time."
The ice in his glass cracked. So did something in his chest. His line of work came with its fair share of warnings — most from men whose idea of a second chance came with a bullet. But this wasn't that.
This was worse.
Ethan set his glass down, eyes steady on hers. "You wanna tell me what's got you so jumpy, sweetheart?"
She flinched. Just a little. Enough for him to catch it.
"Listen to me," she said, low and sharp. "When you leave here, don't go home. Don't go back to your office. And for God's sake, don't trust —"
The lights flickered. A heartbeat later, the fire alarm screamed through the club.
The woman's eyes went wide. Not with fear. With resignation.
"It's already started," she whispered.
Then, before he could ask what, she was gone — vanished — into the chaos.
Ethan shot up, scanning the crowd, but all he saw were panicked bodies rushing for the exits. The bartender was shouting something. Someone knocked over a chair.
Ethan spotted a single white napkin on the table where she was sitting. It had a message in black ink — "888-444-3232 — Call me sometime."
His stomach turned to ice while other body parts took on the heat.
She'd planted a kiss in lipstick-red, a bold and deliberate mark that sent shivers down his spine.
A hand clamped onto his shoulder from behind, sending a jolt through Ethan's body.
A deep voice, sounding familiar, echoed in his ear, "Ethan Cole. You're coming with us."
He turned, instincts screaming, but it was too late to run.
 Recognized |
#15 February 2025 |
It's come to my attention that my original plan might have been flawed. Here are the new rules......
Are you one of those talented writers who can think on the spot and be creative practically on cue? Then this concept is for you!!
Thanks to a FS friend who prefers to remain anonymous (my beating heart), I am able to promote this more, and I hope we will receive more readers and participants.
In this Multi-Author book, anyone who's interested can write a chapter.(preferably under 500 words). Just PM me, and I'll give you what chapter number you'll be assigned to write! Before contributing your chapter, read what others have already written to help the story progress. You may join in as often as you like, but you must message for your chapter and wait your turn. This is so we don't want someone writing chapter two and discovering someone else has already posted it.
I can't wait to see what we create with our combined varieties of talent!!
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Are you one of those talented writers who can think on the spot and be creative practically on cue? Then this concept is for you!!
Thanks to a FS friend who prefers to remain anonymous (my beating heart), I am able to promote this more, and I hope we will receive more readers and participants.
In this Multi-Author book, anyone who's interested can write a chapter.(preferably under 500 words). Just PM me, and I'll give you what chapter number you'll be assigned to write! Before contributing your chapter, read what others have already written to help the story progress. You may join in as often as you like, but you must message for your chapter and wait your turn. This is so we don't want someone writing chapter two and discovering someone else has already posted it.
I can't wait to see what we create with our combined varieties of talent!!
Multi-Author Book
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