joeislove's 100-word story for October 6, 2025

joeislove wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on October 6, 2025. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

Harold Whitmer was not a man who browsed old book shops. Yet, there he was, head craned over, scanning the spines of books in the metaphysical aisle. Totally out of character. That's how I knew he was here to do a bit of unsavory trade. Well, that and I spotted the obvious bulge of the Smith & Wesson .38 Special weighing down the right pocket of that rumpled old raincoat of his. I circled the stacks so I could approach from his left. "Hey Harry," I said quietly, "What brings you about?" He didn't even look up. "You know why, Vincent."

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