Only Murders in my Mind

Mike was in a hurry, it was almost daylight. He dressed quickly, grabbed his wallet, coat and the file, the file he had been working on all night. He was out the door of the shoddy hotel room, forgetting his phone on the bedside table. He practically ran to get on the bus that left for uptown where he would disclose it all.

The file named names and it was Mike’s way to get a better job, he was sure of it. This story in a first page expose’, and it had to be on the front page, was going to be his ticket to be noticed by the newspaper editor. He reached into his pocket to check the time and his phone wasn’t there. Meanwhile it was ringing urgently in an unsafe hotel room.

The bus seemed inordinately slow and Mike started sweating nervously. If someone found his phone where he kept his notes, all of this was for nothing. He arrived at the office to find the FBI was there already. A man rose from his chair and said, “Mike Murphy?” Mike thought he might faint. He clutched the folder tightly under his coat, wishing it would disappear. The FBI agent was in the list of names he wanted to out as criminal. His editor realized the file folder may be comprising and walked over to Mike and Mike slipped it to him with his coat. Relief set in and he answered yes and then a sort of interrogation began.

Then the worst that could happen, the agent put Mike’s phone on the desk. Mike stood up suddenly, “what are you doing with my phone? That’s private property!” The agent had Mike turn around, and handcuffed him.

“You are under arrest for conspiracy against the federal government, anything you say…”

Luckily the editor had the file and published Mike’s story the next day. Mike was released as soon as the story was in front of the public.

***

Weekly Writing Prompt