A writing challenge I've decided to join. (SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011)

This challenge is hosted by Lisa Ricard Claro at ‘Writing in the Buff’.

Each week a photo is posted that pretends to be the cover of a book. The idea is to:

Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book. 

I have done just that. I hope you like it.

Photo copyright Sandra Davies

The Meetings

Ivan wondered what he should expect this time around. These meetings, which took place in various obscure parts of the city, were straight out of spy novels. Each time, he was given a new assignment and told to keep all information to himself. Each time, he was led to believe that his mission was of the utmost importance. So important that they couldn’t risk his knowing why he was assigned these tasks. So important that he didn’t even know who “they” were. Only his contact was known to him. 

So far, everything had seemed fairly benign. Deliver a letter to a diplomat at the embassy. Deliver flowers to an elegant (and alluring) woman staying in the penthouse at the St. Regis Grand Rome. Ride the Metro to the Villa Pamphili to pick up a car to drive to a specified address in Florence with a rail pass to return.

Yet, each delivery seemed a bit edgier. Each one seemingly more important, more secretive than the one before. The pay was good. Maybe too good. Maybe it was time to bow out. But, should he? Could he?