29 Comments

While there was a risk that somebody might learn his culinary predictability and poison the sandwich, that was a risk he was willing to take. .... That's priceless! I wonder if she's just like him. Why not, right? A match made in heaven!

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Oh yes, it could very well be that she's also a former office worker with a rich fantasy life. I like your idea.

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Nice job with this one Bill. Detailed and precise. Really enjoyed it. - Jim

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Thank you very much, Jim. The Spy was a fun story to write and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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Yow, that was a good turn up at the end! Take that, ex-wife, not such a fantasy world after all. 😄

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Thank you, Jeannine. Our fantasies can be potent places.

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I guess practice paid off. I will be waiting for a publisher to approach me at a Mexican restaurant and offer me a book deal. Another winner from Bill Adler.

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Thanks, K.C. Me, too. I write and write and write and one day I know Netflix will say, "We want all your stories." Or maybe I should practise spycraft instead?

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A priceless reveal in the beginning here, Bill, going from clever disguise to lock picking to disabling a spy camera to wearing night vision goggles to ..... heating a Stouffers Pot Pie in the microwave? I don't know.... maybe his ex-wife was right. Great story.

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Thanks, Sharron. I had fun with this character, and can definitely see how being married to him would be a trial.

I'm glad you enjoyed "The Spy."

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Not one of my usual genres of interest, but the writing was engaging and pulled in and through to the end. The little details and nuances about the work he does were very interesting. A good Sunday morning read!

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Thank you for your kind words, Jeff. I'm delighted you enjoyed The Spy.

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Clever! As a trained 🥋, my favorite line is:

(He’d devoured multiple books and watched numerous YouTube videos about martial arts.)

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Thanks, Mark. I'm glad you enjoyed The Spy. I suspect that martial arts is something you can't really learn from books and videos.

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Glad to see the Starlin name on a quirky character. Quite fitting. 😉

Fun ending. I guess the “start being who you want to be” gurus were right.

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Thanks, Mark. He's a fun character. I'm glad you liked the story and Robert S.

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Thank you! I also love the nyc diners, Pastrami.

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I don't often read in this genre, but I'll read in any genre when the writing's solid and the tale is engaging. I liked the style and the quick characterization in this one. Thanks for publishing it here.

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Thank you for your kind words. I had fun writing "The Spy" and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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Bill, I loved "The Spy." It's an exciting story that's beautifully written. One of the perks, for me, were all the book titles you mentioned in the course of the story. I LOVE reading, and I read many of the books. If you've never read it, try BRIGHTON ROCK by Graham Greene. It's a terriffic novel. I read it aloud to my wife and after I read it, we saw the British film of it.

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Thanks, Sandy. I’m happy you liked “The Spy.” I’m a spy novel fan (and am currently reading the John Rain series I mentioned in this short story.) I haven’t read Brighton Rock and have added that to my list.

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I enjoyed both The Spy and The Confession. Thank you..

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I'm glad to hear that, Yael.

Happy New Year!

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Damn! I'd kill for a turkey club on rye in NYC! As you know well, it's next to impossible to find that kind of food here in Japan.

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My girlfriend and I went to NYC last May, where she enjoyed her first bona fide New York City diner. She loved it it (as do I always.) The turkey clubs are to die for.

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Enjoyable read, as always.

I nice little twist at the end. I’d be careful of the martini!!

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Thanks, Deirdre. I'm glad you enjoyed this twisty tale. No doubt that martini is a spy's martini, whatever that means. ;-)

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I wonder if he has details of the people he works with. Guess we find out along the way. Tune in next time on the Same Bat time and the Same Bat Channel.

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We will. Robert's new life has only just begun. Stand by for more adventures.

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