Judas’ Kiss

 

John Tures

 

          “Before you begin your torture session,” Valentina gasped, barely able to get the words out as she was tightly strapped to the gurney. “I have…something…you can use…a bulletproof shirt.”

           The agents of the feared Russian FSB agency laughed at the double-agent working for Ukraine.

           “Where is this so-called shirt?” Dmitri mocked. He had betrayed Valentina, his girlfriend, to earn a promotion and become deputy supervisor.

           “I’m…wearing…it,” Valentina said, the straps across her chest making it hard to breathe.

            Mikhail, the supervisor, ran his fingers over her outfit’s fabric. “Feels like a regular silk shirt.”

            Valentina then told the room, through gasps, about special caterpillars she bred to make the shirt’s woven fibers the toughest in the world.

            “The bitch lies,” Dmitri snapped, pulling out his Tokarev pistol. Before Mikhail could shout “No!” the bullet he fired entered her heart, killing her instantly.

             “Let us celebrate her death!” Dmitri said. “Champagne?

             The supervisor screamed at his deputy. “You killed your ‘girlfriend’ to protect her secrets, and perhaps your culpability!”

           Dmitri’s grin from killing Valentina vanished. “No!” he cried. “I killed this spy to serve Mother Russia!”

           Mikhail’s face morphed into a cruel smile. “So…Dmitri…you wish to serve?”

           His underling nodded desperately.

           “Well, Deputy Supervisor Dmitri, you shall serve us…by taking Valentina’s place on this gurney.”

            Several agents already unstrapped the dead double-agent’s body. The others seized Dmitri, who struggled ineffectively against the grip of several strong men.

           “Now we can test these new instruments of torture,” Mikhail snarled. “We will make you divulge details you hoped to bury with your former girlfriend, the traitor!”

           As he was strapped down on the gurney, Dmitri took a last look at Valentina’s face. Her eyes were closed, but lips were puckered even in death…a final Judas Kiss, the Russian realized.

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     Dr. John A. Tures began writing for the El Paso Herald-Post in high school. He wrote for his college paper at Trinity University in San Antonio and at Marquette University. He earned his doctorate at Florida State University, analyzed data in Washington DC, and is now a Professor at LaGrange College. He writes a weekly column for newspapers and magazines. He has published a number of short story mysteries and thrillers. His book Branded was just published by Huntsville Independent Press (see free chapters here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nfdmpqmn91). He thanks family and friends for listening to his stories. His author site is here: https://www.johntures.com/about-the-author/.

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Hillary Lyon founded and for 20 years acted as senior editor for the independent poetry publisher, Subsynchronous Press. Her stories have appeared lately in 365tomorrows, Black Petals, Sirens Call, Night to Dawn, 50 Word Stories, Legends of Night drabble series anthology, and Revelations drabble series anthology. She’s the Art Director for Black Petals and is also an illustrator for horror & pulp fiction magazines. 

https://hillarylyon.wordpress.com/