I had an idea for a new thriller. Who knows where it might go?

As any of you who read my work will know, I love taking a mundane situation, lulling you into a sense of normality, then twisting it around.

I had an idea recently, sparked by something boringly normal that happened to me. I was waiting outside a café for my wife, but the person who came through the door first wasn’t her.

Even though that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, it got me wondering.

I have no idea where this will go, in true pantser fashion, I will just write it as it comes into my head, and see what happens.

Enjoy.

 I stood outside the coffee shop, waiting for Becc. The bags were heavy in my hands.

“I’m just going to the bathroom,” she had said, as we finished our drinks. “You pay, I’ll see you outside.”

It was a dark November evening; the streets were busy with people wanting to get home. I peered in through the window, our table had already been filled by one of the queue that snaked back almost to the door.

“Ready?” said Becc. “Let’s get back to the car, it’s freezing.”

I turned; she had come out while I wasn’t looking at the door. Her hood was pulled up. She was scarved and gloved against the chill. All I could see was the breath coming out as she spoke.

I followed her to the car, watching the shopping bags she carried in each hand swinging as she strode, purposefully, the pedestrians giving way to her.

Her progress reminded me of an icebreaker, clearing a path through the solid press of humanity, with me following in her wake.

We got to the car, “I’ll drive,” she said, pressing the button on her keys that unlocked the doors. We loaded up and left the car park, setting off for home through the evening rush. She was silent, concentrating on the nose-to-tail traffic.

“You alright?” I asked. She was quieter than usual.

 “Sure, just concentrating,” she said, keeping her gaze on the car in front, its brake lights splitting into patterns on the windscreen as it started to rain. The wipers throbbed as they cleared the sudden downpour. We jolted as the queue stopped and started. “Miserable, isn’t it?” she added. “I’m looking forward to two quiet weeks.”

So was I. Even better was the fact that we had both managed to get the same two weeks off. Even though it was November, while I was hoping for some better weather, it didn’t really matter. We had trips planned to see relatives, plus a bit of decorating.

It was boring, mundane stuff, but better than hauling myself into the office every day. At least we’d have some time together. With both of us working long hours, weekends were about the only time we shared.

We turned into our drive and parked. I went round and lifted the bags from the car as Becc opened the front door. I locked the car with my keys, dragged all the bags inside and dumped them in the kitchen.

“Thanks,” she said. She pulled off her gloves and took off her coat. Blonde hair spilt down her back.

That was where the nightmare started. Becc had short, jet-black hair. Or at least, she had done when she had got up and gone to the bathroom, less than an hour ago. As she spun around and faced me, I saw a sharp, angular face. She fixed her gaze on me, and a huge smile broke out.

She was pretty. But it was a stranger’s face.

“Who the hell are you?” was all I could say.

There are several ways this story could go. Is it a sci-fi dimension jump, or could it be a sophisticated kidnap/blackmail plot? Or something completely different?

I have no idea at the moment, I’ll just have to see what happens when I restart typing.

What do you reckon? Let me know.

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