The temperature was 30 degrees last night. Marigold, my sweet calico, was bundled up pretty well, and so was I. Here comes Tuesday Tales to warm you up, January 17, 2023! This is where authors write excerpts incorporating word and picture prompts. I am working on a cozy mystery. The picture prompt is the interesting interior above, with a focus on staircase. When you finish reading my snippet, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Sheriff Ford leaned back and rested the outer edge of a sizeable, booted foot over the opposite thigh. His expression depicted business mode, but also courtesy, and a slight smile crinkled his eyes. He wasn’t squaring off. No, he was showing us, Robin in particular, who was visibly nervous, that he was working but would work with us. It was fine to settle back at ease. The Sheriff was good. He had undoubtedly had a lot of practice over the years with witnesses, victims, and–the word popped into my head–perps.
I studied his boots. No uniform issue for him. Trademark cowboy footwear all the way— quality brown leather, no frills, well-worn and maintained. A working man, weathered by decades of doing. I realized I had never seen him in anything but cowboy boots. They served him well on duty and up on the acreage he called Wild Turkey Ranch.
Robin’s fingers stopped twisting together. She sat up straight, gave me a quick glance, and then met the Sheriff’s eyes. “It’s just—that awful day, seeing poor Kitty like that, hunched over in agony at the bottom of the staircase, and then she—then she–what a horrible way to die.”
“You were the second person to find her?”
“Yes, we had all been wondering why she didn’t come back to the table. Peri had gone looking and came across her first. She had already called 911 when I got there. Sheriff, I told Roy–Deputy Deason–everything I saw and heard.”
“I’m sure you did, no doubt about that. Deputy Deason and Captain Jones did outstanding jobs interviewing everyone. You can appreciate I want to get a personal feel for the situation.” He scratched an eyelid. “Seeing as how I was out of town when the incident occurred.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet incorporating the picture staircase. Thanks for stopping by. If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2023 Flossie Benton Rogers
Great description. So, if the sheriff was out of town, where was he?
Yeah, I also want to know where the Sheriff was. And what he was doing? Was that his alibi? Did he have anything to do with this? Could it be him? Hmm. i’m a suspicious soul. And the Sheriff is in my crosshairs right now. Great job!!
Right? How dare he be out of town during the first big murder in a while!
Another great excerpt, Flossie. I’m not sure how I feel about the sheriff, but he certainly commands a room.
He does, and I’m not sure either. Thanks for stopping by, Mae. I hope your January is off to a good start! Stay warm.
I’m glad that he’s putting them at ease. Great description of him. Great job!
I’m glad, too. They were nervous about it. Thanks for the good words!
And that’s so uncomfortable, even if you’ve done nothing wrong.
What a great snippet!
Thank you!
Miss Flossie – you are a master storyteller in ANY genre you write in!
Well done!
You are so generous. Thank you and back atcha!
Love it. The sheriff is adding a lot to the story. And I know a lawyer here who always wears cowboy boots and I asked him if he owned any shoes and he said no. Your snipper reminded me of him. LOL Jillian
That’s cool! I bet the sun rises and sets on those boots.
I bet so too- lol