Tuesday Tales 2024-1-30 Strong

January is swirling into February! Welcome to Tuesday Tales, powered by a small group of authors, where word prompts inspire passages in the books we’re writing. Today’s prompt is strong. My snippet is from a cozy mystery set in fictional Glisten, Georgia. When you finish reading, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

After a few minutes, Roy appeared and led me down a hall and into a stark room marked Interviews. A tape recorder sat on a utilitarian table, as well as a packet of forms and cannister of pens. Looking more serious than I’d ever seen him, he indicated a seat.  “Before Pelier arrives, fill me in on the break-in.”

His words startled me. I hadn’t thought of it that way. More nervous than ever, my voice came out in a croak. “I thought…” I cleared my throat.

Roy reached across the table and patted my hand. “Stay strong.” He opened his notepad but didn’t turn on the recorder.

I repeated the preliminary information I had shared with him on the phone, adding all the details I knew, but not offering any surmises.

When Detective Pelier finally entered the interview room, I discovered what serious really was. I had thought the point was to set a witness at ease and get her to talk, but apparently the detective had missed that semester. Serious was a mild word for him. A black leather cover ensconced his notepad.  Roy’s pen hovered over a yellow tablet, and a third officer handled the recorder and prepared to write in a soft-backed ledger.

I replied to question after question and repeats of the same. The detective went over and over my reasons for venturing into the woods and my every action surrounding finding the body.

“You were wearing slides and no socks when you went for a walk. On such a damp, chilly morning, why didn’t you change shoes before setting off?”

“I didn’t plan to go far. It was more of a whim. I wandered toward the gazebo and then continued on. I’d had coffee, and it seemed a short walk would be exhilarating.”

“And was it?”

“No. I’d deem it shocking.” Of course, I omitted all reference to the initial ghostly summons from the floaty lady, as well as the dead woman’s demands for me to identify her killer.

After a while the questioning turned to yesterday’s committee meeting and Luella’s verbal aggression toward Kitty. I answered his questions as best I could, relaying what Kitty said to Robin and me, and what Luella had told me about why she was so upset at Kitty.

He went over every detail of the scenario several times and then asked, “Do you know of any conflict between those two prior to this particular disagreement?”

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the piece inspired by the word strong. 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

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