Welcome to Tuesday Tales, powered by a small group of authors, where word prompts inspire passages in the books we’re writing. Today’s word is seeds. This 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.
The lawyer continued. “Vee managed to get away by swinging a heavy bag at her and running off down Sparrow Trail. Luella’s impulse was to follow, but she knew it would get her into trouble. She went back inside. It wasn’t until the next day when you showed her the study that she realized Vee had already been inside. She was too overwhelmed and, well, too muleheaded to come clean with you. Those are my adjectives. Obviously, at this point the DA doesn’t know Luella’s updated story. We’ll hold it close to our chest for now. However, when he does learn of it, he’ll consider it a CYA excuse. Instead of allowing it to sow seeds of doubt, he’ll use it as a verification of the witness’s credibility.”
Luella was digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole. I dreaded relaying the latest news to Dovie.
Clancy went on. “That’s not all. A source of mine gave me a heads up. Preliminary toxicology results are back. The results show evidence of metabolites in the victim’s system, caused by a foreign substance, possibly a sedative. It hasn’t yet been identified, but circumstances indicate the victim may have been impaired at the time of death. The DA maintains that Luella had ample opportunity to slip a sedative into a cup of tea, for example. The victim tried to leave, and a struggle ensued. The witness caught the beginning, rather than the end. The argument continued down the trail, resulting in fatality and the body being placed where you found it.”
Dismay swallowed me down like quicksand. “The drug couldn’t have been self-administered?”
“It’s more likely a tactic of the killer.”
“In light of Luella not being truthful with you from the beginning, will you still represent her?”
“Of course. I’m not pleased at her keeping things from me, but clients often lie to their attorneys for one reason or another. If she had told the truth to everyone from the beginning, it might look more favorable for her, but it probably would have made zero difference to the arrest. The truth, granted we’re accepting her story as the truth, fits in with the DA’s theory of the crime. As I said, when he hears it, he’ll consider it a CYA fabrication.”
“She’s not a person to concoct an intricate alibi after the fact. I’d bet anything she never realized there was a witness or anyone watching her and Vee.”
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Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2024 Flossie Benton Rogers
Poor Luella. Even the truth can’t seem so set her free and lawyers do have a way of twisting things to suit their cases. Fingers crossed something happens to take the heat off her and lead to the real killer. Great scene. Love the adjective muleheaded!
I hope something turns up to get Luella out of trouble. Glad you liked the scene and the muleheaded word!
Looks like the truth is only going to help convict her! How terrible! Yes, the witness she never saw. Could that witness be the real killer? So loving this story!!
Thanks so much, Jean!
WOW! Can’t wait to see how Luella gets out of this jam.
I hope Peri can help get her out of trouble!
He’s a better man than me. LOL! I get a bit more testy when I find my client has lied. LOL! Louella is digging herself deep! Well done- Jillian
LOL right??! Never a good sign!
very true!
Ah! With each post I’m getting more and more sucked in. I hope they find the evidence that will free Luella. Great job!
Glad you are getting more sucked into the story!