Welcome to Tuesday Tales, powered by a small group of authors, where word prompts inspire passages in the books we’re writing. Today’s scene is from a cozy mystery set in fictional Glisten, Georgia, and our word of the day is silly. When you finish reading, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
I lit right in. “I’m too antsy to stay inside. I confess, the murder still has me a bundle of nerves. It’s got to be hard on you, too, Brady. Didn’t you date her at one time?”
He peered down and offered a knowing look. “Someone’s been telling tales, haven’t they?” Wryness saturated his voice. “The murder was a shock, of course, but finding her body must have been terrible for you.”
Clever of him to turn the emphasis on me. “Yes. I could have gone my whole life without that. What a terrible end! Who would have hated her enough to kill her?”
Glancing up at the overcast sky, he was silent for a moment. He let out a sigh and then said, “She wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but it’s hard to think of someone hating her that much.”
“But someone must have,” I prodded. Then I remembered the other motives Roy had enumerated. “Unless they had a reason other than hatred.”
“Such as?”
“Beats me. Theft? Hiding a secret? Protecting someone?” If only I could read him better. He seemed genuinely regretful but also a bit remote from the dark subject under discussion. “Whose bad side did she get on?”
He shrugged. “Maybe you should ask someone who knew her well. Others must have a better take on it than I do. She wasn’t an easy person to get to know, nor did I make the effort. She was sly and secretive, outgoing but in a superficial way. She had—well, she had issues.”
“Such as?”
“Not too different than most people’s. Making enough money to suit her needs. She took care of her mother, too. Finding the right work groove, boyfriends.” He grunted. “The latter were plentiful all right.” He shook his head. “I’ll never forget. Poor Skip. She had him over a barrel. He was silly putty in her hands.”
My spidey senses perked up. “What happened?”
Looking down, he shifted his boots on the uneven earth. “Now I’m telling tales” He sighed. “It was the usual. They were going out, together for over a year I believe, and then…” The fingers on one hand balled together and flicked apart as he said, “Kaput. She started in on someone else.”
“Oh! Who?”
He rubbed an eyebrow. “Not sure. May have been Monroe. It’s hard to recall the line up.”
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the piece inspired by the word silly. 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 @ 2025 Flossie Benton Rogers
Great scene. I love learning facts through conversation. It seems natural and makes you feel like you are part of the action.
Thanks, Susanne! I like conversation, too.
Monroe, eh? Isn’t he the fella several women at that meeting were sweet on? Seems like maybe he was a bit of a heart-breaker? Maybe she got taken out by a jealous female? Loving this story and the crumbs you keep tossing to us to keep us guessing!!