Tuesday Tales 2025-3-25 Ride

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, powered by a small group of authors, where word prompts inspire passages in the books we’re writing. I’m working on a cozy mystery, Pumpkin Patch Murder. Our word of the day is ride. When you finish the passage, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

My brain was shooting in fifty million directions as usual. Focus, I told myself. The important thing was to get Luella out of trouble. According to the DA’s point of view, she was the most likely suspect. In fact, the only suspect at this point with the means, motive, and opportunity for the murder. It seemed to me that several people had motive and harbored grudges or ill feelings against the dead girl. I wasn’t sure about the means and opportunity. I had to find out more about people’s alibis before the case against her was locked in. Right now the charge read withholding evidence, but with Detective Pelier’s greed for speed, murder one could be a short ride away.

I wondered if the Tea Thyme spirits held murder secrets in their wispy hands. Ghost Vonna evidently had amnesia, but what about the floaty lady and orange friskie? Were they haranguing me for fun or did they have hidden knowledge? The floaty lady had seemed awfully sincere when she came to Florida and also when she cavorted down Pumpkin Patch Lane, leading me directly to the body. Had she seen the murderer?

I pulled myself out of reverie and headed to the back counter. There was still no sign of Helen, an assistant, or anyone for that matter. I was the only customer in the shop. I glanced at my watch. One-fifteen. The thronging people I had seen on my way here were at one of the cafes on the Square by now, having lunch. Maybe Helen was in the back having hers. I called her name but got no answer. I hesitated and then edged around the counter to poke my head through the hallway entrance to the back rooms. I called again.

A shuffling noise sounded, and Helen appeared from an inner room down the hall, a surprised look on her face. She offered a wan smile and removed earbuds, dangling the cord around her neck, as she came toward me.

I backed away and returned to the customer’s side of the counter.

“My goodness, Peri! How nice of you to drop in. I’m afraid I didn’t expect business so shortly after noon. “In fact,” Helen continued, a furrow snaking across her forehead, “I thought I turned the lock and put out the Gone to Lunch sign.” She walked over, inspected the front door, and turned to me, looking puzzled. “I guess I forgot.”

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