Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors posting excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry bunch that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today we have a picture prompt. My excerpt is from a paranormal fantasy in which a goddess occasionally inhabits the body of an archaeological assistant. Please read the excerpts of the other authors at Tuesday Tales.
Resolve washed over him, and he set off at a fair distance behind. The way she blew him off he was compelled to follow her. What if she was in some kind of trouble? Over her head or something? Prue was practical in most ways but a bit of a crusader when a cause flipped her switch. And she hadn’t been herself lately.
When she stopped and looked around, he ducked into an abandoned storefront, feeling like Archie Goodwin on a tail. He wiped gutter drips from his eyes. Yeah, so much for that analogy. A proper Archie Goodwin would be wearing a fedora. And carrying a Marley. This area was deserted and darker than where they’d started, with a number of burnt out street lights. Prue sprinted over a faded crosswalk, avoiding puddles where the road dipped. When she veered left and kept going, he zigzagged across.
After a few more blocks she stopped under a sputtering yellow street light and glanced at her watch. He backed up against the edge of a building in a camo attempt. When she didn’t take off, he edged behind a spot where the building jutted out. Here he could peer around and still keep most of his body hidden. His nose and eyes prickled with the stale smell of old bricks and mortar.
A couple of minutes passed, and she checked her watch again. Who was she meeting and why here? This was no place for her to be hanging about. Ahead of them fog rolled in like a steam room door barging open. A rustling noise filled the air and stopped. Footsteps sounded. From the fog and making straight for Prue strode a slickster who could have stepped off a GQ cover.
Her words tumbled out. “Finally! What do you mean keeping me waiting?”
The man held up something. “You’re in for a world of hurt.”
Simon dashed forward. “Leave her alone.”
She whirled. “Simon! What are you doing here?”
“I followed you. What’s going on, Prue? Do you know this guy?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Simon.”
The man’s eyes gleamed in amusement.
Prue’s eyes shot daggers. “Of course I know him. He works for my family.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the picture prompt. Thanks for stopping by. Return to Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Great excerpt. I don’t see the picture but I figured out you’d used the same one as Trisha and Jillian. Love the way he rushes to her defense.
I had forgotten to pop in the pic of handsome guy! Thanks for reminding me, Susanne!
I saw the picture. Loved the surprise and poor Simon, with egg on his face! Great snippet and I loved the retro detective references. Right down my alley. I”m a huge Nero Wolfe fan. Love your writing, as always.
Oh my gosh, Jean, I’m glad to meet another Nero Wolfe fan. I read those books over and over. Thank you for your kind words about Simon, too.
I’m really enjoying the snippets from this story. Poor Simon is so confused, LOL!
Yes, Simon is a little off kilter these days, Mae! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I love the way you set up the scene with the street lamps and the fog. And poor Simon’s confusion when he found out that the guy worked for her family. Great job!
I’m glad the setting came across okay, Tricia– thank you!
Such a fun story!
Thanks, Cathy! I’m having fun with it.
love, love, love the reference to the old detective. Pass me a fedora. I love them. The last part about him working for her family was a wonderful little twist. Great snippet as always.
I’m glad you liked the tip of the fedora, Jillian! Thank you so much.
Oh, Flossie…you can’t leave us hanging right now. Couldn’t you have ignored the 300-word rule and kept going? Great snippet. I didn’t want to stop there.
Thank you, Trisha! I don’t know what they’ll do next.