Category Archives: short story

Perpetual Pandemonium ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

25 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


Finally getting back to the hotel, I now had to figure out how to get Michael into the lobby. I spotted Walt and Cory and called to them for help. They meandered over, and seeing Michael in the front seat, gave me an awkward look. I sighed, then explained who he was and how he tired himself running after my car, blah, blah, blah, and would they PLEASE help me instead of jumping to conclusions! Both faces flushed and they proceeded to drag the agent from the car, both holding him up on their shoulders.

Michael stirred enough to acknowledge the desk clerk, with Walt interjecting it had been a rough night for the boys. Whatever. While waiting for the elevator, Fred rolled in and came over to see what all the fuss was. Learning we had a new agent on the team did not sit well with him at all. I knew how he felt. At that moment, Mildred and Penelope entered the lobby and squeals came out of Pouty’s mouth. Hearing them jolted Michael from his comatose state and he grinned a mile wide. I’m guessing they know each other.

Before I could say anything, the two of them were jabbering back and forth. What they were saying, I have no idea. Between the Aussie accent and the Queen’s English, it was total pandemonium.  I was a goner. I’m lucky I understand half the American’s I deal with. There was lingo flying everywhere. The most I got out of it was they were on a mission together, not long ago, one that ended poorly, I might add, and were thrilled to be partnered again. Yippee for me.

Putting that bit of info aside, I lead them all onto the elevator, pressed the button for our floor (you didn’t think I would tell you what floor, did you? What if ~M is reading this?), and watched as the doors closed. I was now stuck in a box with six loonies. I’d rather be stuck with Darth Vader, maybe, no, not really. Dear Lord, I needed a drink, but no time for that. I had to keep my head on straight. Ear plugs would have been nice, though. Elevators have a knack for echoing loud noises.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – Perpetual Pandemonium – Day 25/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

Lavishly Loved ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

24 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


~M so loved her lavishly mysterious ways, those elaborate schemes, in which to trick the most innocent people she could find, you would think she had all the money in the world.  Maybe she did, but I didn’t know. But, this time, she had her hands full. She never came up against the likes of me and my crew. She had gotten to us a few times, but the last trick didn’t work. I outsmarted her and she did not like that at all! Right? Wouldn’t you think? After all, how would I know if she did or didn’t like it? By the way, has anyone figured out the answer to the question, yet? No? Do let me know if you do.  Oh..

Okay, back on track here….

As I thought over exactly what had happened, I continued my drive through the main street, still looking for some kind of clue to ~M’s next deed. Something caught the corner of my eye, and as I passed the corner, I saw a man waving at me. At least I think it was at me. I kept going, but noticed him again, in my side mirror, chasing my car. What the!? I slowed and pulled over to the curb so he could catch up. I figured this was yet another one of ~M’s tricks. I was on full alert.

When he finally got to the car, quite winded I might add, I realized who it was. Seems the Chief pulled another one on me. Without consulting me, nor even letting me know, he had called in Michael from the London office. Just what I needed. Another mouth to shut. I rolled down the window to greet the agent from across the pond, and reached out to shake his hand. He was so sweated up from running, his hand literally stuck to mine. Um, gross.

“I was hoping to find you here, but Chief said he didn’t know where you’d be” he said. Why he thought I would be downtown, in the middle of a mess, is beyond me, but I just nodded absently. He continued, “Chief said you’re on the trail of that mastermind, ~M, and when I heard that, I just had to be a part of it!” Swell, an overzealous man, what else did Chief have in mind for me? I motioned for him to get in the car, and explained I was down there looking for some kind of clue ~M might have left behind, as to what she was planning next. He seemed more excited than before, but soon, the running had caught up to him and he was passed out in the passenger seat. Ah, sweet silence. Until the snoring started…

I decided to head back to the hotel, get him checked in, and disappear for a bit. Hopefully, no one would find me, including ~M.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – Lavishly loved – Day 24/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

Mangy Mutts and Milkmen ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

23 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


I made my way downtown, through the traffic and pedestrians clogging the streets. I didn’t have a specific location in mind, but I knew I would recognize it as soon as I saw it. Maneuvering around all this congestion, while trying to locate something I had no idea about, proved to be tricky. Stop and go, stop and go, and finally just go. Until I had to stop short!

There, in front of me, crossing in the middle of the road, were two mangy mutts followed by a milkman. He seemed to be trying to give them milk. Doesn’t he know, dogs don’t drink milk? The dogs decided to sit in the roadway, stopping traffic in all directions, causing quite the jam. The milkman continued to offer the dogs the bottle he had in his hand. Horns were blaring everywhere now. You could feel the tension thickening, as people began to get out of their cars, and head towards mine. I made sure the doors were locked. Once they reached me, they realized why I had stopped. One by one, they attempted to shoo the mutts, and the milkman, out of the road. Nothing was working.

As I sat there, it occurred to me. This had to be the work of ~M. Why else would this happen here, now and when I was seeking her out. I must be getting close, otherwise, why go to these lengths? Then I spotted it. A pet store! I unlocked my door, jumped out of the car, and ran into the shop, buying two large dog biscuits. I hoped it would finally get these animals out of the street. Next to the pet store was a small grocer. I ran in there and bought a package of cookies, for the milkman. Makes sense, right?

Running back to the car, as fast as I could, I slowed down when I approached the dogs. I didn’t want to scare them into attacking anyone, especially me. I showed them I had treats for them, and their tails started wagging. They happily accepted them and went on their way. I handed the milkman the cookies and he gave me a big smile and went on his merry way. I turned around to the cheers of at least 50 people standing around. I curtsied, laughed, got in my car, and continued on my way. Now what was it I was looking for?

“Drat! That darn detective! She figured a way around it again! Auti, Bri, we must get back to the house and execute the next plan!” ~M had been watching the whole time.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – Mangy Mutts and Milkmen – Day 23/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

Pouty Penelope ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

22 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


Pouty Penelope, from Perth
An Aussie, from the other side of Earth
Was called in by the Chief
Claimed she was quite the thief
Seems he felt us, all, rather dearth

So we add this Sheila to our repertoire of tomfoolery. I’m now saddled with the three stooges, firebug Walt, and the wonder from down under. I’m not sure what I did to deserve this, but I was determined to find out!!

They called her Pouty Penelope because she pouted whenever she didn’t get her way. Good luck trying to pull that one on me. I was in charge here. So, I rounded up the troops, laid out a battle plan I had concocted the night before, and sent them on their ways, hoping, no praying, they wouldn’t get caught. Penelope didn’t like her assignment, and so, she stood in front of me, lower lip fully extended out, and waited. I glared back at her and shooed her away, but she kept standing there.

“Your pouting will not work with me” I told her. “Go on, get to your work. We have to get to ~M before she gets to us.” I reminded her. She wasn’t budging. I was so uptight from the weeks of dealing with idiots, I blew my stack, yet again. Screaming in her face, I told her to move her arse or she’d be fired. If I was trying to be discreet and not draw attention to us, I was failing miserably. This was the last thing I wanted. I waited. She got the message and off she went, mumbling something to herself. Damn accent of hers.

Now that I got rid of her, I needed to head into the lower section of town. God only knows what I’ll encounter there.

 

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July Writing Prompt – Pouty Penelope – Day 22/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

The Answer is the Question ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

21 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


The piles of dirt were placed in a circular pattern in the back of ~M’s yard. I thought it strange she had not come out to investigate what all the noise was. A bulldozer isn’t exactly quiet. But there was no sign of her anywhere. Maybe she had gone to the store, or she was just out for the day. Even the girls were nowhere to be found. I made sure to keep my eyes open just in case she had something planned for us. Well, Walt. She didn’t know us. Did she?

When ~M finally arrived home, she found me sitting in her backyard, with my feet in a pile of dirt. I have to admit, it’s an interesting sensation, a rather cooling, calming effect. When I heard her on the patio I glanced up, with a smile on my face, and waved.

“I’m sorry?” ~M looked confused. “Do I know you?”

“We met a couple of weeks ago! I was walking past and you were sitting out front with your feet in the dirt. I’ve been thinking about that ever since, so I decided to stop by to ask if I could join you. No one answered your bell, and I have to admit, I was kind of bummed when there was no dirt in the front yard, but on my way back to the car, I spotted all this dirt back here. I hope you don’t mind. This is wonderful!”

Still looking confused, ~M put her packages down and slowly walked over to where I was sitting. Truth be told, I was in a rather precarious predicament. If she decided to pull one of her tricks, I was a goner. I couldn’t move, unless I kicked the dirt. I’d have to remember that, and be sure to have good aim, too.

“I’m N” I said. “And you are?”

“I’m ~M” she replied.

“Great, we’re a couple of letters!” and we both laughed. That eased the tension a bit and ~M decided to join me in the dirt. Looking around, she asked, “Was all this dirt here when you got here?” I nodded yes and swept my hand across the yard, indicating the mounds were all here when I got here.

“Hmmmm” she said aloud. Then “HA! I know the answer!”

“Okay” I said. “Um, what was the question?”

“The answer IS the question.”

“Swell. So what’s the answer?” It seems ~M had a fondness for riddles. She refused to say anything further and just continued to play in the dirt. I’ll figure it out eventually….I think.

 

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July Writing Prompt – The answer is the question – Day 21/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0