Dear Readers

Fear not the Darkness, But What Lies Within, The recesses of our mind, The creepy cobwebbed corners,That lingers on and tickles us,With tingle feelings of alarm, The deep in the stomach, Pain we feel when we do warn, The fear is deadly it seeks, The deepest corner of our mind, It's just a story to alarm,Educate and provide entertainment for our minds. So read on dear reader, I hope you find the stories amusing and full of charm.






Thursday, December 20, 2018

Your Happy Holidays .or Merry Christmas Treat



The following are two excerpts from Christmas Is Calling 
and Visions of Sugarplums available at Amazon

if you'd like to purchase the book or books just click the title it will take you to a link to do so.
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Angels We Have Heard On High

It was unseasonably warm a week ago and winter’s chill had come in a fury. Now the snow came down in not small clumps, but like someone throwing snowballs. I was cold hungry and I needed shelter for the night.

“I’m sorry; if only you’d come sooner, the shelter is full.” the person at the shelter called the Inn of the shepherd said as I looked in to see a Christmas tree burning brightly.

I had myself a bitter laugh. Here it was Christmas Eve and there was no room at the Inn. I looked around, no stable to be found, but a cardboard box from some large appliance someone was getting for Christmas lay before me.

How I remembered those Christmases of excesses, when money was plenty. When my life was different, and I had the love of my life by my side, but all of that was gone in the blink of an eye. I lost my job and then chased away my love, with anger and bitter words. Mary had then withered and died. Then I had lost my home and dignity, as I now walked the streets, living day to day on handouts.

I lay down to sleep on the cold ground, wrapped inside my box. The wind was bitter and bitingly cold. I pulled my ragged coat tighter round me. And still the cold battered me. I was almost asleep when I heard the heavenly music, the choir singing ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’. Before I had even thought about it my lips were singing the song too and I started wishing for an angel to take me out of the cold on this chilly night.

Suddenly before me appeared a woman, at least at first I thought she was a woman. I somehow knew without a doubt this was an angel. Her hair was dark, her wings hidden close to her back, small and almost invisible; until that is she bent forward and then the wings unfurled to their full size. They were majestic wings that from wing to tip each were six feet long and dark black in colour like a crow’s wings. I questioned why had I been sent a dark angel? Was I so unredeemable?
“Contrary to popular belief, angels come in all shapes and sizes, with all kinds of wings,” she admonished, as if she read my mind. Then she continued, “Lionel, I thought you were different and showed no prejudice.”

“Sorry,” I apologized, ashamed and suddenly frightened.

“Lionel, my dear man, and yes you are a good man; fear not for I have watched over you all your life. You need not dread me.”

“You’ve watched over me? Then where were you when I needed you?”

“I have been beside you. I have seen your best and your worst, and so has the almighty. You’ve learned much in the last week, and the almighty has seen your kindness, when you had so little yourself. He saw you give your last dollar to that teenager who was hungry.”

“Is that why the almighty finally answered my prayer?”
“Lionel, my dear man. Who stood with you when you needed shelter? Who found a meal for your empty belly? Who lifted your feet and made them light, when you felt you could walk no more?”

“The almighty was with me?”

“Yes, he made the unseasonable mild weather. He made the lady see that you needed money for food. Remember how surprised you were that she gave you a twenty?

“Yes.”

“Come Lionel. Come with me to your reward. There will be no more pain, no more trial, no more sorrow, only his light,” she said taking me by the hand and pulling me into glorious light.

Light, all-encompassing peace and joy, everlasting enveloped me and there just in front of me, my dear wish, my wife.

“Hello Lionel. I’ve been waiting for you,” Mary said as she hugged me.

“Poor beggar, he died during the night.” I heard from far away.

But that life had no meaning for me anymore, I became light and felt nothing but peace and joy. So I had one request from the almighty. Let me share this love and joy at Christmas to all those deserving ones. And so God rewarded me. With Mary by my side, we are Christmas angels. We help the most deserving and see they get the Christmases they need. So if you feel that joy and that tug at your wallet this season, open it and share what you can. Make someone’s Christmas as special as mine.
©Sheilagh Lee December 6, 2012


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Home Invasion

He crept swiftly passed the sleeping girl, checking to make sure she didn’t hear his footsteps on the threadbare carpet. She stirred slightly and he paused for moment, taking a huge breath hoping she wouldn’t hear him. He slipped passed the boys room, as the cat almost tripped him. He worried that his large frame would make more noise and awakened the family before this job was done. He continued down the hall past the parent’s bedroom.

Softly his feet patted on the carpet and then a little harder on the wooden stairs as he tiptoed down them.

He entered the family room and spotted some baked goods left on a plate. Tempted he took one off the plate and thought about eating it. He then looked down at his round belly and almost stopped but then he thought dieting for woosies. Besides he could diet in the New Year after this job. The baked good dry and appetizing almost made him not eat it. But he was hungry, or at least he thought he was, even as he felt it go to his stomach like a lead weight, he continued eating. When he finished the baked good, he walked around the living room. Where he looked was bare, hardly anything filled the room. A well-worn chair well-loved covered in duct tape to hold it together stood in the corner. A sofa long and looking saggy was there covered in a crochet blanket to hide its flaws.

In the corner of the dark room stood a Christmas tree; if you could call it a tree, calling it a tree would be kind. The tree looked like something out of Charlie Brown’s Christmas. He stared at it for a few moments, watching the twinkling lights. A single strand blinked at him. He then decided to get the job done before this family woke. He took out his bag looking for his tools. He found them and quickly completed the job. Placing the tools back in his bag, he packed up and snuck out of the house.

The girl woke first and as she went into the living room, she squealed waking the boy who came running in response. The parents came next, worried about the screaming from their child.

The parents stood their shocked and puzzled staring into the living room. The whole family gazed and looked in shock at their living room. Where once a duct taped chair stood;. its depilated state an eyesore in the room, a leather chair was now positioned.

And not just any chair, a La-Z-Boy chair that could recline. The sofa was leather too and matched perfectly. A rug, a beautiful tapestry of figures on horseback, and with golden threads, appeared under the furniture. And in the corner where their Charlie Brown Christmas tree had stood, a beautiful Douglas fir stood in its place. It fairly glowed with the five hundred lights strung around it. The ornaments they’d placed so lovingly on their tree were there, with many more new ones filling the branches. And underneath the tree a bounty of riches, many pretty packages layered beneath the tree.

“I don’t understand this,” retorted the father, shaking his head.
“Me either,” the mother claimed, covering her mouth in wonderment.

“It was Santa Claus,” insisted the children.

“It must have been,” mother agreed. “Thank you, whoever did this. Because of you, my children will have Christmas. God bless you ten-fold.”

“Yes, thank-you Santa and God bless you,” the girl child reiterated, opening a present and squealing to find a Justin Bieber doll.

The man who had crept into the house sat in his home, his feet in front of the fire warming them.

“Did they hear you?” asked his wife.

“No,” he replied.

“Did your brother, Paul help you with the furniture?” she enquired.

“Yes, we got it all in and I used my tools to make sure it was all put together right.”

“And the tree did it fit?” she wanted to know.

“Yes, and it was beautiful,” he commented “The presents are all under the tree?”

“Yes, dear, including the Justin Bieber doll, Ellen wanted,” he stated happily.

“They don’t know who did all this. Do they?”

“No, they’ll never know their neighbours got together and did this,” he answered.

“Good. I hope they believe Santa Claus did all this.”

“Of course after all it was Santa Claus,” he replied, with a wink and touched his nose.

“Santa needs to go on a diet,” his wife commented.

“Yes, a little treadmill and then his belly won’t be so jolly,” he laughed. “I need a couple of hours sleep then we can have our Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, come to bed Santa.”

“Merry Christmas, to you too honey, and to all a goodnight.”

~0~
©Sheilagh Lee December 6, 2012



Wonder

The wonder of Santa Claus
Seen through children’s eyes
Brings back treasured memories
Of Christmases long ago
The anticipation of Christmas morning
The family gathering too
Seen through rose-coloured glasses
The bittersweet remembrance
Siblings gone too soon
Of parents gone too
Forgotten for a moment
Lost in the anticipation
Of the celebration
So long ago.

©Sheilagh Lee December 5, 2017




Merry Christmas, \Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate I hope you have fun.


Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Fallen Angel


     I was tired of being, good, kind what did it get me; but nothing in return. I had no money, no house to call my own and now no job. Redundancy it was still firing you and after I'd made the company prosper it didn't seem fair that the executives were now gutting the company and declaring bankruptcy. While they lined their pockets mine were now empty. 

      I decided to make a vow which I said aloud “No more Miss Nice Girl.”
Imagine my surprise when a creature in a black cloak with no face appeared before me and demanded, “Come with me.”
“Er, no,” I stated.
“Bravo, that’s the way to start your new resolve.”
“How do you know about that?”
“I’ve been watching you in the shadows. You’re a very interesting mortal.”
“What are you?”
“I am a fallen angel. I’m hoping if I do enough, maybe he’ll forgive me,” he answered, took off his cloak, showing a handsome face, “I ‘ll show you the good you’ve done over the years and what could happen if you stop being nice.”

    Clasping my hand he showed me the good, the bad, and the future. Everyone I knew was miserable and failing. How could I have made this much difference? Surely a few nice words and deeds couldn't have saved  them from all this?

“I don’t understand. The future is bad, if I’m not nice.”
“It’s like this everything you do creates a ripple. Your kindnesses over the years have helped many and turned lives around .You’ve made a difference in so many lives.”
“Thank you, for intervening. I’ll pray for you,” I said.
“Just continue to spread light and love and that will be thanks enough.”

My life changed that day I became happier and that made people around me react positively. I have a new job a new home and a new love, Bob. He likes my happy outlook and says it saves him from the big bad world we live in. I like myself better now and if someone treats me wrong I feel sorry fr them and then I feel better enough to project the image of me I like the best the happy go lucky me that makes the world feel like a better place. Try it you might even like it yourself.
©Sheilagh Lee  December 5, 2018

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends and Blog Followers

Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends and Blog Followers





Hanukkah festival of lights
Candles burning bright
Nine-branched Menorah  
One candle each night
And one extra to light
The fight they won
The temple purified
A miracle performed
As wicks burned on
Eight days with oil
For one long night
It burnt so bright
Commemorated each year
To remember the gift
Of the single brilliant light
Burning so long so bright
Three blessings said
Three blessings given
Two each night after
Giving thanks to the eternal King
Our lord God is everything
Happy Hanukkah


© Sheilagh Lee December 16,2014

Monday, November 26, 2018

Angel of Thanksgiving

Angel of Thanksgiving

         Cold grey, the sun has given way to dark ominous snow clouds, suiting my mood. I should be wishing for sunflowers, warm sunny days with picnics instead I’m sheltering under a bridge from the cold. Losing my apartment and my job, my life was pulled a part like the wishbone of a turkey, but it was not a wishbone it was the semblance of a life that I’d tried to put together after my service in Iraq. The day before Thanksgiving, no wonder I was thinking of turkey. Hungry and cold; maybe I’d freeze to death tonight I thought and no one would care. 


      I snuggled into the trestles of the bridge wrapping newspaper as a blanket around me and closed my eyes. I awoke looking into the face of an angel. Her blonde hair tucked under a red wool cap, a black woollen coat en- wrapping her, she offered a man’s coat and hat to me saying, ”Here, stay warm. My name is Jennifer and we’re serving dinner at the shelter .Will you please come?”

       I wanted to say no; but my head nodded and I followed her and the other homeless who had been invited. The dinner was incredible turkey with all the fixings, even my favorite marshmallow yams. When I was done they offered me pumpkin pie. Jennifer offered me shelter for the night and convinced me to stay at the shelter. 

      Jenny saved me that day helped me get the help I needed at the VA and now we have a baby. I was right the first time Jenny was and still is an angel helping those in need and I work long side her sharing my experience to help others .Thank God for people like my Jenny who reach out to those who need it.
©Sheilagh Lee  November 26,  2018

Monday, November 19, 2018

Outfoxed

“Why have you brought me here?” I asked my uncle.
“It’s a beautiful autumn day in the forest; can’t you enjoy it?”
“This is all an illusion. It’s not autumn and the light is all wrong. How long have I been in this room?”
“This is a forest, not a room.”
“Let it go Uncle Damien.”
“You’ve passed the test, Seraphina.”
“How long have I been here?’
“How did you discern that in two minutes?”

I answered by changing the autumn forest to a wintry scene.

“Amazing, but you’re only fifteen who taught you to do that?”
“No one taught me. I’ve been able to enter people’s minds since I was five.”
“Enter people’s minds? That’s how you create the illusion?” Uncle Damien stated looking unhappy

I quickly erased the conversation about how I created illusions from his mind and let him think that the illusion was a fluke.

“I think you need to move in with me so I can teach you how to do illusions safely and simply,” Uncle Damien declared.

I just smiled and nodded. It would make my teen years so much easier to live with Uncle Damien my parents suspected my abilities were much more than they thought and it was becoming harder to fool them. I’d be able to do anything I wanted living with Uncle Damien. Last week I moved in Uncle Damien fooled me. He knew what I was up to all the time I might as well be in teen jail. This was no fun now I'd have to learn the way Uncle Damien wanted me to. 

©Sheilagh Lee  November 19, 2018

Monday, November 5, 2018

Wrath


      Some high school kids called me Zombie girl just because I’d been found three years ago buried in the town dump. With no memories of my life before found I was called Jane. Estimating that I was thirteen years old; the police said no one had reported me missing. Scared for the first year (even though my foster family was nice) I took Taekwondo.

Students chanted at me, “You put a spell on me.”

Waving my arms I chanted that Jahil would be in love with me and then spoiled it all by laughing.

The next day Jahil followed me around like a puppy dog. I told him to stop, but he said, “That’s not an option. I love you.”
I said under my breath, “For you I don’t exist.”
Jahil turned and disappeared around the corner.
“Great work Cassie,” a man dressed all in black said to me.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Your creator, Marcus Blackstone and now that you’ve found yourself; you can do my bidding,”
“Not on your life Blackstone, I am my own person.”

He grabbed at me but I use Taekwondo and took him down. He laughed and said,” When you want to learn to wield your power come see me.

Then he disappeared in a puff of smoke. I haven’t seen him since and I hope I don’t. I remembered how he buried me and left me for dead. Cassie Blackstone came from a long line of witches, he should fear my wrath.
©Sheilagh Lee  November 5, 2018

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Never Alone


Never alone

I just need another week, I thought. If my husband hadn’t gotten sick and died, I would fallen behind by three payments to the bank. I told my friend Suzy next door but she couldn’t help, I was alone. Hearing the doorbell and looked out there was a crowd on my lawn and found one of my old students on my doorstep. Alfred had gone on to be the CEO of a major tech company.
“Alfred, how nice to see you.”
“Mrs. Jones, I had to come and see you I was so sorry to hear about your husband Bill.”
“Thank-you for the flowers. What are all these people doing here?”
“They all wanted to see you, but I’m the spokesperson,” Alfred answered then turning to the crowd he said “Stay here, I’ll be back.”
We went to the kitchen and sat down.
“We heard you needed a little help and we all wanted to help our favourite teacher,” Alfred explained handing me a cheque.
“I can’t accept this,” I said automatically.
“We are just paying you back what we owe you, even though this will never be enough. You nurtured us, encouraged us over the years none of us would have done so well if not for you, so please accept the money and save your house.”
I cried as Alfred repeated what I’d always told my students ‘A single seed of kindness bares fruit a hundred fold'
I saved my house and realized I was never alone.


©Sheilagh Lee  October 25, 2018

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Alchemy


     
          I knew I shouldn’t go, but it called to me like a siren. Rowing my boat across the calm sea, climbing the cliffs, I couldn’t find the beacon of light. Looking for some semblance of a door, or a building, it appeared only rock and earth at my feet. Suddenly without warning a chasm opened up and I tumbled like on slide down.
Picking myself up at the bottom I saw a strikingly handsome man (his hair long dark and flowing) with a ladle moving it back and forth as if stir the pot.
“How did you get by my wards, Aurelia?” he asked.
“What are you doing, Jonathan?” I asked.
“Alchemy,” he answered,” The ultimate magic, isn’t it? Besides I need some cash.”
“Would you like some assistance?”
“Are you insinuating a man, can’t do what a woman can do?”
“Of course not!” I kidded, “The spell is almost right; but you must promise never to share this ingredient.”

“Fine.”
         I added the key ingredient then stirred the pot and the magic within roared, soaring a green light into the sky. I said the incantation and poured the waiting trays making gold into ingots.
Jonathan has pleaded with me to stay. Apparently I’m not just decorative! I decided to give him another chance; but he’s been warned to treat me with respect. I think he’ll do that, now that he’s seen how much magic I’ve held back. Someone always has the power in the relationship and that is mine.


©Sheilagh Lee  October 14 2018

Friday, October 5, 2018

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend

Enjoy your long weekend all my Fellow Canadians and give thanks

As the sun sets

On the day

We gave thanks

For our blessings

Give prayers

Hoping that tomorrow

Will be a better day

Offer help to those who need

Say prayers for others

For only through community

And love of our fellow man

Do we truly prosper

                                                          ©Sheilagh Lee  August 27, 2018

Monday, October 1, 2018

London City Council and the BRT ~ My Opinion

These are strictly my opinions about  London Ontario and the state it's in today.

Dear London City Council

        For years our councils have seemed to put of making major decisions about roads, buses and development in this city. It seemed like you were always taking the easy route, not changing anything. Most major cities in this province are years ahead of us in transit systems and that was because of good planning something we've sadly lacked. Hamilton with a population of slightly more than 536, 917 as of 2016 ( they lost population going down from 551, 771 in 2014.) is going ahead in 2019 with light rail because its more efficient and will bring jobs and growth to their city.  London? We've got the population moving here from Toronto to retire,(buying what they think are cheap houses) but how long will they stay with out the amenities they are used to and what do you think their purchases are doing to housing prices here? People who rent apartments or buy properties are paying higher prices.  This has trickle down effect making it harder to retain workers who can't afford housing which in turn creates a lower tax base. What do you think will happen when these retirees discover London doesn't have the amenities they're used to? Also Toronto has good public transit something we're lacking here.


        That's  because for years London has been suffering from NIMBY or not in my backyard syndrome. If you don't take transit in this city and most don't (probably because its so inefficient) then you have no idea how bad it really is. The fact is this city has been trying to keep our small town atmosphere to the detriment of jobs and growth. This city did not sufficient plan for any change to roads or driving habits. We need that to change or traffic snarls are going to get even worse and road costs will expand to untenable amounts. If the BRT will not work, because you must expropriate historically significant properties then that means you make another plan with the proper research you should have done originally (Why didn't you know this? That part makes no sense this has been in the planning stages for ten years.)

        Change the route and find a solution that works with the least amount of pain and costs for Londoners. That's your job and it seems you are not doing it!!!

          You think I'm exaggerating. No!! The roads are becoming busier in London anyone who drives or is a passenger knows that you've waited for delays, had to add time to your commute and seen more roads under construction. If you ask anyone who has used a transit system outside of London they can't believe how inefficient and unreliable it truly is. As someone who has taken the bus and had to plan to leave an hour or and hour an half before you are supposed to be somewhere I truly understand their pain and don't get me talking about how in the past I have waited for buses that never arrived. We need a new transit system I would have preferred the  light rail system it made more sens,e but the powers that be (that's you city Council) decided that maybe we could go with the BRT. Now you are waffling again because of heritage buildings? I almost choked, laughing, the city is always tearing down heritage buildings and allowing them to build their things on their sites or it seems the OMB allows them to.

       The problem with not moving ahead and keeping the' Old Boys Network' happy with the status quo is that the city is dying, yes DYING!!!. Jobs are not brought to cities that can't supply employers with workers and most employers want workers that they can pay minimum wage or slightly above to and that means those workers may not be able to afford cars and insurance; so they need transit. but if the bus doesn't go there to the workplace that means walking or not taking the job. If it took you four hours to walk to work and home again, most wouldn't do it and in bad weather, forget it. The city needs taxpayers so they can pay for all the things that make a city run this includes the workers and management that would work at these companies. Even if the workers don't own property they pay rent that goes to a landowner that pays taxes, there's your bottom line.

         Don't get me started on the brilliant idea to close off Dundas Street downtown. This was done down the street on Dundas Street East to make it pedestrian friendly during the 70's and it failed they had to put the road back and the the shopping died off there. Malls opened on the edges of the city and a vibrant downtown became stagnant and then had only pockets where people actually shopped.  Maybe the closed off street would work downtown if they had the amenities such as grocery stores and other needed things to make the area habitable and viable so you could buy things you needed on foot and make our city more friendly to people who studied here at Fanshawe and Western, (By The Way I've talked to them they've said why would I stay, there's nothing here for me.)

          Have you seen the cities that have died in the United States? That's where London could be headed, if we don't have transit that works. So please city council get your act together, quit dithering. do some actual research that doesn't have to be changed after ten years of discussion and get our act together before we're all sorry.

©Sheilagh Lee  October 1, 2018

Monday, September 17, 2018

Release Day for my newest Kelly Murder Mystery Book 5~This Little Piggy Had None

Release Day

This Little Piggy Had None release date September 18  available in  kindle form and Paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GR86M7F


Excerpt:(edited for space)

     Terrence  had been shocked and pleasantly surprised when the old Byers department store building went on the market. The building had been left to decay for the last twenty years, but it could be salvageable with a little construction.

    Terrence had thought he would have gotten a really good deal on the property but the competition had been fierce; mainly in the form of dealing with that real estate devil, Herbert Weatherthorpe.
Weatherthorpe through his lawyer and real estate agent, had tried to undercut Terrence and get the building from Terrence, but Terrence’s real estate guru had been better. Now the building was  Terrence’s and the construction would soon begin. 

           The phone rang and Terrence answered it.

“Is this Terrence Stewart?” a deep timbered voice asked.
“It is. Who is this?”
“Herbert Weatherthorpe.”
So the man dared to call Terrence himself? Ha, Ha, Terrence would have some fun with him. Weatherthorpe could do no harm the building was after all Terrence’s.

“I see,” Terrence answered.
“Don’t hang up; we have something to talk about.”
“We have nothing to discuss, Weatherthorpe.”
“But we do. If you want to truly own the Beyer building…”
“I already own the building,” Terrence declared triumphantly.
“Do you have the keys?”
“No,” Terrence admitted not knowing quite why he answered that way. He had the key, (a skeleton key mind you, but it would open the door) which he picked up at his real estate agent after signing the papers yesterday.
“So if you want the keys meet me at it third floor, at precisely eight thirty. Don’t be late.”

       Then the cell phone call dropped.

       How dare Weatherthorpe?

       Terrence tried to call back the man but no one answered. Terrence was more than a little annoyed. Why that man had to meet him on the third floor of the Beyer building? Terrence thought in the next moment he wouldn’t go! His real estate person had given Terrence the key so why would that bastard Weatherthorpe claim to have keys? Could he have keys? Should he really satisfy his curiosity and meet the man? Terrence was meeting Kerwin at 8:30 a.m.
Yet Terrence was now curious. He had a written confirmation by fax a few minutes ago, the place was now his.  Wouldn’t that be fun to wave in that asses face? He’d go if only to do that. Besides that man had no business trespassing in Terrence’s building. Katha didn’t have to know any of this he hadn’t told her anything about Weatherthorpe and his manipulations he didn’t need to tell her anything about this now.
No, Terrence didn’t have time for this. He’d go to breakfast and take his time with Kerwin. It wouldn’t hurt for that bastard, Weatherthorpe to stew in his own juices waiting for Terrence. Then Terrence would meet the devil at the Beyer building and gloat how he owned the building that Weatherthorpe would never get the upper hand.

“See you when you get here then,” the man cried, sounding triumphant and then Weatherthorpe had the nerve to hang-up abruptly.


      Terrence laughed into the dead air. Terrence had no intention of being there at eight- thirty p.m., the fool could wait. 

Arriving a little after eleven a.m. Terrence entered through the front door of the Beyer Building with the skeleton key he had picked up at his real estate agent.

       Terrence stared at the skeleton key. It was his building he had proof, so why did he feel so uneasy? Terrence then placed the skeleton key in his pocket.


      Terrence stepped into the antique elevator. The elevator creaked and made the usual noises of a decrepit elevator, as it went up the floors. Terrence thought maybe he should have taken the stairs. The elevator probably wasn’t safe. When had it last been serviced? Oh well it would be demolished soon as a new system was put in which would be much safer for his family.

      The elevator lurched a little and then stopped abruptly. Damn it, the elevator had stopped halfway below the floor, Terrence thought.

    Terrence pulled his body up and out of the elevator and as he did he felt something hard come down on his head as his body pitched forward.

~0~


A short time later Terrence came to, dazed and confused, and looking up into the face of a police officer who stated, “You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand?”

“Where am I?”
“The Beyer Department Building, sir. Have you understood your rights as I’ve told you, so far?”
“Rights?”
“Yes, sir,” continued the cop, “Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?”

The cop then finished reading Terrence his rights.

     Terrence held his throbbing head trying to understand what was happening. Why was he being arrested?
       Terrence turned his head and couldn’t believe his eyes. Not only was Herbert Weatherthorpe lying close to Terrence with a hammer imbedded in his head; but in Herbert’s grasp was a skeleton’s hand holding the skeleton key to this building that had been in Terrence’s pocket. One finger also pointed pointing to something, but what? Terrence tried to pull his thoughts together; but he just felt foggy. None of this made any sense. Terrence heard another person come in the room and thought good they can sort this out. He’d leave it in their hands.

“You idiot, Alan! This man is injured. He can’t understand what you’re saying. Call an ambulance and get him to the hospital,” he heard the new police officer say. Terrence just took a deep breath and promptly passed out.
~0~

If you want to know more of  the story purchase your copy at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GR86M7F