Hello everyone!
Thanks for voting in last week’s poll. By an overwhelming majority, you want Miss Scarlet to have the ability to talk to Wren Wilder. This works great for my short mystery but I ran into another problem. I’d totally planned to post the end today, but I have another question. Honestly, I didn’t plan it this way. The unexpected happens more often than not.
Welcome to my world!
If you missed part one of the Wren Wilder Mystery, find it here…
The Stalker continued…
Miss Scarlet noticed Wren’s tense muscles and sighing while they sat in the garden. Wren was upset.
“Wren? You aren’t alone with your troubles,” the feline said in her soft purr of a voice that only Wren could understand.
You see, Miss Scarlet had the unusual talent of being able to communicate with Wren. Since Miss Scarlet was a loyal, smart, and brave cat who loved solving mysteries with Wren, they’d become best friends. Some might say this was an unconventional pairing, but it worked extremely well for them. They were a formidable team.
Even though Miss Scarlet and Wren shared a lot, she’d never told Wren where she came from, how she learned to talk, or why she chose Wren as her partner. Maybe someday she would. She did share that she’d had a rough life on the streets and was always fascinated by mysteries. Six months earlier, when Miss Scarlet followed the kind woman home from a bookstore, she felt a connection with Wren and made the decision to stay with her, much to Wren’s joy.
As they sat together in the garden, Wren told Miss Scarlet how the stalker had rewritten her novel and had threatened her if Wren didn’t let the stalker into her life. “It’s horrible, Miss Scarlet. We have to figure out how to get him out of my life.”
The end of Miss Scarlet’s tail flicked back and forth. She was angry. This situation was an unusual challenge but her confidence knew no bounds. She knew they’d work it out. It was the only option.
Together, they went inside so Wren could read every email and the rewritten book to Miss Scarlet. It took all afternoon and most of the night.
“I see,” Miss Scarlet purred after she’d heard everything. “We have to lure this stalker out of his hidey-hole. Bring him into the light where we can see who he is and use his weak spot to our advantage. Anyone can be an anonymous bully.”
Wren nodded in agreement.
They both slept well after they’d figured out their path forward.
The next morning, feeling refreshed for the first time since the stalker had sent her the threatening emails, Wren gave Miss Scarlet a bowl of minced chicken with rice, then sat down with a cup of lemon tea and a warm croissant for herself.
“I have a plan,” she said after they’d both enjoyed their morning refreshment. “I’ll respond to my stalker’s last email and invite him to meet me for lunch at the Cozy Cup Café on Main Street. From the changes he made to my book, he seems to prefer a sterile environment and I suspect he’s allergic to the outdoors but I prefer a public meeting spot. I suppose, there’s a risk that he might not agree to come.
“Tell him you love his changes but you need to discuss a few more,” Miss Scarlet suggested. “Play to his ego which seems to have no limit. He’ll meet you.”
Wren sat at her computer and composed her email. When finished, she read it to Miss Scarlet. “Dear Number One Fan, if you’d be so kind as to meet me at the Cozy Cup Café, I’d love to discuss the clever changes you made to my novel and run a few other ideas your way. Sincerely, WW.”
“Yes. Yes. I love it,” Miss Scarlet purred. “Add what you’ll be wearing and tell him to be there exactly at noon. His writings revealed that he loves details.”
Wren read her addition. “P. S. I’ll be wearing a purple hat and I’ll be sitting outside in the corner near the potted ferns.”
Miss Scarlet nodded her approval. Wren hit send. In less than a minute, a response dinged in her inbox.
I’ll be there.
Wren dressed carefully, then adjusted her purple floppy hat on her silver hair. She picked up her basket with Miss Scarlet sitting inside, and they set off on the short walk to the café. They planned to arrive before the stalker.
to be continued…
POLL
This is Miss Scarlet waiting at the cafe for the Stalker. Where does the story go next?
Odds and Ends
Bird sighting: Four pheasants wandered through my yard this morning - 1 male and 3 females. They cleaned up the sunflower seeds that had spilled on the ground, then wandered into the brush. I hope they come back!
I’m almost to the halfway point in book 7 in my Little Dog Diner series! Without giving too much away, there’s a new owner at the Blueberry Bay Grapevine. She moved to Misty Harbor for peace and quiet only to end up front and center in a murder! Oh dear.
I completely understand. My full-time career & my family always have priority over my writing. Love your work & glad to see you are keeping at it.