DAY 3

Dear Miss Jaclyn Winebrenner,
      You have made yourself a reputation as a top contributor to your chosen field. This has not gone unnoticed and is why you have received this litter.
      You are cordially invited to participate in a gathering of detectives (police, private, and amateur), professional researchers, mystery writers and more. You will be competing amongst yourselves to solve a crime set up specifically for this event. The winner of said contest will have a generous donation made in their name to a charity of their choosing as well as being named the greatest of the detectives.
      Please send the enclosed card back in the envelope provided if you are seriously and interested and you will be sent more information about what could be one of the greatest times in your life.

Dear Miss Jaclyn Winebrenner,
      Thank you for your interest in this wonderful event.
      First of all, it is important for you to know that you will not be meeting anyone organizing the crime gathering in order to keep from influencing you, the detective. Now you will hopefully have just considered shredding this letter - good! A suspicious mind will serve you well. Another important thing to not is you will also not be asked to spend a penny outside of your own expenses. Expenses you will need to pay for will include: your hotel room, your meals, travel costs, and anything else you may need or desire during the week. So why not? Come, have a fun week doing what you enjoy and meet others that share your passion while you support a good cause.
      Included in this package are details for the hotel that has been reserved and a schedule for planned events during this week long happening. You will also find a list of suggested items to bring. Please, take your time to look things through then begin making plans. Remember the others you will meet can be either your allies or your enemies.
Happy Sleuthing!

DAY 3

        Mr. Joyce sat in his hotel room, turned headquarters, checking and rechecking the files he had spent all night putting together. The pile of hotel keys that sat on his desk had all been marked to correspond  to a file folder, a name on his list, and a page in his binder. Joyce was not sure why he had been selected for this job but the money he had been promised was… well more than he could have hoped for. Not only would his debtors and the loan sharks finally forget the name ‘Franklin Joyce’, but he himself could forget the name and make a new start somewhere else. Sure, there must be more to things then what met the eye but that was nothing new to Franklin.
      Everything appeared to be in order and all that was left was to put the files in the appropriate rooms. Frank Joyce looked up at the clock; the “guests” were not due for another three hours so there was still time for a shower, a shave and he would still have time to get into the rooms before even the earliest ones arrived.

DAY 2

      A short lady with white hair strode into the hotel lobby. A man followed her carrying a duffel bag and a large suitcase in one hand while pulling a matching black suitcase on wheels in the other. Somehow he managed to balance two pillow atop the rolling luggage without dropping the overnight bag and purse that had begun to slip from his shoulder.
From one of the chairs in the lobby, a solemn man watched their entrance and drew a line through an entry on the list he held in his hands - Mr. and Mrs. Jim Deaver.
Mrs. Deaver stopped to adjust her blue-flower print blouse with her free hands and turned to see her husband struggle down a small set of marble stairs. “Jim, would you please hurry up? We are going to miss our check-in time.”
“Mary… I think we can make it across the lobby in thirty seconds,”  or at least one of us can. “Why don’t you get our keys while I continue on towards the elevator?”
“I suppose you do need a head start. Okay, I will be there quicker than you can spell ‘chicanery’.”
Where on earth does she get these words?

NaNoWriMo DAY 1

       “You know he is only trying to get your information don’t you?” Hilary stepped out from the pillar she had been hiding behind and approached Scarlett who stood watching Brandon walk off.
“What’s that Miss Woodley?”
“I know you believe everyone here has good intentions but some of them are only here for the prize and will do anything to win it. Take that boy you were just talking to for example. He sits here chatting you up and doesn’t even mention the game and for all appearances he seems to want nothing but friendship; however, he is secretly trying to build you up to a point where he can get your clues and then he’ll ignore you.” Scarlett gathered her skirt and sat down on the stone bunch as Hilary followed her.
“Are you quite sure? He seems like such a nice young man.”
“Oh I know dear, I know. Its hard to believe that people like that could, in fact, be nothing more than scoundrels but it’s a hard truth of life. But don’t you worry, I’m here for you through thick and thin. If you need help with keeping that boy away I’d gladly help.”
Scarlett looked down at her lap and began to trace the swans carved into the stone bench with her finger. With a sigh she looked to where Brandon had exited the courtyard a few minutes ago, “I reckon I can take care of myself.”
“Of course you can Scar.”
*****
Across the courtyard Mrs. Deaver smiled at the interaction she was watching, “That girl is amazing. Ha! Look at that, Jim. Hilary has no idea that Scarlett Ann sees right through her.”
Mr. Deaver looked up from his ham sandwhich with a grunt. Why can’t I ever simply have a sandwhich without being interrupted? “Honey, you couldn’t possibly know what’s going on over there.”
“Oh don’t be sour, Jim. Of course I do! Just look at the way they are sitting there: Hilary keeps getting closer and touching Scarlett in comforting ways and Scarlett Ann reacts to each touch specifically and in such a way that it appears that she is truly depressed. But when Hilary just called her ‘Scar’ she lost her composure for a second and then….”
“Hogwash Mary! You can’t read lips!”
“Why do you always doubt me? Watch them. Scarlett Ann just said she appreciated that Hilary warned her about Brandon. Now Hilary is inviting Scarlett to dinner. Scarlett politely declined…”
“I can do that too, Mary. The pretty one just said that she would really love to eat her ham sandwhich in peace and quiet. ‘Oh I LOVE ham sandwhiches, especially before they‘ve sat in front of you for half an hour,’ that was the fat one….”
“JIM!!!”