NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Friday, April 29, 2011

MY INVITATION'S LOST IN THE POST ...

So how on earth did I get the poisoned chalice of today's blog post? When the eyes of most of Britain - and, I may say, the world - are on an event as far removed from Clare London blogging as the sun from the earth? :)

I've spent the morning at a friend's, watching The Royal Wedding, and searching my rather weary brain for a connection with the NYUS blog. And ... failing. So, if you'll excuse a rather scribbled moment after a jug of Pimms - here's some mystery fiction instead!

***

I crossed the darkened room on bare feet and leaned against the closed door, listening with fierce concentration, my sharp hearing on alert. There were no sounds from the corridor outside. I blinked in the darkness, but nothing was out of place: no movement, no answering breath, no cry of alarm. Excellent. I was alone in the room, just as I had been when I slid the window open and climbed in from the garden.

A special day, they’d said. Yes, indeed. The happy couple would get what they deserved today, and I’d be the one to deliver it.

Who was there to stop me?

I bent on supple knees, the dark fabric of my clothing stretching over my muscles, then moved across the room in a crouch. My gloved hands moved swiftly across the furniture, feeling my way. The geography of the room was just as I’d anticipated. The package at my side hung awkwardly, pressing into my thigh. Slipping a hand down, I patted it back into place. There must be no noise; no warning given.

Just what they deserved.

Maybe just one more touch? My mouth went dry at the promise. After all, I couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong now. They would be back from the church any time now, and I … I wanted things to be ready for them. Preparation was everything.

I’d been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Pausing, balanced on my knees and heels, I grasped the thick, velvet cloth in my pocket and drew out my burden. My heartbeat quickened. Biting my lip to hold back a moan of satisfaction, I ran a tentative finger along the sharp edge inside.

And then the lights snapped on.

Blinking with shock, I jumped to my feet. The door had slammed open, a large, solid shape silhouetted in the frame. For a second’s flash, I couldn’t focus, yet knew it was a human shape. How many were there? Just one? A whole team? Three running steps would take me back to the window and escape.

“Stay there,” said a strong voice. “It’s all over now.” The shadow broke away from the doorway and started walking towards me. A man in uniform. A large man. The voice was low and harsh. “I told you to wait with the others, didn’t I?”

“You can’t stop me. This is for them.” I gripped my precious parcel.

The man shook his head slowly, almost sadly, still walking forward. There were mere feet between us now. “Now come along quietly. You know it’s for the best, don’t you?”

No. I shook my head too, but angrily: with frustration.

“Give that to me,” the man said. His voice was kinder now.

With a sob in my throat, I held out the parcel. I watched the other man take hold of it. For one brief moment, I wouldn’t let go. “It’s what I planned for. What I must do.”

The man nodded, almost sympathetically. “Of course.” The parcel had changed hands. I was bereft. I stood  in the room, disarmed, thwarted.

“Look around,” the man said. “You see?”

I looked around slowly, expecting a trick, dreading the truth. The room was opulently furnished, every surface covered with greetings cards of all shapes and sizes. Over the fireplace was a large banner proclaiming “Congratulations to the happy couple”. And on a large dining table at the far side of the room was a pile of sumptuously wrapped gifts.

“I’ve checked them all in,” the man said. “It’s my job, as steward of the Royal Household.” He shook his head again and gestured with my parcel. “And there are twenty five of these already.”

Twenty five?” Surely not. Surely my dreams were unique, my promises treasured…

The man took my arm, guiding me firmly but carefully towards the exit. “Send them a gift voucher instead, why don’t you?”

“No –”

“Yes,” he said, with a sigh that spoke of a very long day, and the aftermath of a stream of challenging well-wishers at the doors of Clarence House. “Because you can have too many kitchen knife sets.”

14 comments:

Wynter said...

Very clever. A perfect post for the day!

Toni Anderson said...

lol

Jenre said...

My invitation got lost too and since hub is firmly anti-royal I had to watch the wedding on my own :(. Still, that was better than listening to hub making sarcastic comments throughout.

Love your story. Nice touch of anticipation and humour :).

And I'm so jealous about the Pimms, but glad you had a good time with your friend. Wasn't the dress just perfect? :)

Rita said...

Had I known you all wanted to go I would have had my pilot swing by and pick you up.

Clare London said...

Hi all! Thanks for commenting and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I took a few liberties with non-existent security arrangements at a Royal household but hey ... this is flash fiction LOL.

It was a lovely event, and - I'm not trying to make you feel bad, Jen! - it was fun to sit and giggle with a girlfriend and her daughters as we watched. Will and Kate looked very relaxed together - we really felt they were a happy couple. The dress was magnificent! and she looked gorgeous. Mind you, Kate is so lovely she'd look good in a shower curtain:). Though we did feel she was looking a bit *too* thin. Obviously I need the stress of a royal wedding to help me shed the pounds!

Doris J said...

HAHAH very cute!

Clare London said...

*mwahaha* Rita, how lucky you mix with the rich and famous! Not that we don't all deserve it :).

I blame the recent postal strikes in the UK, losing my invite. Though I probably wouldn't have seen much over the top of some of the more outrageous hats... ^_~

Maureen A. Miller said...

Loved it, Clare! Perfect for today. I was thinking of sending the happy couple a mouse pad with my book cover on it (and of course a link for purchase). They wouldn't have one already...I'm sure of it!

Marcelle Dubé said...

Funny, Clare! Thanks for the laugh.

Rita said...

Clare I'd have gotten us front row seats.
If I'm daydreaming about private planes might as way go all the way.

Elise Warner said...

Absolutely delightful post. I remember all the ice buckets I received.

Stevie Carroll said...

Very cunning...

Unknown said...

Very clever. A perfect post. Loved it!

Clare London said...

Thanks to you all! Very happy to mark the day with the only thing I really have to offer that's original - fiction :).

Elise's reminder of ice buckets ... do you think it's a sign of the times? We got 3, as well as the casserole dishes!

And I loved Maureen's idea of sending them the must-have, not-got gift of our promo goodies!! There goes a Carina gift pack to the Palace...:)

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