Welcome to the last post for 2025. I still can’t believe another year has ended, but I’m glad it has and hope 2026 will bring better and brighter days for everyone.
Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Our prompt is DISAPPOINTED. Many of us were disappointed last year. Let’s see how the authors have used the word. I’m continuing with The Case of the Missing Prince.
A knock at the door pulled me out of my head.
“Come in,” I called, knowing it was Hallie since she would’ve announced anyone else.
“Well? Is it a kidnapping? Are we going to work for the rich and famous? Tell me everything.” She dropped onto the loveseat on my left.
“Not sure of anything yet.” I relayed what I’d learned since she was very good at putting the pieces of a puzzle together. “If I do take the case, the two younger men have to come along. It’s a non-negotiable condition. One was the prince’s personal security guard who’s got a guilty conscience, and the other is a friend with mountain climbing experience, who happens to be the brother of the prince’s intended bride.”
“Wow. Not an easy decision, that’s for sure. I’ll bet the fact that you have to take those two men with you, even if they are gorgeous, is the sticking point, especially when you’d have to do it on your own. You could wait until Tony’s finished with the arson investigation, but on the off-chance that the man’s still alive … When will you make up your mind?”
“Tonight. I want to talk to Al. With everyone else busy, I’ll need someone to watch my back.”
“But I could—”
I cut her off. “I know, but I don’t trust those men, Hallie, not as far as I can throw them.” Disappointment clouded her eyes. “But I do trust Al. He’s already saved my life once. If Stanislav Drulivic has met with foul play, the guilty parties may not want him found. If he didn’t and vanished on his own, then he won’t be happy when I find him. Besides, I need your expertise right her. I want you to find out everything you can about the Bow Glacier Falls Rockslide, Petrov Bukowski, and Viktor Opole as well as who gets the throne if the prince isn’t found and the king dies.” I glanced at my watch. It was after twelve and I had yet to eat today. “But right now, it’s time for lunch. We can take an hour to gossip. The firm won’t suffer if the answering machine picks up calls for an hour.” After years of eating solitary meals, I was reluctant to return to the practice.
Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.
Living the Dream 