Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

 

Hump Day

Wednesday Story day again and last week we were with Frank Plano, Alice, and Mrs. Murphy while Frank was talking through some fine points of what Alice saw the night the Severides were murdered. Mr. Plano implied that Alice did not see what she said she saw. Of course, Harriet Murphy caught on to the implication immediately and politely showed Mr. Plano to the door. It looks like Frank is heading to the lawyer’s office. Let’s join him as he is ushered into Jason McDonnell’s office. You will recall Jason is the attorney hired by Mrs. Murphy to protect Lucas from Sheriff Gibson’s obvious attempts to railroad him to confess the murder of his parents. (Whew, I hope everyone is caught up)

“Well, Frank. Have a seat.”
“Thanks, Jason.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”
“Yeah, and I’m grateful you could spare the time.”
“What’s up?”
“It is a strange thing. My investigation has been going smoothly with an all roads conclusion that the Sheriff has for some reason been involved in the murder of the Severides.”
“Well, we both came up with that hypothesis given his obsession with hanging the blame on Lucas.”
“I know right? Except some of the facts don’t seem to add up.”
“Like what?”
“Well for one, other than Alice Weston giving an eyewitness account of the sheriff going into the Severides house the night of their murder, there is no other witness to that event.”
“Yeah so? She said she saw him right?”
“Yes that is in my report, but I’m beginning to doubt she did.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
“You ever see anyone on Heroine?”
“No.”
“Well, if she started to nod off while she was in the Severide house like Weston says, she would have been dead gone at the time she supposedly saw the sheriff.”
“What about Mrs. Murphy?”
“She says she didn’t see anything.”
“How about when he left the house?”
“Mrs. Weston and Mrs. Murphy told me they didn’t hang around to see him come out.”
“Well, that’s convenient.”
“I think we need to focus on a different direction. Unless I find someone else who saw the sheriff there, I think I’m going to try to get to the bottom of Mrs. Weston’s reasons for saying she saw the sheriff.”
“Any need to talk to Lucas again?”
“Nope. I still don’t think he had anything to do with the crime.”
“Any theories?”
“One not worth mentioning right now. I need more facts.”
“You are the investigator. So go do your thing.”
“I still wonder why Mrs. Murphy hired us though.”
“To clear Lucas.”
“Yeah, that is obvious. I don’t know, I have a gut feeling there is more to it.”
“Want to explain?”
“Let me get more information first.”
“Mrs. Murphy doesn’t have endless funds you know.”
“I will do this on my own dime. Something isn’t adding up, and I need to get to the bottom of it.”
“Be careful.”
“Huh?”
“There is a murderer out there remember.”
“Oh yeah, right. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“See ya.”

57 comments

  1. Always a good story, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, GP. Sometimes these characters drive me nuts. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Guess curiosity has gotten the best of him if he’s doing it on his own dime. This twisty tale would drive anyone to stick with it until the end. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha ha ha. Welcome to the fiction version of the cocaine dealer. (Your first hit is free) Thanks, Charles.

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      1. I have to pay for the rest of the story? Dang.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Well, we can work something out.

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  3. I guess you HAVE to take matters into your own hands when you don’t trust anyone.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Trust is fine, control is better. Thanks, Marc.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That’s what he’s shooting for. Pun intended, maybe . . .

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      2. Loved the latest turn, Boss.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thanks, Pilgrim.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. “I think we need to focus on a different direction.”

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    I just realized, John that you might be the source of my otherwise unexplainable back pain lately. I think the twists and turns in this story have gotten to me. This is a good episode, nicely done.

    Just so you know, I’m now imagining you PI looking like Paul Drake from the old Perry Mason show.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Paul Drake is a good image. Sorry about the back pain but maybe this shoulder harness will help on the next ride. Oh, and then there is a good Lager to keep the spine stiff. Thanks for the laughs ,Dan.

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      1. Thanks John. That second option sounds like a winner.

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      2. Yup. John F thinks you should have a Molson Ale.

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      3. Reminds me of my ex-wife. Have you got another choice?

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  5. D.L Finn, Author · ·

    I wouldn’t have minded a shared theory or two…a hint he might be in danger with his continued investigation into this?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes. This work could get some folks in hot water.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. You don’t suppose…
    Nah. Forget I said it.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Of course it is worth remembering here’s a murderer out there, mind you they could all be old and grey before they find him or her and I’m not getting any younger either.
    Hugs

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, me too. You would think the writer would understand wouldn’t you?

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  8. Gwen Plano · ·

    Wow, this is a real “who done it” isn’t it? I’ll be thinking of this all week, at least until I figure out the mystery. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Gotta think hard. Several more clues to come.

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  9. It seems the threads of the weave are pulling slowly apart, John. I wouldn’t want to be in either the lawyer or the PI’s place. They might have to duck bullets. Good installment. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Suzanne. I like the visual of tugging on a sweater pull. (Don’t do that)

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  10. I’m having that same ‘gut feeling’.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know, it sorta gnaws there doesn’t it?

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  11. John Fioravanti · ·

    Great story twist, John. I think you need to break out the Molsons for Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, John. I passed your idea to Dan

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  12. I can’t trust anyone who hires an attorney for protection…and I’ve got one in the family.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha ha ha. Thanks, Jill.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Dang, I felt sure the Sheriff had done it. Nice big fat red herring…

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    1. Ha ha ha. Don’t be too quick now. Thanks, Noelle.

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  14. I keep wondering why Mrs. Murphy hired them too. This just keeps getting twistier with every segment. You definitely have us all guessing!

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    1. I know right? Gotta wonder about the writer on this one.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Hanging in for next week. I’ll be here, same bat time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. Craig.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. “Something isn’t adding up.” Were truer words ever spoken??!

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    1. Ha ha ha. I like that.

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  17. Another delicious read, John. I have missed them. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Tess.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I haven’t been able to follow story day for a while, but I’m glad to be back. 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad to have you back, Rhani.

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  19. Well, this is getting really interesting. I didn’t see this twist to getting deeper coming. I love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m digging a hole so deep I might have trouble getting out….Nah.

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  20. Ooooh did I ever miss a fun episode! I think “Why did Mrs. Murphy hire them?” Is an even better question than “Who done it?”
    Does that make this a Why Done It? Some how that doesn’t have the same ring…
    Thanks for a delightful, if late for me, lunch break, John. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A very key question. The answer will be an intregal part of the conclusion. Thanks, Teagan

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  21. Back home from my vacation and playing catch-up. This blog is one of the first places I visited. I just had to see what happened while I was away. Interesting development. Willing to investigate on his own dime? He’s determined to get to the bottom of this mystery…or is he? 🙂 Good episode, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes he is. Seems like an obsession don’t you think?

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