Blog #5
Mary and Pete spent many more hours trying to figure out exactly what the company actually did. They never found anything substantial. When Mary went home, she called into Mr. Hughs telling him that she would be taking the next couple of days off. He informed her that the police had already shut operations down for a while.
"How long is awhile?" Mary asked.
"I’m not sure. All they really would say is that it may take awhile collecting all the evidence they need."
After talking to Mr. Hughs, she called Pete to arrange what they were going to do the next day. They headed to the Better Business Bureau to see if M.A.J.O.R. was registered there. It wasn’t.
"What does M.A.J.O.R. stand for anyway?" Pete asked Mary, "Maybe it is listed that way."
"I’m not sure. I never asked.""Why not? Aren’t you curious?""Not before now, I just worked to pay my bills."
The lady behind the counter just watched them during this conversation like she was watching a tennis match. Finally she spoke up, "I don’t mean to interrupt, but I have other people waiting for my help."
"We are so sorry, Ma’am," Mary told her dragging Pete away, "now what?" she asked after they left.
"Well, I would say that finding out what M.A.J.O.R. stands for before we endeavor to proceed further."
"That would be a good idea. I would have asked Kim. Unfortunately, that is not an option.""What about the other girl? The one you caught with Mr. Hughs."
"She doesn’t trust me right now. I know, Mr. Hughs himself.""Do you think he would tell you?""Why not, it’s Mrs. Hughs that we think is behind all this. He’s just a pawn.""All right. I must say, we aren’t sure of all our facts yet. He could be the main character behind everything that is happening.""Pete, can you stop sounding like a policeman from a book?""Just make the phone call."
"Fine."
They both waited quietly waiting for Mr. Hughs to answer his phone.
"Maybe he’s not in?" Pete said after about 30 seconds"It’s his cell-phone.""You have his cell-phone number?""It’s his business cell-phone."
"Oh, so maybe the police have it in custody."
"It’s possible. The voicemail isn’t even picking up though. I think you may be right. Yet, I called him on this phone last night."
"Just hang up. We’ll have to think of something else."
"Pete, do you mind if I ask how you got the day off?"
"I didn’t.""Then how is that you are here helping me?"
"I told the chief that I knew one of the suspects personally and that I would interrogate her personally.""Who do you know?""Err…um…you."
"ME?? How could I possibly be a suspect?"
"Mary, you are taking this too personally. Everyone who works for M.A.J.O.R. is a suspect."
"I guess that would be true.""Plus, you are a secretary for Mr. Hughs, who is a primary suspect. You could tell us many things.""Like what? Where he travels?""That would be helpful. We are getting off the subject though. We need to now what M.A.J.O.R. stands for to proceed any further."
"Again with the proceed any further. Why don’t you just ask your chief?""That’s brilliant, Mary!"
Pete grabbed her on the arms and kissed her cheek. Then, before she could respond, he grabbed her cell-phone out of her hand and began dialing.
"Pete, why don’t you use your cell-phone?" Mary stuttered out.
"Shh-shh." Pete started talking to someone on the other end. He asked about M.A.J.O.R. then he waited while he was put on hold. Then apparently the other person returned because Pete started talking again. Then he stared at Mary, "okay. Thank you very much. Tell the chief I’ll be at the station in about 15 minutes."
"Okay, what does it stand for?" Mary demanded.
"Mary, I just lied to you.""Why? How?"
"You are more than a minor suspect. You are a prime suspect.""How in the world did I become a prime suspect?"
"The acronym of M.A.J.O.R."
"I’m afraid I don’t understand.""It is Mary Adams Junior Operations and Relocations."
"Oh My, I’m Mary Adams!"
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Trouble with Dessert-Part 4
"I always thought that she talked more then was good for her," said CiCi the next morning.
"CiCi, the woman just died. Have some respect for her, please!" said Mary
"I never really understood why we had to be nice to people we didn’t like once they died."
"I thought Kim and you were friends."
"No, she stole my man from me!"
"What man?"
"Ah, nobody. It is nothing to do with you. Yes, I am sorry about the death of Kim."
CiCi seemed to a 180 all of the sudden. Mary knew she needed to find out who this man, though she had a good idea as to his identity.
"Please, Miss Jinkins can you come with me," said a police officer. She seemed to be friendly enough. She just asked Mary how well she knew Kim. Since Mary only saw Kim at work, the questioning was soon over. Mary called Pete to tell him that she was done. They made a plan the night before, to meet up and continue with their original idea. However, it was a little changed with the death of Kim. How did she fit in with Mr. Cragicze? Of course, maybe his background would help them out a little bit.
"It was suppose to be Mr. Hughs," she said as soon as she saw Pete.
"Hello, I am good. Oh, really that is what they asked you?"
"Stop it, the questions were basic. How well did I know Kim? Did I know who her boyfriend was?"
"Do you?"
"What?""Do you know who her boyfriend was?""No, but I believe it might have been Mr. Hughs," she went on to tell him about what CiCi had said. "remember, that is who he was having lunch with the day Mr. Cragicze died."
"True. I think maybe we should just check into Mr. Cragicze a little bit before we completely rule him out.""Why are you so bent on this murder being about Mr. Cragicze?"
"I don’t know, maybe because he was the one killed. You don’t put some one in a bunch of Jell-O and not know who they are."
"That’s true. It doesn’t seem to make sense."
"Let’s go see if we can find out something that will help."
Pete took her to a corner coffee shop.
"What are we doing here?""They have free Wi-Fi."
"Ah, the Internet. Wait, why didn’t we check the Internet last night?"
"I thought about it, however after you found out about Kim it didn’t seem appropriate."
"Ah, thank you for that kindness."
"I did, though, go home and check it out some stuff myself. Basically, Mr. Cragicze was a workaholic. All his life, he’s excelled at what ever he does. He seemed to want one thing. That was to own the company."
"Why? Why not start his own company if he was so good?""That is what we are going to find out right now.""What about family and personal life?""He had neither. His sole purpose was take over.""From the beginning, all the way through high school and college. Or was it a goal once he started working for this company?"
"I am not positive, but I believe that it was from the beginning. Maybe not high school, yet definitely by college."
"Now, he’s ‘dating’ the other owner. He had almost accomplished his goal," Mary whispered the last few words.
"I know. That is another reason I believe he may have been the intended target."
"I am starting to think the same thing. Mr. Hughs was just love, on the other hand Mr. Cragicze is greed. It’s hard to say which is a stronger motive."
"It depends on the depth of either emotion. Mary, do you know exactly what your company does?"
"Honestly, not really. I just arrange travel and business things for Mr. Hughs. Kim handles actual company business, uh! That could be the connection!"
"Look at this," Pete turned the laptop in Mary’s direction.
He had been researching the whole time they were talking.
"That is the company’s WebPages. What does it say we do?"
"Look close, it doesn’t say exactly,""We are going to revolutionize this world with our bold innovative ideas," Mary read to herself, then turned to Pete, "the doesn’t tell us anything."
"I know. I think it is a front for something else.""What?""I don’t know. I am willing to bet though that it is something not quite right."
"You don’t mean criminal.""That’s exactly what I mean."
"CiCi, the woman just died. Have some respect for her, please!" said Mary
"I never really understood why we had to be nice to people we didn’t like once they died."
"I thought Kim and you were friends."
"No, she stole my man from me!"
"What man?"
"Ah, nobody. It is nothing to do with you. Yes, I am sorry about the death of Kim."
CiCi seemed to a 180 all of the sudden. Mary knew she needed to find out who this man, though she had a good idea as to his identity.
"Please, Miss Jinkins can you come with me," said a police officer. She seemed to be friendly enough. She just asked Mary how well she knew Kim. Since Mary only saw Kim at work, the questioning was soon over. Mary called Pete to tell him that she was done. They made a plan the night before, to meet up and continue with their original idea. However, it was a little changed with the death of Kim. How did she fit in with Mr. Cragicze? Of course, maybe his background would help them out a little bit.
"It was suppose to be Mr. Hughs," she said as soon as she saw Pete.
"Hello, I am good. Oh, really that is what they asked you?"
"Stop it, the questions were basic. How well did I know Kim? Did I know who her boyfriend was?"
"Do you?"
"What?""Do you know who her boyfriend was?""No, but I believe it might have been Mr. Hughs," she went on to tell him about what CiCi had said. "remember, that is who he was having lunch with the day Mr. Cragicze died."
"True. I think maybe we should just check into Mr. Cragicze a little bit before we completely rule him out.""Why are you so bent on this murder being about Mr. Cragicze?"
"I don’t know, maybe because he was the one killed. You don’t put some one in a bunch of Jell-O and not know who they are."
"That’s true. It doesn’t seem to make sense."
"Let’s go see if we can find out something that will help."
Pete took her to a corner coffee shop.
"What are we doing here?""They have free Wi-Fi."
"Ah, the Internet. Wait, why didn’t we check the Internet last night?"
"I thought about it, however after you found out about Kim it didn’t seem appropriate."
"Ah, thank you for that kindness."
"I did, though, go home and check it out some stuff myself. Basically, Mr. Cragicze was a workaholic. All his life, he’s excelled at what ever he does. He seemed to want one thing. That was to own the company."
"Why? Why not start his own company if he was so good?""That is what we are going to find out right now.""What about family and personal life?""He had neither. His sole purpose was take over.""From the beginning, all the way through high school and college. Or was it a goal once he started working for this company?"
"I am not positive, but I believe that it was from the beginning. Maybe not high school, yet definitely by college."
"Now, he’s ‘dating’ the other owner. He had almost accomplished his goal," Mary whispered the last few words.
"I know. That is another reason I believe he may have been the intended target."
"I am starting to think the same thing. Mr. Hughs was just love, on the other hand Mr. Cragicze is greed. It’s hard to say which is a stronger motive."
"It depends on the depth of either emotion. Mary, do you know exactly what your company does?"
"Honestly, not really. I just arrange travel and business things for Mr. Hughs. Kim handles actual company business, uh! That could be the connection!"
"Look at this," Pete turned the laptop in Mary’s direction.
He had been researching the whole time they were talking.
"That is the company’s WebPages. What does it say we do?"
"Look close, it doesn’t say exactly,""We are going to revolutionize this world with our bold innovative ideas," Mary read to herself, then turned to Pete, "the doesn’t tell us anything."
"I know. I think it is a front for something else.""What?""I don’t know. I am willing to bet though that it is something not quite right."
"You don’t mean criminal.""That’s exactly what I mean."
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Trouble with Dessert-Part 3
"I wonder if the wrong person died," Mary was talking to her best friend, Pete, later that evening.
"What do you mean?"
"I think that maybe Mr. Hughs may have been the target."
"You are basing that on your own opinion. You have no proof."
"Says the policeman."
Pete worked for the local police department. He worked a desk job, but he took the policeman’s handbook very seriously.
"I mean it, Mary."
"It doesn’t make sense."
"Why not? Mr. Hughs wanted Mr. Cragicze dead."
"Not more than his wife."
"That is true. Maybe there is a bigger picture here. We are basing this on a small part of Mr. Cragicze life. Does he have a wife?"
"I’m not sure."
"Mary, you need a lot more information."
"Easy. I can go find out some background stuff on the Internet."
"Fine. It won’t tell us everything though."
"How do you figure?"
"What kind of person was Mr. Cragicze?"
"I don’t know. I didn’t see him very often. Mostly, he just came into see Mr. Hughs. He was always polite to me."
"What we need to do is find out a little bit of background information on him, then go talk to those who know him."
"We?"
"Yes, I want to help you. Don’t worry, I won’t interfere."
"I am not worried about that. What about our jobs? We do still have to work."
"That is true. I’m up for some vacation or I could use up one of my many saved sick days. Did you know that you could lose those if you don’t use them?!"
"You are getting a little off subject."
"Sorry, you can say you need time to get over the horror of seeing Mr. Cragicze’s dead eyes looking up at you."
"Thank you for bringing that image back to my mind."
"Good, go make that call now before it leaves."
"Such sensitivity on your part."
Mary went and made the call. She wasn’t going to admit it to Pete, but he came up with some good excuses. Mary felt a little strange calling Mr. Hughs with all that happened that day. She got over it though.
"What is it?" was his angry answer.
"Sorry, Mr. Hughs it’s Mary."
"Who?"
"Mary, your receptionist from the office."
"Oh, what do you want?"
"Well, I just wanted to request a few days off. I’m not doing so well after what happened today."
"That’s impossible."
"Excuse me? Mr. Hughs, I normally work like a dog for you because I need the income. However, I am not going to be subjected to seeing such a horrible sight and then expected just to come into the office the next day. As if nothing had happened!"
"Mary, the police are requiring that everyone comes into the office tomorrow.""Why we all gave our statements today?""Yes, but that was before the second murder."
"Second murder? What second murder?"
"Some receptionist was stabbed at her desk."
"Please, Mr. Hughs, what was the receptionist’s name?"
"How could I know? Alright, hold on let me ask my wife."
Mary waited while Mr. Hugh’s grumbled out a few words to the other person that was with him. Mary doubted highly that it was his wife.
"Mary, are you still there?"
"Yes, Mr. Hughs."
"She isn’t sure what the receptionist’s full name. She just knows that her first name was Kim."
"What do you mean?"
"I think that maybe Mr. Hughs may have been the target."
"You are basing that on your own opinion. You have no proof."
"Says the policeman."
Pete worked for the local police department. He worked a desk job, but he took the policeman’s handbook very seriously.
"I mean it, Mary."
"It doesn’t make sense."
"Why not? Mr. Hughs wanted Mr. Cragicze dead."
"Not more than his wife."
"That is true. Maybe there is a bigger picture here. We are basing this on a small part of Mr. Cragicze life. Does he have a wife?"
"I’m not sure."
"Mary, you need a lot more information."
"Easy. I can go find out some background stuff on the Internet."
"Fine. It won’t tell us everything though."
"How do you figure?"
"What kind of person was Mr. Cragicze?"
"I don’t know. I didn’t see him very often. Mostly, he just came into see Mr. Hughs. He was always polite to me."
"What we need to do is find out a little bit of background information on him, then go talk to those who know him."
"We?"
"Yes, I want to help you. Don’t worry, I won’t interfere."
"I am not worried about that. What about our jobs? We do still have to work."
"That is true. I’m up for some vacation or I could use up one of my many saved sick days. Did you know that you could lose those if you don’t use them?!"
"You are getting a little off subject."
"Sorry, you can say you need time to get over the horror of seeing Mr. Cragicze’s dead eyes looking up at you."
"Thank you for bringing that image back to my mind."
"Good, go make that call now before it leaves."
"Such sensitivity on your part."
Mary went and made the call. She wasn’t going to admit it to Pete, but he came up with some good excuses. Mary felt a little strange calling Mr. Hughs with all that happened that day. She got over it though.
"What is it?" was his angry answer.
"Sorry, Mr. Hughs it’s Mary."
"Who?"
"Mary, your receptionist from the office."
"Oh, what do you want?"
"Well, I just wanted to request a few days off. I’m not doing so well after what happened today."
"That’s impossible."
"Excuse me? Mr. Hughs, I normally work like a dog for you because I need the income. However, I am not going to be subjected to seeing such a horrible sight and then expected just to come into the office the next day. As if nothing had happened!"
"Mary, the police are requiring that everyone comes into the office tomorrow.""Why we all gave our statements today?""Yes, but that was before the second murder."
"Second murder? What second murder?"
"Some receptionist was stabbed at her desk."
"Please, Mr. Hughs, what was the receptionist’s name?"
"How could I know? Alright, hold on let me ask my wife."
Mary waited while Mr. Hugh’s grumbled out a few words to the other person that was with him. Mary doubted highly that it was his wife.
"Mary, are you still there?"
"Yes, Mr. Hughs."
"She isn’t sure what the receptionist’s full name. She just knows that her first name was Kim."
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Trouble with Dessert part 2
"Do you think Mr. Hughs killed him?"
"What?"
"Mary, are you in there? I guess the shock is getting to her."
Mary finally focused in on the voices around her. She was back in the break room surrounded by her fellow workers. She had just finished talking with the police. She had told them all that she knew. She didn't share any of the gossip she heard. She felt that it was just gossip, no need to bother the police with non-facts. The others around her all displayed a mixture of concern, curiosity and plain boredom. She looked at Kim, who had been talking to her.
"I'm sorry, Kim. This is all just overwhelming me right now.""I understand. Why don't you go home? I'm sure Mr. Hughs cannot complain. Listen everyone, move out of Mary's way. She needs to go home." Kim started shooing people away.
Mary started to follow Kim's lead when she saw an unfamiliar face.
"Oh, excuse me Mrs. Hughs. I'm helping Miss Jinkins to get out of here," Kim told the new arrival.
"If you don't mind, I would like to have a word with Miss Jinkins," said Mrs. Hughs.
Kim looked back towards Mary. Mary nodded agreement and followed Mrs. Hughs down the hallway. She had never met Mrs. Hughs before even though she had worked for Mr. Hughs for 5 years. He never liked to talk about his wife. Probably because he tried to come on to everyone in a skirt under a certain age. Mary wasn't sure what that age was either. She studied Mrs. Hughs on the way to her office. She was a very good-looking older women. Her hair was still its natural color of auburn. She had a very peculiar color of eyes. She was thin, but not too thin, and tall.
"Sit down anywhere, Miss Jinkins," Mrs. Hughs said after going inside the office and closing the door. "Can I get you anything?"
"No thank you," Mary replied shyly.
"I know this may seem awkward so soon after Mr. Cragicze's death. Were you in the office today when he talked to my husband?"
"Yes, but only for part of it. At one point, Mr. Cragicze asked me to leave."
"Yes. That is what I believed to be the case. Thank you, Miss Jinkins. That is all. Don't worry about your job. I'll make sure you are taken care of."
Mrs. Hughs opened the door. Mary was about to walk out when she thought better of it. This may be her only chance to ask Mrs. Hughs questions.
"Mrs. Hughs, I hope you don't find this offensive. However, I heard a rumor earlier today that Mr. Hughs may be losing his job. Is that true?"
"I am not sure whether it concerns you, on the other hand, it may have affected your job. My husband was close to losing many things. Please, I need to talk to the police now."
Mary nodded and went out. She headed downstairs to her car. After getting in the midst of heavy traffic, she realized she didn't eat. Of course, she had lost her appetite. Now, it was back with a vengeance. She decided to stop at the first place she came to and forget the expense. She could put her lunch for once on a company ticket. Was it a coincidence that the first restaurant was Chez Moniques? She wondered if Mr. Hughs was still there with his latest. She didn't know if she would be shocked either way. She walked into the restaurant. There was a long line. Of course, it was the best restaurant in town.
"Do you have a reservation?" said a highbrow voice.
"Yes, I was to meet Mr. Hughs."
"His reservation was only for two. There are already two people there.""Well, then there must be some mistake because I was to meet him. If I can just go have a word with him, I'm sure everything can be straightened out."
"No, I will call him....Miss,"
Mary had headed towards the direction the Maitre D had looked. Sure enough, there was Mr. Hughs. She was in shock but only because eating with him was CiCi. The receptionist who received the call from Mrs. Hughs to call the attorney. Now it all seemed to add up together.
"Miss Jinkins, may I inquire why you are here?" Mr. Hughs said as she approached the table.
"Sorry Sir, I'll escort the young lady out," replied the Maitre D who had followed her.
"Wait, I came to inform Mr. Hughs of a event that I did not know if he wanted it broadcast publicly.""Go ahead, what is it Miss Jinkins?""Mr. Cragicze was found dead today at the cafeteria.""Serves the old coot! Show people never to eat in that cafeteria! Ha-Ha," Mr. Hughs joked and grinned towards CiCi, who was looking very uncomfortable.
"If that is all Miss Jinkins, please return to the office. I need to make sure we get that report down," Mr. Hughs continued.
"I'm not returning to the office sir. Mr. Cragicze was murdered and I found him. I'm taking the rest of the day off. By the way, you seem to be the prime suspect so don't be surprised to see the police arrive after me."
Mary loved the look of horror on both Mr. Hughs and CiCi's face. Not to mention the Maitre D's face. Of course, now his look of disgust was towards Mr. Hughs and not Mary.
"Mr. Hughs, I believe we need this table, so if you are all through," he left the rest of the sentence hanging in the air.
Mr. Hughs angrily got up and stormed off, leaving CiCi behind at the table.
"There Ma'am, I believe the problem is solved," the Maitre D helped Mary sit down and then brought her back a menu.
"Eat well, it's on Mr. Hughs check," CiCi said after getting over her shock. She started to get up to leave."Please stay, I hate to eat alone," Mary begged her.
"Alright, I will probably be out of a job anyway.""Why?""I work for Mrs. Hughs. From her phone call this morning, I think she knows that I'm having an affair with her husband.""Why did you send the gossip around if you were the mistress?""I didn't.""Then who did?""It was Mr. Cragicze. I heard him telling Kim right after leaving Mr. Hughs office. I told Abey about that phone call. He told me not to worry about it, soon his wife wouldn't be a problem."
"What did he mean by that?""He said that soon he would control the company.""Did he elaborate on that?"
"He just said he was taking care of Mrs. Hughs and her loverboy.""I wonder who her loverboy was?"
"I know that one, it was Mr. Cragicze."
"What?"
"Mary, are you in there? I guess the shock is getting to her."
Mary finally focused in on the voices around her. She was back in the break room surrounded by her fellow workers. She had just finished talking with the police. She had told them all that she knew. She didn't share any of the gossip she heard. She felt that it was just gossip, no need to bother the police with non-facts. The others around her all displayed a mixture of concern, curiosity and plain boredom. She looked at Kim, who had been talking to her.
"I'm sorry, Kim. This is all just overwhelming me right now.""I understand. Why don't you go home? I'm sure Mr. Hughs cannot complain. Listen everyone, move out of Mary's way. She needs to go home." Kim started shooing people away.
Mary started to follow Kim's lead when she saw an unfamiliar face.
"Oh, excuse me Mrs. Hughs. I'm helping Miss Jinkins to get out of here," Kim told the new arrival.
"If you don't mind, I would like to have a word with Miss Jinkins," said Mrs. Hughs.
Kim looked back towards Mary. Mary nodded agreement and followed Mrs. Hughs down the hallway. She had never met Mrs. Hughs before even though she had worked for Mr. Hughs for 5 years. He never liked to talk about his wife. Probably because he tried to come on to everyone in a skirt under a certain age. Mary wasn't sure what that age was either. She studied Mrs. Hughs on the way to her office. She was a very good-looking older women. Her hair was still its natural color of auburn. She had a very peculiar color of eyes. She was thin, but not too thin, and tall.
"Sit down anywhere, Miss Jinkins," Mrs. Hughs said after going inside the office and closing the door. "Can I get you anything?"
"No thank you," Mary replied shyly.
"I know this may seem awkward so soon after Mr. Cragicze's death. Were you in the office today when he talked to my husband?"
"Yes, but only for part of it. At one point, Mr. Cragicze asked me to leave."
"Yes. That is what I believed to be the case. Thank you, Miss Jinkins. That is all. Don't worry about your job. I'll make sure you are taken care of."
Mrs. Hughs opened the door. Mary was about to walk out when she thought better of it. This may be her only chance to ask Mrs. Hughs questions.
"Mrs. Hughs, I hope you don't find this offensive. However, I heard a rumor earlier today that Mr. Hughs may be losing his job. Is that true?"
"I am not sure whether it concerns you, on the other hand, it may have affected your job. My husband was close to losing many things. Please, I need to talk to the police now."
Mary nodded and went out. She headed downstairs to her car. After getting in the midst of heavy traffic, she realized she didn't eat. Of course, she had lost her appetite. Now, it was back with a vengeance. She decided to stop at the first place she came to and forget the expense. She could put her lunch for once on a company ticket. Was it a coincidence that the first restaurant was Chez Moniques? She wondered if Mr. Hughs was still there with his latest. She didn't know if she would be shocked either way. She walked into the restaurant. There was a long line. Of course, it was the best restaurant in town.
"Do you have a reservation?" said a highbrow voice.
"Yes, I was to meet Mr. Hughs."
"His reservation was only for two. There are already two people there.""Well, then there must be some mistake because I was to meet him. If I can just go have a word with him, I'm sure everything can be straightened out."
"No, I will call him....Miss,"
Mary had headed towards the direction the Maitre D had looked. Sure enough, there was Mr. Hughs. She was in shock but only because eating with him was CiCi. The receptionist who received the call from Mrs. Hughs to call the attorney. Now it all seemed to add up together.
"Miss Jinkins, may I inquire why you are here?" Mr. Hughs said as she approached the table.
"Sorry Sir, I'll escort the young lady out," replied the Maitre D who had followed her.
"Wait, I came to inform Mr. Hughs of a event that I did not know if he wanted it broadcast publicly.""Go ahead, what is it Miss Jinkins?""Mr. Cragicze was found dead today at the cafeteria.""Serves the old coot! Show people never to eat in that cafeteria! Ha-Ha," Mr. Hughs joked and grinned towards CiCi, who was looking very uncomfortable.
"If that is all Miss Jinkins, please return to the office. I need to make sure we get that report down," Mr. Hughs continued.
"I'm not returning to the office sir. Mr. Cragicze was murdered and I found him. I'm taking the rest of the day off. By the way, you seem to be the prime suspect so don't be surprised to see the police arrive after me."
Mary loved the look of horror on both Mr. Hughs and CiCi's face. Not to mention the Maitre D's face. Of course, now his look of disgust was towards Mr. Hughs and not Mary.
"Mr. Hughs, I believe we need this table, so if you are all through," he left the rest of the sentence hanging in the air.
Mr. Hughs angrily got up and stormed off, leaving CiCi behind at the table.
"There Ma'am, I believe the problem is solved," the Maitre D helped Mary sit down and then brought her back a menu.
"Eat well, it's on Mr. Hughs check," CiCi said after getting over her shock. She started to get up to leave."Please stay, I hate to eat alone," Mary begged her.
"Alright, I will probably be out of a job anyway.""Why?""I work for Mrs. Hughs. From her phone call this morning, I think she knows that I'm having an affair with her husband.""Why did you send the gossip around if you were the mistress?""I didn't.""Then who did?""It was Mr. Cragicze. I heard him telling Kim right after leaving Mr. Hughs office. I told Abey about that phone call. He told me not to worry about it, soon his wife wouldn't be a problem."
"What did he mean by that?""He said that soon he would control the company.""Did he elaborate on that?"
"He just said he was taking care of Mrs. Hughs and her loverboy.""I wonder who her loverboy was?"
"I know that one, it was Mr. Cragicze."
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Trouble with Dessert
For the next few blogs it will be Mystery. A mystery story that is and at the end, we'll see who knows what happened. This is my first attempt so please excuse the mistakes. Unless there are many then by all means, burn me at the stake. Here we go:
Mary never liked eating in the cafeteria. It was always full of noise and strange odors. However, because of her short lunch hour, she was forced to eat in the cafeteria more times then she cared to remember. Her boss, Mr. Hughs would take a 3-hour all-expense paid lunch at one of the finer restaurants in town. This left Mary with his workload. She didn't mind. She preferred her boss to be out of the office more than not. Today, she was shocked though at Mr. Hughs' choice to take a long lunch. His boss had stopped in for one of his surprise visits. Apparently, they were not impressed with Mr. Hughs' expense sheet. Mr. Hughs got raked over the coals till his face was the color of melted lava. It remained that way a long time after his boss had left. However, about an hour before Mary's usual lunch time, Mr. Hughs approached Mary with a conspiratorial smile upon his face.
"Mary, make reservations for two at Chez Monique for 1 p.m.," he told her.
"Yes Mr. Hughs," Mary was always getting in trouble for speaking her mind. That is why she couldn't resist saying, "Do you think that is wise after the visit from Mr. Cragicze?"
"Not that it is any of your business, but I don't think Mr. Cragicze will be anymore trouble," Mr. Hughs, knowing Mary's capacity for questions, left after making that statement.
Mary made the reservations at the most expensive restaurant in town. She wondered the whole time about Mr. Hughs' comment. Mr. Cragicze was the co-owner of the company. There was no way that Mr. Hughs could muscle him out of his current position. Maybe Mr. Hughs had a big connection to the other owner. Mary decided to go get coffee. Not for the coffee itself, but to receive information from some fellow gossip lovers. It must be a good day for Mary because the biggest information gatherer was sitting at a table sipping her coffee gingerly. This meant two things, that she had information that she desperately wanted to share and that her coffee was very hot. Mary made her coffee and then sat down. She really couldn't afford the time without staying late that evening. She felt like this might be worth it though.
"Hi Kim, how is your day going?" Mary asked.
"Good Mary, I heard you had quite the morning."
"Not me so much as Mr. Hughs."
"I could hear Mr. Cragicze all the way down at my desk. I don't know why he bothers though."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Well, Mr. Hughs is married to Mrs. Hughs who owns the other half of this company.""I was wondering. He is eating today at Chez Moniques."
"I am shocked to hear that."
"Really, why?"
"This is just office gossip. However, I heard that Mr. Hughs is banned from Chez Moniques. His wife had him banned for bringing his latest armcandy there for lunch."
"That is very tacky."
"True. Mrs. Hughs allows his affairs as long as she doesn't hear about them. Taking them to her favorite restaurant is a different matter all together."
"I would say so!"
"Do you know, I wonder if that's why Mr. Cragicze chewed Mr. Hughs out this morning?"
"How do you mean?"
"Maybe Mr. Hughs wife has had enough. I heard CiCi talking on the phone. She was making an appointment for Mrs. Hughs' with her attorney."
"I didn't know that Mrs. Hughs worked here in the office."
"She doesn't. Her specialties are shopping and taking long vacations. CiCi was having a slow morning and so she received the phone call from Mrs. Hughs."
"Why call the secretary pool to make a personal phone call? Oh, I think I know. To spread around the fact that she is seeing her attorney. She won't be divorcing Mr. Hughs anytime soon."
"Why not?"
"She is letting him know in a roundabout way that he better tow-the-line. She must have worked here one time to realize how fast office gossip spreads."
Kim felt a little offended by this remark. She knew she was the one to spread most of the gossip. She quickly grabbed her coffee and said goodbye to Mary. Mary went back to her desk and worked until her stomach demanded some sustenance. She hoped that by stopping off at the horrific cafeteria she would save some of the time she wasted. She waited in the unbelievably long line. Unbelievable in the fact that this many people actually ate at the cafeteria. When she finally got to the food, there wasn't much left except a grayish Jell-O mold. Not surprising, no one else had touched it. She looked at the lunch lady in hope of more food. She just shook her head and pointed to the Jell-O. Mary went over to the mold and tried to decide whether she would take the plunge. It had a strange white looking filling. She peered closer. That is when she realized eyes were looking back at her through the Jell-O. Those eyes had no more life in them however and they belonged to Mr. Cragicze!
Mary never liked eating in the cafeteria. It was always full of noise and strange odors. However, because of her short lunch hour, she was forced to eat in the cafeteria more times then she cared to remember. Her boss, Mr. Hughs would take a 3-hour all-expense paid lunch at one of the finer restaurants in town. This left Mary with his workload. She didn't mind. She preferred her boss to be out of the office more than not. Today, she was shocked though at Mr. Hughs' choice to take a long lunch. His boss had stopped in for one of his surprise visits. Apparently, they were not impressed with Mr. Hughs' expense sheet. Mr. Hughs got raked over the coals till his face was the color of melted lava. It remained that way a long time after his boss had left. However, about an hour before Mary's usual lunch time, Mr. Hughs approached Mary with a conspiratorial smile upon his face.
"Mary, make reservations for two at Chez Monique for 1 p.m.," he told her.
"Yes Mr. Hughs," Mary was always getting in trouble for speaking her mind. That is why she couldn't resist saying, "Do you think that is wise after the visit from Mr. Cragicze?"
"Not that it is any of your business, but I don't think Mr. Cragicze will be anymore trouble," Mr. Hughs, knowing Mary's capacity for questions, left after making that statement.
Mary made the reservations at the most expensive restaurant in town. She wondered the whole time about Mr. Hughs' comment. Mr. Cragicze was the co-owner of the company. There was no way that Mr. Hughs could muscle him out of his current position. Maybe Mr. Hughs had a big connection to the other owner. Mary decided to go get coffee. Not for the coffee itself, but to receive information from some fellow gossip lovers. It must be a good day for Mary because the biggest information gatherer was sitting at a table sipping her coffee gingerly. This meant two things, that she had information that she desperately wanted to share and that her coffee was very hot. Mary made her coffee and then sat down. She really couldn't afford the time without staying late that evening. She felt like this might be worth it though.
"Hi Kim, how is your day going?" Mary asked.
"Good Mary, I heard you had quite the morning."
"Not me so much as Mr. Hughs."
"I could hear Mr. Cragicze all the way down at my desk. I don't know why he bothers though."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Well, Mr. Hughs is married to Mrs. Hughs who owns the other half of this company.""I was wondering. He is eating today at Chez Moniques."
"I am shocked to hear that."
"Really, why?"
"This is just office gossip. However, I heard that Mr. Hughs is banned from Chez Moniques. His wife had him banned for bringing his latest armcandy there for lunch."
"That is very tacky."
"True. Mrs. Hughs allows his affairs as long as she doesn't hear about them. Taking them to her favorite restaurant is a different matter all together."
"I would say so!"
"Do you know, I wonder if that's why Mr. Cragicze chewed Mr. Hughs out this morning?"
"How do you mean?"
"Maybe Mr. Hughs wife has had enough. I heard CiCi talking on the phone. She was making an appointment for Mrs. Hughs' with her attorney."
"I didn't know that Mrs. Hughs worked here in the office."
"She doesn't. Her specialties are shopping and taking long vacations. CiCi was having a slow morning and so she received the phone call from Mrs. Hughs."
"Why call the secretary pool to make a personal phone call? Oh, I think I know. To spread around the fact that she is seeing her attorney. She won't be divorcing Mr. Hughs anytime soon."
"Why not?"
"She is letting him know in a roundabout way that he better tow-the-line. She must have worked here one time to realize how fast office gossip spreads."
Kim felt a little offended by this remark. She knew she was the one to spread most of the gossip. She quickly grabbed her coffee and said goodbye to Mary. Mary went back to her desk and worked until her stomach demanded some sustenance. She hoped that by stopping off at the horrific cafeteria she would save some of the time she wasted. She waited in the unbelievably long line. Unbelievable in the fact that this many people actually ate at the cafeteria. When she finally got to the food, there wasn't much left except a grayish Jell-O mold. Not surprising, no one else had touched it. She looked at the lunch lady in hope of more food. She just shook her head and pointed to the Jell-O. Mary went over to the mold and tried to decide whether she would take the plunge. It had a strange white looking filling. She peered closer. That is when she realized eyes were looking back at her through the Jell-O. Those eyes had no more life in them however and they belonged to Mr. Cragicze!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Reading truly inspires writing
I have wondered today about the fact that I love history. I'm reading Agatha Christie's autobiography. It is full of history from a first-hand look. What I'm wondering about is the fact that I never talked to my own grandmother about history that she lived through. We were talking about things I found funny and interesting in Mrs. Christie's book. Then I told how my grandmother quit school because of the great depression. I don't know if that's why or exactly the whole story. Counting my grandmother would have been 6 in the great depression. At least, at the start of it. Obviously, I need more details. I wonder how many times we miss perfect opportunties as writers. I love watching people, but I hardly use them for my writing. I believe that is where I make a mistake. My characters would be more alive if I concentrated more on people. I have made the suggestion of people-watching for a weekend activity. The family isn't so game. I believe I'm going to try again. However, that isn't truly my point. I think we take for granted the people in our life. Many have lived through things that we only read about in books. Well, things I read about. I get so engrossed with descriptions of the time period. I never thought that my grandmother could tell me some firsthand events. I only rolled my eyes through her stories. Now I would give anything to hear them again. Now, I will pump my mother. She has endured through some major life events. I don't mean things that we all must cope about, but the events we read about in history books. My mom was alive with the shooting of JFK. She lived with the sensation of the Beattles, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and many others. I am already enjoying the things she shares. Mind you, I do have those choice relatives I never want to speak too, but the good ones are worth the time. I hope I never take advantage of the fine vault of information I can receive.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Why Cats know when we are doing something important?
I mean it. Every time I start to work on something one of my two cats insist on coming over and sitting down right in front of the computer screen. Or whatever thing I am working with at the moment. I have been sitting here reading one of my favorite bloggers, Dick Stodghill. No cat. I decided I needed to write more to my blog. I get all ready to go, signed in and to the right page and sure enough a cat comes along. He doesn't just stop in to say hi, no he sits in between the computer and myself. He has to rub his dirt invested furry self in my face. Then they are highly offended that I didn't want them to sit in their desired locations. The adult cat is also guilty of this offense. I don't know how they sense it. I can be sitting here for hours doing mundane things, but the second I want to start actually doing some work poof there is a black vision. (Both have black fur, one is black and white) Then to show me that they don't appreciate my lack of excitement for their generosity in allowing me to pet them, they do a full body clean. Right next to me, making sure to stay within my vision. Their next favorite thing to do is run by just at the moment that my hands are full. They particularly like it if my hands contain food. That way, I spill the food. This leads to them enjoying a nice snack. Which I must say, is the only reason they tolerate the girls. Little girls are always spilling tasty morsels for them to pick up. As long as they get to it before the dog. The dog has her issues also, but at least she does it by accident. Whenever she barks and wakes up the baby, she has the decency to look ashamed. She is embarrassed and very sorry for intruding on the family. Not with the cats. Apparently, we intrude upon them. They feel that six a.m. is the perfect time for them to eat. We have the nerve to sleep. They believe that the bed is theirs. Just because they allow us to sleep in their beds does not mean we can pick our location. Sure, their tails stick out five inches from their bodies. That does not give us the right to step on them. Who cares that you can't see them in the dark. It's not their fault that humans aren't as superior as cats with their night vision. If my cats had computers, I'm sure they would be writing on their blogs complaints about us humans. I can see them now. I'll leave their blogs to your imigination. I have to go feed the cats.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
What Now?
Okay, I'm not hitting it off well with this blogging system. I have no problem informing people about the daily life with my children. I guess maybe I should write stories with children in it then I can blog about it. I agree that made no sense. I find that children are a taboo subject. Except for maybe the funny things they do. I should say the raising of children is taboo. That is besides the point I wanted to make. I suppose that is my problem with my whole blog outlook. I'm trying to make a point. Today, I'm going to skip that and just complain. I watched a movie last night all about an author. The man wrote one book, got in touch with an agent, sold the copyright for 300,000 dollars and sold many copies making his book a bestseller. Okay, how many times does that actually happen. Seriously, I want to know. I agree that I don't write bestseller material. Maybe I will someday. I've also learned that I don't usually read bestsellers either. I love to read but the authors I tend to like are not on that list. I'm not sure why. I read people who were bestsellers and then died. That would make my last sentance a lie. I do read bestsellers but not from this time period. But that takes away from my point. See there I go again trying to make a point. I think that making movies about people making tons of money on one book is a tad misleading. I'm not saying movie makers shouldn't do this, I'm saying my family should stop thinking I'm going to be bringing home millions. Oh, that is the other thing, the man wrote the book in about two months! Without editing. That truly is fantasy. Ask a famous bestselling author how this makes them feel. That is my thoughts today. I guess it fits my Have you ever wondered question. I'm not exactly sure how, but maybe you can make the connection.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Phil Whitley or as we like to call him Brew
Now on to authors I've actually had the pleasure to talk to myself. Starting with:
Phil Whitley:
How many of us had our favorite storyteller? Everytime they came around we would beg and plead for them to tell us a story. That is Phil Whitley. He told his stories for many years. Only orally though, he felt that he was unqualified to write them down. Then at the age of 50, Phil’s daughter was born. He was afraid that all those family stories would be lost by the time she would be able to enjoy them. He wrote a story that he called ‘Stories From My Childhood’. He still was unsure about his abilities, nevertheless Phil would send his stories online for his friends to enjoy. They enjoyed them so much that they finally convinced Phil that he should submit them to be published. Now we can all enjoy this fine storyteller. I suggest checking out the beautiful illustrations and learn more about his book at his website. www.PhilWhitley.com
Phil Whitley:
How many of us had our favorite storyteller? Everytime they came around we would beg and plead for them to tell us a story. That is Phil Whitley. He told his stories for many years. Only orally though, he felt that he was unqualified to write them down. Then at the age of 50, Phil’s daughter was born. He was afraid that all those family stories would be lost by the time she would be able to enjoy them. He wrote a story that he called ‘Stories From My Childhood’. He still was unsure about his abilities, nevertheless Phil would send his stories online for his friends to enjoy. They enjoyed them so much that they finally convinced Phil that he should submit them to be published. Now we can all enjoy this fine storyteller. I suggest checking out the beautiful illustrations and learn more about his book at his website. www.PhilWhitley.com
Thursday, February 21, 2008
King and Leroux
Today my topic is Stephen King and Gaston Leroux. Many have heard of the first one, but what about the second?
Leroux started out writing as a theatre critic. Then he became a journalist, however he loved the writing of ones like Poe, Dumas, and Doyle. He decided to write his own thrillers. They were very successful. One was entitled The Mystery of The Yellow Room. It was one of the first 'locked-room' mysteries. His most famous title though seems to fade out his name with another, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Leroux was the original author of 'The Phantom of The Opera.' Contrary to my other authors who have since died, his death was more of the normal variety. Unfortunately, he lived high of the high life and because of it he died from it.
Stephen King
He started out writing to help pay off his school loans. He wrote short stories for mens magazines. His first professional one was 'The Glass Floor' written for Starting Mystery Stories. He soon started his teaching job and continued to write short stories on the weekend. His first novel, Carrie, was accepted in the springtime. The rest is history.
I hope that I've been able to express my thoughts. It doesn't matter where an author gets their start. Talent comes from all sources.
Next time, I'll be starting my series on Publish America authors. I believe that they are extremely talented and people need to hear more about them. I'll be starting with Phil Whitley. Hope to see you then.
Leroux started out writing as a theatre critic. Then he became a journalist, however he loved the writing of ones like Poe, Dumas, and Doyle. He decided to write his own thrillers. They were very successful. One was entitled The Mystery of The Yellow Room. It was one of the first 'locked-room' mysteries. His most famous title though seems to fade out his name with another, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Leroux was the original author of 'The Phantom of The Opera.' Contrary to my other authors who have since died, his death was more of the normal variety. Unfortunately, he lived high of the high life and because of it he died from it.
Stephen King
He started out writing to help pay off his school loans. He wrote short stories for mens magazines. His first professional one was 'The Glass Floor' written for Starting Mystery Stories. He soon started his teaching job and continued to write short stories on the weekend. His first novel, Carrie, was accepted in the springtime. The rest is history.
I hope that I've been able to express my thoughts. It doesn't matter where an author gets their start. Talent comes from all sources.
Next time, I'll be starting my series on Publish America authors. I believe that they are extremely talented and people need to hear more about them. I'll be starting with Phil Whitley. Hope to see you then.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe
Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe
Tonight on my list of authors is Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
I'll begin with Hemingway. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. He started working on his high school newspaper. Being denied by his father to join the army during the first World War, he became a journalist for Kansas City Star. He wrote many things and is very well known. However, he never seemed to find contentment.
Speaking of the discontented, Edgar Allen Poe. He's as much a mystery today as when he was alive. Many scholars disagree to what his life was really like. He started writing poetry, but his first book of poems was never published. We still quote his poetry today. He's still extremely well-known.
What's very sad about both of these extremely talented men is that they both were so unsatisfied with their life. There is a certain morbid theme here. It is completely by accident. However, the three authors that are no longer alive, all have adnormal deaths. Stay tune next time for Gaston Leroux and Stephen King.
Thank you to the following websites for the information I used:
http://www.eapoe.org/, http://www.ernest.hemingway.com/, http://www.jkrowling.com/
Agatha Christie from her Autobiography
Tonight on my list of authors is Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
I'll begin with Hemingway. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. He started working on his high school newspaper. Being denied by his father to join the army during the first World War, he became a journalist for Kansas City Star. He wrote many things and is very well known. However, he never seemed to find contentment.
Speaking of the discontented, Edgar Allen Poe. He's as much a mystery today as when he was alive. Many scholars disagree to what his life was really like. He started writing poetry, but his first book of poems was never published. We still quote his poetry today. He's still extremely well-known.
What's very sad about both of these extremely talented men is that they both were so unsatisfied with their life. There is a certain morbid theme here. It is completely by accident. However, the three authors that are no longer alive, all have adnormal deaths. Stay tune next time for Gaston Leroux and Stephen King.
Thank you to the following websites for the information I used:
http://www.eapoe.org/, http://www.ernest.hemingway.com/, http://www.jkrowling.com/
Agatha Christie from her Autobiography
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Where were they before...
Why did they start writing?
After reading on a message board many conflicting views on what constitutes a good author. Where do they come from these author who are renowned? Many different places it turns out. I decided to find out for myself by researching some of them online. Most of the information I got came from websites either written by them or for them by researchers. Except for my first one, I read her autobiography.
Agatha Christie started to write her first book during WWI. She started to think it out while working in the Pharmacy department. When she finished, she sent it to many different publishers. No one excepted it. One day, her husband showed it to a friend who had connections to a publisher. She continued with her war effort until the end of the war. 2 years later, she received a letter from a publisher telling her they would except her book. She completely forgot she wrote a book. Now, she is known as one of the best mystery writers ever.
To stick with the women:
J K Rowlings
Author of the Harry Potter series. She is probably one of the top selling authors today, if not top. Where was she when she wrote her first Harry Potter book? She was a single-mom. She wrote every chance she could. Sometimes, she could only find a quiet spot at a coffee-shop. During the day, she worked as a teacher. But when it was done, many publishers were jumping at the chance to publish her book, right? Nope, she sent it in many times and faced many rejections. I bet they are kicking themselves now though.
That is all for now. Stay tuned for my next blog. The authors I will be highlighting will be two famous men. Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
After reading on a message board many conflicting views on what constitutes a good author. Where do they come from these author who are renowned? Many different places it turns out. I decided to find out for myself by researching some of them online. Most of the information I got came from websites either written by them or for them by researchers. Except for my first one, I read her autobiography.
Agatha Christie started to write her first book during WWI. She started to think it out while working in the Pharmacy department. When she finished, she sent it to many different publishers. No one excepted it. One day, her husband showed it to a friend who had connections to a publisher. She continued with her war effort until the end of the war. 2 years later, she received a letter from a publisher telling her they would except her book. She completely forgot she wrote a book. Now, she is known as one of the best mystery writers ever.
To stick with the women:
J K Rowlings
Author of the Harry Potter series. She is probably one of the top selling authors today, if not top. Where was she when she wrote her first Harry Potter book? She was a single-mom. She wrote every chance she could. Sometimes, she could only find a quiet spot at a coffee-shop. During the day, she worked as a teacher. But when it was done, many publishers were jumping at the chance to publish her book, right? Nope, she sent it in many times and faced many rejections. I bet they are kicking themselves now though.
That is all for now. Stay tuned for my next blog. The authors I will be highlighting will be two famous men. Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
My goal for my blog
My goal is to write everyday. Some days are easier than others. I decided I'm going to use my blog for my blank canvas, sort to speak. I'm going to try to write short articles or little bits of information. Possibly not everyday, but as much as possible. The only way to become a better writer is the same as everything else. Practice, Practice, Practice. If anyone has any suggestions, please leave me a message. I've already started in the blog after this. Please read on!
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