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| >> Static Item >> Short Story >> Mystery >> ID #1805101 |   |
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This a simple mystery written to a contest specifications. I believe I could write a better tale if this was longer, perhaps a novella or even a novel. Something to think about.
This wee tale won 1st Place, Short Story, Bard's Hall JUL/AUG 2011 and received an awardicon. Featured in the December 27, 2011 Mystery Newsletter.   Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery 3,547 words A strange package arrived with the mail which surprised Brynn. The parcel contained nothing but her name and address with a post mark outside of the United States. She knew home land security kept a watchful eye out for unusual things that occurred. Yet here was this parcel with no return address from Greece. She could see that no one bothered to inspect the package. Home Land security, what a joke. She rattled the parcel and knew from the sound what it contained. Yet she couldn’t figure out why anyone from Greece would send her a jigsaw puzzle. I don’t know anyone in Greece. Everyone I know lives in the US or Canada. I have a few email pen pals from other parts of the world, yet no one from Greece. Brynn tossed the parcel onto the table and started to walk away, yet something about the package tugged at her curiosity. She picked it up and ripped open the package. Inside she found a hand carved box six by three by one inch. Strange runes covered all the surfaces except the bottom. Her hands trembled as she pulled the lid off. A hundred wooden pieces tumbled from the box. Her curiosity got the better of her. Brynn sat down and put the puzzle together. To her surprise, a wooden treasure map lay on the table before her. Brynn bumped the box and it rattled. She peeked inside and discovered a golden amulet lying in the bottom. Where did this come from? I know it wasn’t there when I emptied the puzzle pieces out. Brynn started to reach into the box then stopped short. She jumped when the doorbell shattered the silence. She swallowed her heart that tried to leaped out of her chest, then opened the door. “Brynn, what’s wrong. You look as if you just seen a ghost,” Caley said. She motioned for her best friend to enter. Brynn caught her breath and told Caley what just happened. “Cool! Let me see the necklace.” “I believe it’s actually an amulet of some sort.” Caley snatched the box off the table and poured the amulet into her hand. Her dark green eyes widened with shock. She gasped and dropped the box and amulet to the floor. She sank into a chair. “What happen?” Brynn asked. “That damn necklace shocked me!” “Watch the language, Caley.” “Sorry I forgot, little miss goody-goody who never uses such words.” “Caley!” Brynn reached for the box and the amulet. “Stop! That thing bites.” Brynn rolled her dark purple twilight eyes and picked up the box with the amulet. She noticed some of the strange runes were etched around the edges of the amulet. What look like a dragon guarded the center. “Brynn, what’s so special about this box?” Brynn shrugged. She set the amulet and box on the table. Her hand brushed the wooden puzzle. A whoosh made Brynn jump. She whirled around as Caley gasped. Swirling grey smoke filled the room for mere seconds. Both of them shrank back. When the misty vapor vanished the wooden map was gone. In its place lay an ancient scroll containing the map. Caley took one look at the map, glanced at Brynn and ran. Brynn’s hands shook as she examined the map with great care. She picked up the puzzle box and noticed Twilight Puzzle Shoppe etched on the bottom. She went to her computer and began an internet search for the store. An hour vanished, and still Brynn had no idea or lead as to where the puzzle came from. Who sent it or why. She wondered if Professor Tymon could help her. Ziven was an expert on ancient maps, and strange and unusual cultures from all over the world. Before she could dial the number, her doorbell rang again. She found a gentleman of about forty when she opened the door. “Brynn Tiernan?” “Who’s asking?” His midnight blue eyes slid over her body once before returning to her face as he stepped past her into the house. Brynn couldn’t believe the nerve of this stranger. “Ramsey Knight.” He offered his hand, then kissed the palm after she extended her hand. Brynn jerked her hand back. “Sorry. I forget you Americans rarely use manners. It’s consider proper to kiss a lady’s hand upon meeting her for the first time where I come from. I shall try to remember you Americans may take offense to such things.” “That’s a pretty rude thing to say, considering you know nothing about me,” Brynn said. “What do you want?” “I believe you have something that belongs to me. It arrived by mistake.” “What would that be?” “An engraved box,” Ramsey said. Brynn noticed a few stray grey hairs in his goatee and stylish sandy brown hair. The grey gave him a scholarly look. Her inner warning system began hollering BEWARE! “What does the box contain?” “Nothing of importance except to me.” “Why are you avoiding my question?” Ramsey moved toward the table that contained the scroll. His eyes gave him away. Brynn knew without a doubt he was after the scroll and the map it contained. Yet why? The map held an island that she didn’t recognize or the other land masses around it. He reached for the scroll. “I’d suggest you stop reaching for something that belongs to me and leave. Or shall I call the police?” Rage flickered through his eyes for a second. “As you wish. Is the map for sale?” “I thought you came looking for an engraved box,” Brynn said. He gave her a strange look that left goose bumps. He left without another word. Ramsey Knight stopped when he bumped into a second stranger in her front yard. She saw the hostile glare that passed between the men. Now what? “Miss Tiernan, I’m Zane Tyler. I believe you’re in the possession of an ancient map.” “Where did you get such an idea like that? How do you know my name?” Peacock blue eyes explored her face. He gave her a boyish grin. “To be honest, I tracked the package all the way from Greece. I failed to intercept it before it reached you. As to your name, I saw it on the mailbox.” Brynn knew he just lied. Yet why? She knew better than to have her name on her mailbox. Why alert the criminal element that she lived alone. Her neighborhood was safe, yet one never knew when the wrong person would drive through looking for trouble. “I didn’t receive a map. What’s this map of?” Zane grabbed her by the arm. “Don’t lie to me! I saw the mail carrier delivery the package here about an hour ago. Some dame showed up, followed by Ramsey Knight. What did he want?” Bryn jerked free. Flip her cell phone open. “You have two seconds to get off my property before I call the police.” Zane vanished. Bryn called Professor Tymon and explained to him what had occurred. He agreed to take a look at the map the next morning.     Grey clouds threatened rain when Brynn left the house to drive over to the college. She spotted both Zane and Ramsey lurking near the history building as she entered. Chills sweep down her spine and she shuttered. What are they really after? The map more than likely. Yet why? I just hope Ziven recognizes the island on this map, and can tell me something about it. Ziven touched the old scroll with care. Turned it around and viewed it from all four angles. He pressed his hands together and touched his lips. “Tell me again exactly what happened.” “A package arrived in the mail containing a Greek post mark. When I open it, I found an etched box that held a wooden jigsaw puzzle and a golden amulet with what looks like runes surrounding a dragon. After Caley dropped the box and amulet on the floor, I touched the puzzle with the amulet in my hand. We heard a whoosh and saw grey smoke. After the smoke cleared, the puzzle was gone and this map sat on the table where the puzzle had been.” “Interesting,” Ziven said. “What kind of hocus pocus nonsense is this?” Brynn asked. Ziven smiled. “I don’t have the time to explain that.” “Do you recognize the land mass?” Ziven nodded. “It’s an old map of the your grandmother's estate. The way the boundaries were about two hundred years ago.” “Do you have any idea what the map leads to?” “No. It sort of looks like a treasure map. Yet I’m sure that’s the romantic in me,” Ziven said. “Ask your grandmother. She may know something about this.” Brynn saw from the look in his eyes, he knew more about this map than he told her. Does he know where this map leads? Is he working with Ramsey Knight or Zane Tyler? Don’t be silly. This is probably one of Gran’s old scavenger hunts. “I could do some checking on the map if you’d like.” “No, I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll figure it out and let you know what I discover.” Brynn went home and began searching the internet for any and all maps of the her grandmother’s estate, yet she couldn’t find any. She called city hall and found out what department contained all the old maps of the estate and what it would cost to buy copies of them. Brynn spread the six different maps out on the table. She began comparing them with the ancient one. She wrote the differences in a notebook. She realized that the old map lead from a certain point on the estate toward another place. Daylight faded as she made her final entries into the notebook. Do I dare call Gran and ask her about the map? Or go snooping on my own? Gran would probably tell me I’m wasting my time hunting for a nonexistent treasure. Yet that sneaky old lady would yearn for such an adventure after traveling all over the world as a photojournalist. That must have been an exciting life. She spent several hours figuring out the starting point on the ancient map. She decided to start at first light. Brynn tucked the notebook and the old map into a safe hiding place and went to shower. The doorbell sounded as she stepped from the shower. “Now what?” Caley almost knocked her over entering the house. “Brynn, this drop dead gorgeous guy came looking for you this afternoon.” “Did you get his name or were you too busy drooling?” Caley smacked Brynn on the arm. “Ramsey Knight. How do you know him?” “I don’t. He came by after you ran out of here yesterday. He claims I received his package by mistake.” A second gent, a Zane Tyler, claimed the map belonged to him.” “What are you going to do?” Brynn shrugged. “Ramsey seemed interested in you.” “I don’t think so. He’s after the map same as Zane. Both of them believe it leads to a treasure, yet I don’t think so. At least not the kind they’re thinking of.” “What kind of treasure would they be after?” “Gold, silver, pirate loot,” Brynn said. “What do you think it leads to?” Caley asked. “Something without a monetary value,” Brynn said. “Do you know where the treasure or whatever is?” Brynn’s inner voice screamed, BEWARE! Caley is up to something. She shook her head. “Oh, I just figured after you got all those maps from the historical society that you knew where the treasure or whatever is hidden.” “How did you know where I went?” Caley hung her head and wouldn’t meet her accusing glare. “Ramsey mentioned it when he asked if you discovered where the map led.” “Caley, I don’t believe this. You’re telling a total stranger personal details about my life. Are you trying to get me harmed or murdered?” “I didn’t think . . . think about something like that.” “You rarely do when the stranger is a hunk and you’re drooling,” Brynn said. “You can be such a witch sometimes Brynn Tiernan.” Caley slammed the front door. Before Brynn could move someone else banged on the door. Ramsey stood there when she opened it. “What do you want now?” “Caley seemed upset. What did you say to her?” “I don’t see where that’s any of your business. I’ve warn Caley before about telling strangers personal stuff about me. She never listens when the asker happens to appeal to her sexually. I repeat, what do you want?” “To buy the ancient map from you. Name your price.” “Why do you want it? Does it lead to bury pirate loot or something else?” A laugh colder than Siberia echoed around the room. “My don’t we have a vivid imagination. I love history and the map is of this area from about two hundred years ago. I find such things fascinating.” Brynn didn’t get the chance to tell Ramsey no to his offer before Zane came up the front walkway. “Trying to out maneuver me, Knight.” “Both of you, give it a rest. What do you want, Mr. Tyler?” “To purchase the map from you.” “She already agreed to sell it to me,” Ramsey said. “I’ll double what he offered,” Zane said. “The map isn’t for sale at any price to either of you. The historical society made me an offer that I’m thinking about. Until I decide if I shall sell it to them, it’s tuck safely away in my safety deposit box at the bank. I’m sure your spies already told you I went there this afternoon and entered the vault. Now get off my property and don’t come back.” Brynn rolled onto her back to stretched, then jumped out of bed. She dressed as if she were going hiking and in a way she was. Gran’s estate covered almost six miles of somewhat rough ground, just outside of town. She put a small shovel and pick axe into the trunk of her car, got a flashlight with extra batteries and drove toward Widow’s Peak, her grandmother’s estate. Sunlight peeked through the tree canopy as she started where the map indicated. She climbed the old birch tree, and hopped over the old stone wall, that ran the length of the southern side of the property. This part of the estate looked like a fancy English garden with a labyrinth and flower beds. Each bed contained a different kind of flower in a different color. A miniature rainbow covered a mile of ground. A small brook wound its way toward the house. A light sweat covered her brow by the time she reached a ten foot high hedge. She walked along the hedge in both direction, yet returned to the exact spot marked on the map. She tipped her head one way then the other trying to figure out what about the hedge that made her inner voice whispered everything isn’t as it seems. She started to move away from the hedge, yet her feet held. A cool breeze made the greenery move and bend. The sunlight caught on what looked like a stonewall. Brynn took a closer look and spotted what look like an old door with rusted hinges beneath the greenery. She tugged and pushed on the living hedge until the door was visible in the morning light. She didn’t see a keyhole, only the strange runes that matched those on the amulet. She pulled the golden amulet from her jeans’ pocket. “Now what?” As if she spoken magical words, certain runes on the amulet and door glowed a strange amber color. Without knowing why, Brynn touched the glowing runes on the amulet to the ones on the door. Nothing occurred. She slapped her forehead and shook her head when she realized what the problem was. The runes on the amulet needed to touch those on the door in a certain order. How do I figure that out? After studying the amulet, she notice that certain runes flashed a certain number of times. Same as the glyphs on the door. It took her three tries before Brynn heard a protest of wood scraping and the door inched open just enough to allow her to slip through. She started to slip through the door when she heard footsteps behind her. Brynn spun around and found Ramsey moving toward her. “You’re trespassing on private property.” “So are you,” Ramsey shot back. “That’s where you’re wrong. My grandmother owns Widow’s Peak.” “You’re related to Abigail Brighton.” Brynn nodded. “You know about the book, and that’s why you wouldn’t sell me the map. You knew it would lead you to her . . . ” “To her what?” Zane asked. “I see you both followed me,” Brynn said. “You didn’t give us a choice,” Zane said. “Ramsey, it seems as if you already know what’s behind this wall, then why did you need the map?” Brynn asked. “I knew about the witch’s garden, just not where it lay hidden. I’ve searched this estate several times and never gave this old hedge a second thought,” Ramsey said. “A witch’s garden? You’re kidding, right?” Brynn asked. “Not at all. Shall we?” Zane slipped through the door first, followed by Brynn, and Ramsey came last. A garden ran from the hedge to the edge of a cliff. Beyond one could hear the sea crashing against the cliff’s base. A flat stone path created a circle. The circle contain a pentagram, made of bluish-white stones, within. Eight-foot high purplish-marble obelisks stood marking the four directions. A black stone altar guarded the center of the witch mark that lay on the ground. Disappointment covered Zane’s face. Ramsey’s eyes darted around the small area. Looking for what Brynn could only guess. “Tell me where it is?” Ramsey said. “Where what is?” Brynn asked. “Don’t get cute with me. I came for the book, and I’m not leaving without it.” Brynn laughed when she realized he meant a spellbook. Yet as he could see for himself, there wasn’t a hiding place within the garden unless . . . No that’s too obvious. Could one of the obelisk contain the book. Brynn glanced at the obelisk and spotted the glyphs. She needed to get rid of Zane and Ramsey, yet how? “Ramsey, are you hunting for a spellbook by any chance?” “I knew you knew.” “No, actually that was just a guess. If there’s a book hidden around here, please show me where.” Brynn saw fury within Ramsey’s eyes. The glare he shot her way made her shiver with a touch of fear. She knew she was safe as long as Ramsey thought he needed her to obtain the book. Brynn knew if the old stories Gran told her, only a direct descendant of Abigail Brighton could claim the book. She decided to show Ramsey where the book lay hidden. She moved toward the obelisks. The glyphs began glowing. “Not another step,” Ramsey warned. “If you want the book I need to touch each obelisk. I believe they open a hidden vault,” Brynn said. Ramsey motioned for her to go on. She took the amulet and pressed it against each obelisk going from south to east to north to west. A rumble shook the ground beneath their feet, and an opening appeared in the center of the altar. Ramsey motioned for Zane and Brynn to move toward the opening. Zane groaned when he saw just an old leather book. “I didn’t come here for a damn book. It’s all yours, Ram.” He split. “I don’t believe in such nonsense as magic,” Bryn said. “If the book means that much to you, please take it.” “I don’t understand you. Why would you simply give me the book? What’s the catch?” Suspicion filled his eyes. “If that is truly a spellbook as you believe, I don’t believe in magic so what use would the book be to me?” Ramsey’s grabbed the book and lifted it from the hole. He gasped and began to sway on his feet. He clutched at his head, dropped the book and tumbled to the ground. Pain covered his face. “I guess you didn’t realize that the book contained a spell where only a direct descendant of Abigail’s could touch the book,” Brynn said. Rage filled his eyes before he passed out. Brynn flipped her cell open and called the police. After they came and took Ramsey away, she entered her grandmother’s house. She found Gran and Ziven having tea in the breakfast nook. They both held conspiratorial grins. “I see you found Abigail’s book,” Gran said. “Then you’re the one who sent the puzzle,” Brynn said. Gran just smiled. “Ziven helped a bit. The smoke and changing the puzzle into the map were his ideas.” “Very sneaky.” “If I had just told you that the book was real and our ancestor was a real live witch, you would have told me I was making it all up,” Gran said. “Besides, I know how much you love solving mysteries. Next time I’ll get a little more inventive.” The End  Tentomushi
© Copyright 2011 Ladybug (UN: icefairy at Writing.Com).
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