tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post3735949078975373123..comments2024-03-27T03:14:07.652-04:00Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: In Search of Katie Culhane: A "You Write It" Mystery ChallengeMissy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-57775342041827154032019-07-20T04:02:53.076-04:002019-07-20T04:02:53.076-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-63820550258806826942019-06-22T10:38:37.526-04:002019-06-22T10:38:37.526-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-52148340489347681982019-03-15T15:06:18.763-04:002019-03-15T15:06:18.763-04:00Hi Julia:
I'm glad you had a good writing day...Hi Julia:<br /><br />I'm glad you had a good writing day. Sometimes doing something creative makes other things requiring creativity more serendipitous. Even when they are not directly related the link can be even stronger.<br /><br />I'm also glad you liked the song. I just love it when a bible quote can make such a joyous song. I like Chesney's reggae country songs, too. A little Zydeco can also go a long way if used as musical spice. This even makes me think of cooking. Enjoy. <br /><br />And yes, I'd like to see Ruth do these exercises more often.<br /><br />Vince <br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-43800996746827885832019-03-15T11:25:27.131-04:002019-03-15T11:25:27.131-04:00The fun thing about cliffhangers...most everyone i...The fun thing about cliffhangers...most everyone interpreted that Katie was the bad guy...in my head...she is on the run from someone trying to kill her. She was able to wrestle the gun and get away from the man who did murder the barista (and trying to murder her), but there is no trace of that person and she needs Mike to go with her -- to protect her, to find the real bad guy, and clear her name (she has the gun and thus is accused of the murder).<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-90439366360390273162019-03-15T10:30:18.832-04:002019-03-15T10:30:18.832-04:00Hi Ruth: Wow! I think you got inspired in that las...Hi Ruth: Wow! I think you got inspired in that last paragraph. I think there's a novella in your version of Katie! Talk about heroines: can you spell <b>"High Noon"?</b>Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-58362579895803572782019-03-15T08:50:51.771-04:002019-03-15T08:50:51.771-04:00Vince, I hadn't heard this song. I just now di...Vince, I hadn't heard this song. I just now did. It's great, peppy, catchy. My name is Julia. Apparently, when I changed the name of my music review blog from All Things Hard Rock to Julia's Music Reviews, it didn't change in other places. But that's okay. Of course, I have my YouTube channel, Home Alone Writer.<br />Ruth, have more of these exercises. This may have been what made me have a great day of writing yesterday in spite of still have problems with allergies. All Things Hard Rockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07676421453441072712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-29612800211719115122019-03-15T06:29:39.757-04:002019-03-15T06:29:39.757-04:00Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Not here, anyway....Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Not here, anyway. Where could he go? Where could he put Kate to keep her safe while he focused on The Cager?<br /><br />"Don't even try it, Cowboy." Kate was sizing him up as he detailed his suspicions to the commander. "You try to stow me away, I'll go rogue and hunt down this maniac myself. I might not be a cop, but I've got my own skill set. And it's nothing to underestimate."<br /><br />"A skill set?"<br /><br />Oh man, he'd done it now. The look she gave him scorched. "Have you ever kept twenty-two five-year-olds amused for three hours? On your own? No back-up?"<br /><br />"Kate."<br /><br />"I'm out."<br /><br />She started for the door.<br /><br />She couldn't be serious...<br /><br />But he knew she was. And it was summer time, so she had time on her hands. And finances. But no way was he going to let her go rogue. "Kate, you need to be reasonable."<br /><br />Wrong words. She turned and nailed him with a look. "Reasonable? I've spent my life being reasonable, Michael. And waiting. Waiting while you got your head together. Waiting while you tried to clean the city streets. Spending my time as a "Party of One" while you went on your missions to save mankind and left me waiting. No more waiting. No more patience. No more anything. I'm going after this guy. I saw him. I know what he looks like. You don't. And then, when I'm done, I'm going to come back, find myself a new boyfriend, fall desperately in love, get married and have three kids. Three amazing and wonderful little kids before every egg my body carries gets labeled "Too Old For Hatching". So that's my plan, Mike. What's yours?"Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-76637128971079796512019-03-14T19:59:48.470-04:002019-03-14T19:59:48.470-04:00Mike told Kate the whole 'Cager' story and...Mike told Kate the whole 'Cager' story and how they were at risk.<br /><br />"What are we going to do about this, Mike."<br /><br />"We're going to hunt the hunter and I swear that he is never going to hear the shot that kills him."<br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-64641929941546465042019-03-14T19:51:32.567-04:002019-03-14T19:51:32.567-04:00Hi All Things Hard Rock:
That's an interestin...<b>Hi All Things Hard Rock:</b><br /><br />That's an interesting continuation. Now, if I was Mike, I'd be out looking for Kate, especially if I couldn't sleep. I just wanted another line or two at the end.<br /><br />BTW: I'd like your opinion. One of my all time favorite songs is, <b>"Rivers of Babylon,"</b> by the Jamaicans. What's your take on that song? Are you okay with reggae? I think it rocks.<br /><br /><br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-22933085087069951752019-03-14T18:04:05.853-04:002019-03-14T18:04:05.853-04:00Mary, that's a fun take on it, too.... He save...Mary, that's a fun take on it, too.... He saved the people! Go Mike!!!! But now he has to keep him and Katy safe and alive! Mike, you've got your work cut out for you!!!!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-72101792755929824282019-03-14T18:01:50.770-04:002019-03-14T18:01:50.770-04:00Oh, man.... I love your take on this, my Hard Rock...Oh, man.... I love your take on this, my Hard Rock friend! Isn't this fun? To let your mind develop and create? <br /><br />I'm so glad you did this! And so well, too! Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-25137101736415708062019-03-14T14:43:50.975-04:002019-03-14T14:43:50.975-04:00The guns went off, alright, but they weren't t...The guns went off, alright, but they weren't the right guns. <br /><br />Mike looked up and saw the top of the beautiful hand-carved confessional door blasted into a thousand splinters. They went flying through the air in slow motion flashing on and off as they passed through shafts of sunlight.<br /><br /><i>That's not "The Judge" and my Glock's still in its holster.</i> Mike turned to face Katie but she had disappeared somewhere. There were hiding places everywhere in this dark church. <i>I thought the whole idea was to be seen attending church.</i><br /><br /><b>"Police! Stop shooting!"</b> Mike shouted as loud as he could.<br /><br />And the shooting did stop…at least for a second or two…and then Mike felt a bulled whiz by his head. Time seemed to stop and then he heard the shot. <i>Faster than sound. That's an assault rifle! </i><br /><br />Mike could hear new shots coming from behind the confessional but could see no one. They were small caliber. Maggie was firing back. <i>This wasn't even my gunfight. How could I get in the wrong gun fight?"</i><br /><br />"Maggie, take you fight outside. We were here first!" Mike yelled.<br /><br />"I thought you had snipers outside," Katie yelled at Mike from somewhere lost in the dark.<br /><br />"That was a bluff."<br /><br />"There's never a cop when you need one."<br /><br />"I'm a cop and I've been here from very the start."<br /><br />"Well, think of something!"<br /><br />"Who can think with all this noise?"<br /><br />The shooting stopped but the smell of gun smoke was stifling. <i>NASA reported that this is what the moon smells like.</i> <br /><br />Everything was quiet now. Everyone was hiding and holding their fire or just maybe they were out of ammo. No, the 'Judge' had not spoken yet.<br /><br />Someone or something tapped Mike on the shoulder as he was crouched behind a pew. <br /><br />"Daddy, its Mommy's stalker, out there." It was the boy! <br /><br />"Stalkers are admires. What kind of stalker is that?"<br /><br />"Not the love kind. The assassin kind."<br /><br />"Where did you learn the word 'assassin' and what makes you think I'm your Daddy? Besides aren't you supposed to be a secret child?"<br /><br />"A secret from you, not me. Mommy's been reading me your press clipping for years. Even your mother sends me grandson birthday cards."<br /><br />"I'm not your father and I'm not on speaking terms with my mother if she really is my mother."<br /><br />"We have the DNA to prove it."<br /><br />"So what are you doing over here?"<br /><br />"Mommy has a protective order against that guy and she wants you to enforce it."<br /><br />"That's not my job. Call the Sheriff's office, whatever your name is?"<br /><br />"Mike, Jr."<br /><br />"I'm not your daddy! And I've never made any donations to any of those clinics, either."<br /><br />"Well, you weren't exactly conscious."<br /><br />"Your mother is a very deceitful woman, do you know that?"<br /><br />"You should have to live with her. I mean she kills people."<br /><br />A loud voice bellowed from the bell tower. "Mike you send Maggie out here and I'll let you and Katie go."<br /><br />"And just who are you?"<br /><br />"I'm Sam, your brother."<br /><br />"Sam died in Afganastan."<br /><br />"No, Sam walked off and is just assumed dead."<br /><br />Finally the 'Judge' spoke and no one could think for the ringing in their ears.<br /><br /><br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-70636452923527611322019-03-14T13:02:54.669-04:002019-03-14T13:02:54.669-04:00I'll go back to the beginning.
He opened his m...I'll go back to the beginning.<br />He opened his mouth, ready to talk to the 911 operator when he heard a faint sound. So faint he wasn't sure what it was. But it came from the back and he rushed to follow it.<br />It grew louder and led his straight to the walk-in freezer.<br />The door latched with a screw driver jammed through the place where a padlock would go.<br />He threw the screwdriver aside and jerked the door open with the clack of metal on metal.<br />The door swung open and the freezer was full of people, shivering, Katie among them.<br />She threw herself into his arms as the others rushed out. There were five people in a freezer only slightly larger than a coffin standing on end.<br />"Mike, I knew you'd come. I knew it."<br />It struck like a hammer. She knew he'd come.<br />And she wasn't the only one.<br />In one stomach twisting second, Mike knew that right now, a man sat on death row, who was innocent. <br />The Cager--Mike's biggest case, the one that'd made his career--hadn't been arrested and convicted at all.<br />He was loose and he was coming.<br /><br /><br />Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-5204735989086007812019-03-14T12:56:54.531-04:002019-03-14T12:56:54.531-04:00These are so fun.These are so fun.Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-12307336514385272472019-03-14T12:55:56.071-04:002019-03-14T12:55:56.071-04:00This is a fun twist. Katy the psycho killer!!!!!!!...This is a fun twist. Katy the psycho killer!!!!!!!!!<br />And VINCE, the red dot, lol. Oh, yeah.Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-66503317254095180582019-03-14T12:54:45.378-04:002019-03-14T12:54:45.378-04:00AHH!!! Wow, great angle!AHH!!! Wow, great angle!Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-73662098478797423982019-03-14T12:54:22.215-04:002019-03-14T12:54:22.215-04:00okay you are ALL killing Kate. It's making me ...okay you are ALL killing Kate. It's making me try to think how NOT to kill her.<br /><br />That cup with his name on it is eerie. That has to mean something.Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-34016105624979121582019-03-14T12:51:27.729-04:002019-03-14T12:51:27.729-04:00I haven't read anyone's take yet. I'd ...I haven't read anyone's take yet. I'd expect him to find bodies in the back room.<br />Or maybe... kidnapped by aliens?<br />Okay, I'll go read.Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-52943576057055544222019-03-14T12:33:37.246-04:002019-03-14T12:33:37.246-04:00I've had so much fun reading these! Oh, the id...I've had so much fun reading these! Oh, the ideas are great!<br /><br />I don't have time to play today, but I'll be back to read more!Jan Drexlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-70036748244293548962019-03-14T10:42:25.077-04:002019-03-14T10:42:25.077-04:00Hi Kim:
This sure is a powerful three sentences!...Hi Kim: <br /><br />This sure is a powerful three sentences! You sure raised a lot of questions with a minimum words. Great addition!!!Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-55141352930221028882019-03-14T08:13:57.412-04:002019-03-14T08:13:57.412-04:00This is an awesome exercise! I'll pick up wher...This is an awesome exercise! I'll pick up where you left off in this post...<br /><br />This was not the ideal scenario for a cop who was now off-duty. As he stood still staring at the smartphone in his hand, he glanced around him, wondering what he should do next. Should he look around the coffee shop more to see who was there? Or should he leave the shop, though it was unlocked and unattended, leaving it to a fellow cop who had the night shift? He decided on the latter, he dashed out into the chilly mid-October air, walking down Main Street. <br /><br />In all the years he and Kate had been together, something this bad had never happened. The worst that had happened in the times he'd been late meeting up with her for a late-night cup of joe was she went home. By the time he got home, she'd be sound asleep. He loved those moments, seeing her lying down on her right side, her breath calm, with a slight smile on her face. Over the years, he had come to know her as a prolific dreamer. The amateur writer she was, she wrote down her dreams.<br /><br />She told him her most recent dream this morning over Eggos. She said she had teased him with a late-night scavenger hunt, which started at the deserted coffee shop with a to-go cup with his name on it. Though she had had some strange dreams, Mike never thought she'd act out on them in real life.<br /><br />This wasn't funny. He made his way to the parking garage three blocks from the coffee shop. He pressed his thumb on the remote and found his Ford SUV. He got in the car, skidded out from the parking lot and out of the garage, thankful no one got hurt.<br /><br />He couldn't get home fast enough. He hoped and prayed Kate would be home. If she wasn't home, where else would she be on this late night? This game wasn't welcome after a hard day of work at a job he was slowly losing interest in. Many possibilities raced through his mind as he drove a 70 on a 55 down interstate 40, back to their warm home in west Knoxville. Could she be at her parents' house? Perhaps her father had another bad night in his struggle with lung cancer. Or at her best friend's house? Abby was going through a tough time after her husband left her.<br /><br />On the way home, he didn't hear the text notification sound on his smartphone.<br /><br />He felt a mixture of anger and anxiety as he pulled into the garage. Her car wasn't there. In a way, he was thankful her family and friends were going through hard times and often needed Kate there. In that way, he didn't have to worry as much as he did. When he walked in the house, the lights were off. Their yellow lab, Jasper, was sound asleep on the big doggie bed in their living room. None of the lights were on; Kate had always made a point to keep one of the lamps in the living room on.<br /><br />"Kate, are you here? Where are you, sweetheart?"<br /><br />She's asleep, you idiot, he thought to himself as he tiptoed up the steps into their bedroom...to find their bed unwrinkled, unoccupied.<br /><br />Something wasn't adding up. He did a mental recap of tonight's incidents. <br /><br />He sunk down on the bed and sent one more text to Kate. Sitting with his elbows on his knees and resting his head in his hands, he took deep breaths and repeated to himself that everything was okay.<br /><br />After waiting ten minutes, no text came.<br /><br />Then he remembered Kate's colleague who had been sexually harassing. Was Hank his name? Dale? It was some name with one syllable. He knew he should have done a better job in telling her supervisor about it. However, every time she did, the boss blew her off.<br /><br />Had the harassment escalated into stalking...or kidnapping? Or worse yet, murder?<br /><br />Another sleepless night lay ahead of Mike...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All Things Hard Rockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07676421453441072712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-17741482379949264302019-03-14T06:11:46.292-04:002019-03-14T06:11:46.292-04:00Well I didn't I did sell my sperm.
Kate think...Well I didn't I did sell my sperm.<br /><br />Kate thinks do I or don't I.<br /><br />And then Bam the guns goes off.<br />kim hansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12951846304316134717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-29570281742605365852019-03-14T04:06:16.096-04:002019-03-14T04:06:16.096-04:00We should have all listened to the nuns! :) Oh my ...We should have all listened to the nuns! :) Oh my stars, so now we have a SECRET BABY????? Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-54516711811210173052019-03-13T21:22:40.794-04:002019-03-13T21:22:40.794-04:00"Mommy, Mommy," a terrified voice echoed..."Mommy, Mommy," a terrified voice echoed thru the Church as a five year old boy came running down the aisle towards Maggie's hiding place. <br /><br />Mike turned and looked at the boy and saw himself as as frightened five year old. He also saw Maggie in the shadows near the confessional.<br /> <br />"Mommy, that bad man, who's after us, is coming. I just saw him behind the school. We've got to run."<br /><br /><i>That boy could be me. Maggie never told me she had a son."</i><br /><br />Katie came to life almost as if she were a vampire exiting her coffin as the sun set…only with gun in hand. The pistol was 'The Judge', it was loaded with either 45 caliber shells or 410 shotgun loads. <i>It's illegal in California.</i> Katie meant to kill.<br /><br />"Don't you dare play the son card," Kate yelled at Maggie. "I could just as well kill the both of you."<br /><br />Kate smiled pointing the monster pistol at Mike's midsection. "While you were out sowing your wild oats, Mikie-boy, you also sold a few to a clinic where sweet Maggie here worked."<br /><br />"I should have listened to the nuns."<br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-44390740199370075632019-03-13T20:16:47.954-04:002019-03-13T20:16:47.954-04:00"I warned you."
It was impossible to kno..."I warned you."<br />It was impossible to know where the voice was coming from in the cavernous old church. It echoed around them, everywhere, yet nowhere, really. <br />"I told you she was crazy. I told everyone. But she was beautiful. Winsome. And a dancer in the ballet, which must equate to mental sanity because not one person listened to me. And yet..." the voice hesitated. "I knew. I always knew. And right now I'm the only one who can save you, Mike. I'm sure the irony of that isn't lost on you."<br /><br />Maggie.<br />Kate's older sister. Older and plainer, a simple woman who never seemed to care about looks or style. If they were looking to cast another actress for The Big Bang Theory, Magda would fit.<br /><br />"Maggie."<br /><br />"So you notice me now."<br /><br />Mike's fingers thrummed. His heart rate rose. Was he supposed to notice Maggie before? While dating her sister and being totally hung up on himself? His job?<br /><br />What form of lunacy was this? <br /><br />"Maggie, she's got a gun. Don't come closer. Don't reveal yourself."<br /><br />"She doesn't scare me. Never has. Never will. Because she's never seen me as competition. But when she does face a competitor, well. God help them. That's all I can say. You remember that accident at the New York Ballet?"<br /><br />The Russian dancer who fell to her death...<br /><br />"And that girl you dated in high school who went missing last year?"<br /><br />Now his heart didn't just thump. It went cold and dead inside him. She couldn't mean--<br /><br />"She saw her picture in your apartment, in some pile of things and saw her as a threat."<br /><br />Adriana? No. She couldn't have...<br /><br />"I found her phone notes a few months ago. If you check the cooling tower on top of the high school, you'll have all the evidence you need. If you live long enough to get there, that is. Doesn't matter, though. I'm having all of this recorded and sent to Daddy. Just so he knows how very special his precious little Katie-girl is. This once, the truth actually will set us free."<br /><br /><br />Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com