Looking for something to suit my mood.
I’ve been reading the headlines and it seems that nothing else is going on except COVID 19, bar a plane crash, and residual fallout from the explosion in Beirut.
All bad news unfortunately, so I need to find something uplifting.
There’s nothing like a walk in the park on a bright sunny day.
Is there?
What could possible happen?
Tag: short story
Motive, means, and opportunity – Motive
I’m working on a novella which may boringly be called “Motive, Means and Opportunity” where I will present a chunk of information from which you if you want to, can become the armchair detective.
Here’s the first part, the so-called Motive
So, here’s the thing…
I said it. Not once, in the heat of the moment, but more than once, to several different people. I wanted James Burgman dead.
Why?
Because I knew he was the man sleeping with my wife, Wendy.
I’d long suspected she was having an affair, you know the signs, not where you expect her to be, making excuses where none were necessary if she was doing what she said she was, and disappearing for hours without an explanation.
And I knew James Burgman was an old boyfriend, a discovery that was made quite by accident. In fact, I followed her one night, not because I was suspicious, but worried for her safety.
That was where I saw her meet him with more than just a friendly handshake.
I had to say it made me feel gutted.
But would I kill him?
It was not worth the problems it would cause me to do so, and, when push came to shove, neither of them were worth it. I knew, even if he was out of the way, she would not stay with me.
That train had left the station about a year ago when our only son had been killed in a senseless road accident.
© Charles Heath 2019-2020
A photograph from the inspirational bin – 22
I found this…
So near and yet so far.
What I found was the moon out in the late afternoon, a phenomenon that might happen on a regular basis, but this one of the few times I’ve seen it.
And it reminds me of something I was told a long time ago. Shoot for the moon. I never quite understood what the person meant, not until a long time later when I realised that I was being told nothing was impossible.
Had I ever achieved the impossible?
The thing is, each of us define what is possible and what is impossible ourselves, and is therefore different for every person. If you tell yourself it is impossible, then it requires a mind shift to get past that barrier.
But, the question still remains the same, did I achieve the impossible?
I never thought I’d write a book, or have it published. Some would say I still haven’t achieved that goal because I self published it on Amazon.
I think I achieved what I set out to do.
I never thought I’d get a university degree, but people had faith in me, and yes, I got it in the end.
I never thought, when I was younger, I would be a father, and sometimes I wonder whether it was worth it, but having grandchildren dispelled any perceived disappointment.
And what is on the impossible list now?
Not a lot. At my age, I don’t think it’s possible I will travel to the moon, nor afford to skirt the edge of space, as much as it would be amazing to look back at the planet.
I don’t think I’ll ever become a CEO, but then I don’t want to. Too much responsibility.
What’s left that is achievable?
Tracing my family history, and going back to where my ancestors came from, and, hopefully finding someone who was ‘famous’.
A photograph from the inspirational bin – 21
Looking for something to suit my mood.
I’ve been reading the headlines and it seems that nothing else is going on except COVID 19, bar a plane crash, and residual fallout from the explosion in Beirut.
All bad news unfortunately, so I need to find something uplifting.There’s nothing like a walk in the park on a bright sunny day.
Is there?
What could possible happen?
The cinema of my dreams – It’s a treasure hunt – Episode 16
Here’s the thing…
Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.
I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.
But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.
Once again there’s a new instalment of an old feature, and we’re back on the treasure hunt.
Rather tired and bleary eyes, I made it to the fishing store five minutes late. I had a lot on my mind, woken late, and then had to battle traffic. I longed for the day I could afford a car, though riding the bike kept me fit.
It also took my mind of the encounter last night, the one that had kept me away, my imagination almost getting the better of me.
Boggs was there, and he didn’t look happy.
“Where were you last night? I tried to get you, but you weren’t answering.”
I had the phone on silent. Ringing phones had a way of bringing unwanted attention.
“I had something I had to do.”
“You went to the Lantern without me.”
What? Does he have a network of spies I knew nothing about? “So, I heard it went respectable and had to check it out.” And hoping Boggs didn’t know who was in attendance, other than me.
“We said we would go there together.”
“You apparently had something else on last night.”
“It’s not what you think. I had to go with my mother to the hospital for her 6 monthly checks.”
It was easy to forget. She’d had a cancer scare a few years back, and had undergone chemo for a few months, sending it into remission. But it came with 6 monthly checks, and both Boggs and his mother were constantly worried it might come back. It seemed it always did when you least expected it.
“And what was the verdict.”
He relented a little. “Good.”
“Then, I assure you that was more important.” No point in telling Boggs what I was doing, just in case it backfired, or he disagreed. “And I can assure you the place is not worth it anymore. Boring as shit.”
He shook his head. Not pleased, but at least not angry.
“Has Rico shown his face?” I asked.
“Yes, about an hour back, some of those people he associates with came and they went off together.”
Perhaps he was annoyed that I hadn’t been there because I’m sure Boggs would follow him.
“You’ve been here all this time?”
“He came to our place last night. I’m sure it was him who searched in my room. Not much of a professional thief, he left a mess behind. Went through the outhouse as well.”
“Looking for the map?”
“Seems so. He didn’t find it.”
No, he wouldn’t, because Boggs had it with him. At least that was what I thought he intimated a day or two ago.
“Copies?”
He reached for his back pocket and pulled out some folded paper. “Thought you might like to keep a copy for yourself.”
I tried hard to keep the excitement out of my manner. It saved me having to make up an excuse as to why I wanted a copy of the map, and I didn’t want to tell him about the plan involving Nadia, not unless I had to.
“Thanks,” I said, and slipped it into my pocket.
“Now, let’s go check out his boat.”
© Charles Heath 2019
I’ve always wanted to go on a Treasure Hunt – Part 17
Here’s the thing…
Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.
I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.
But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.
Once again there’s a new instalment of an old feature, and we’re back on the treasure hunt.
I could hardly say no, but it was not going to be a place either of us would want to be if he came back, and especially if he had company.
But, Boggs didn’t seem to care, and strolled up to the dock, and then walked down to the boat. IT wasn’t gated like some of the others were, but they had very expensive yachts that no doubt belongs to the local millionaires, people like the Benderby’s and their country club friends.
I remember my father talking about them once, and he had little respect for any of them., They, he said, had no time or money to worry about the welfare of their employees, but never lacked for anything themselves.
Looking at those yachts now, I could believe him.
I couldn’t say the same for Rico’s boat. It was old, made of wood, and looked like boats I’d seen in old movies. It was about 40 or 50 foot long, with a tall mast and a sail tied up ready to unfurl when out to see.
It had a large diesel engine, and it was this Rico used to get out of the bay until he was past the sandbank at the entrance.
On the transom, it had the words ‘Freedom Runner’ starting to peel and fade, and you could just make out the old name of the boat, ‘Elsie’, perhaps the wife or lover of the previous owner. That must have been a long time ago, because I’d known Rico as long as I’d known Boggs, and that was nearly 18 years.
I had to ask, “You think Rico is running a collection service?”
“Someone is, according to the police chief.”
“How do you know that? I thought the police were our sworn enemy.”
Considering the trouble we’d got into over the years, and the number of times the police chief had locked us up in the cells as punishment, we just spent our days avoiding him.. Perhaps the punishment had worked.
“He was around out place the other night.”
I wasn’t aware that Boggs was up to anything that would interest the law, but, then, he never told me everything he did.
“Why?”
“Come to see my mother.”
“What’s she been doing?”
“Nothing. He was asking her out on a date. Probably trying to cosy up to her so he can snoop on what Rico’s doing. There’s no other reason why he would be interested in her.”
Actually, he was wrong. Boggs mother was, for her age, quite attractive, or so my mother said. She said a few other uncomplimentary things about her, but I was not going to repeat them to Boggs.
Nor did I agree with my mother’s assessment. At times I saw more of Boggs mother than my own.
“Or maybe not. But if she was to go out with him, that would make Rico think twice about doing anything, including giving you a hard time, or trying to steal the map.”
“You don’t know Rico. He is just plain stupid.”
“He hasn’t been caught.”
“Yet.”
Then Boggs decided to walk over to the side of the boat and step onto the deck.
”What are you doing?” I hissed.
People on the other boats tied up to the pier were looking or pretending not to look, but I had no doubt they would report our actions to Rico
“Going on board. I don’t think Rico would mind.”
It was said with a fair degree of bravado, but the halting tone told me otherwise.
“Are you coming?”
Damn him. It was not as if he was going me a choice.
I shrugged. God help us if Rico came back.
© Charles Heath 2019
The cinema of my dreams – It’s a treasure hunt – Episode 16
Here’s the thing…
Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.
I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.
But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.
Once again there’s a new instalment of an old feature, and we’re back on the treasure hunt.
Rather tired and bleary eyes, I made it to the fishing store five minutes late. I had a lot on my mind, woken late, and then had to battle traffic. I longed for the day I could afford a car, though riding the bike kept me fit.
It also took my mind of the encounter last night, the one that had kept me away, my imagination almost getting the better of me.
Boggs was there, and he didn’t look happy.
“Where were you last night? I tried to get you, but you weren’t answering.”
I had the phone on silent. Ringing phones had a way of bringing unwanted attention.
“I had something I had to do.”
“You went to the Lantern without me.”
What? Does he have a network of spies I knew nothing about? “So, I heard it went respectable and had to check it out.” And hoping Boggs didn’t know who was in attendance, other than me.
“We said we would go there together.”
“You apparently had something else on last night.”
“It’s not what you think. I had to go with my mother to the hospital for her 6 monthly checks.”
It was easy to forget. She’d had a cancer scare a few years back, and had undergone chemo for a few months, sending it into remission. But it came with 6 monthly checks, and both Boggs and his mother were constantly worried it might come back. It seemed it always did when you least expected it.
“And what was the verdict.”
He relented a little. “Good.”
“Then, I assure you that was more important.” No point in telling Boggs what I was doing, just in case it backfired, or he disagreed. “And I can assure you the place is not worth it anymore. Boring as shit.”
He shook his head. Not pleased, but at least not angry.
“Has Rico shown his face?” I asked.
“Yes, about an hour back, some of those people he associates with came and they went off together.”
Perhaps he was annoyed that I hadn’t been there because I’m sure Boggs would follow him.
“You’ve been here all this time?”
“He came to our place last night. I’m sure it was him who searched in my room. Not much of a professional thief, he left a mess behind. Went through the outhouse as well.”
“Looking for the map?”
“Seems so. He didn’t find it.”
No, he wouldn’t, because Boggs had it with him. At least that was what I thought he intimated a day or two ago.
“Copies?”
He reached for his back pocket and pulled out some folded paper. “Thought you might like to keep a copy for yourself.”
I tried hard to keep the excitement out of my manner. It saved me having to make up an excuse as to why I wanted a copy of the map, and I didn’t want to tell him about the plan involving Nadia, not unless I had to.
“Thanks,” I said, and slipped it into my pocket.
“Now, let’s go check out his boat.”
© Charles Heath 2019
The cinema of my dreams – It’s a treasure hunt – Episode 10
Here’s the thing…
Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.
I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.
But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.
Once again there’s a new instalment of an old feature, and back on the treasure hunt.
…
I’d kept out of Nadia’s way since then, and the few occasions our paths had crossed, she had studiously ignored me. After graduating she disappeared, and seeing here with Alex, just now, was the first time in years.She had grown into the sort of woman you’d see in the social pages of the newspapers and magazines, sometimes for all the wrong reasons, and I wondered if that was how Alex had leveraged her co-operation.
But, there were bigger problems to overcome before I had a chance or find out her back-story.
Alex was going after Rico for the map, a map he didn’t have, a map that Rico was going to need and Boggs was going to suffer the consequences.
Or not, if I could do something about it.
I had a stroke of luck when I got back to the warehouse office where McDonald was waiting, not necessarily for me, but most likely Alex.“Ah, Sam,” he said when he saw me walk through the door, “Come into the office. We need to have a chat.”
That sounded ominous. I wondered if it had anything to do with my absence for what seemed a long time when I’d been watching Alex and Nadia.
“We have a new opening on the afternoon shift, and I thought you might consider it because it pays a little more, with a shift allowance. The hours are 4pm to Midnight. What do you think?”
On the way back to the warehouse I’d been thinking about how I was going to help Boggs and keep the job because the hours I was working made it impossible to do anything during the day, other than spy on Alex.
Taking this afternoon job, I could work, and, in the mornings, help Boggs in his quest.
“When would this start?”
“Tomorrow. You would not have to come in till 4pm.
“Sounds good then, I’ll take it.”
He seemed more relieved that I had accepted. It made me think for a moment whether this was Alex’s idea, and he had an ulterior notice. If he did I guess I would soon find out.
An hour later I was on my way home.I had a lot of items to talk about when I saw Boggs and a possible mission.
…
© Charles Heath 2019-2021
The cinema of my dreams – It’s a treasure hunt – Episode 10
Here’s the thing…
Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.
I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.
But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.
Once again there’s a new instalment of an old feature, and back on the treasure hunt.
…
I’d kept out of Nadia’s way since then, and the few occasions our paths had crossed, she had studiously ignored me. After graduating she disappeared, and seeing here with Alex, just now, was the first time in years.She had grown into the sort of woman you’d see in the social pages of the newspapers and magazines, sometimes for all the wrong reasons, and I wondered if that was how Alex had leveraged her co-operation.
But, there were bigger problems to overcome before I had a chance or find out her back-story.
Alex was going after Rico for the map, a map he didn’t have, a map that Rico was going to need and Boggs was going to suffer the consequences.
Or not, if I could do something about it.
I had a stroke of luck when I got back to the warehouse office where McDonald was waiting, not necessarily for me, but most likely Alex.“Ah, Sam,” he said when he saw me walk through the door, “Come into the office. We need to have a chat.”
That sounded ominous. I wondered if it had anything to do with my absence for what seemed a long time when I’d been watching Alex and Nadia.
“We have a new opening on the afternoon shift, and I thought you might consider it because it pays a little more, with a shift allowance. The hours are 4pm to Midnight. What do you think?”
On the way back to the warehouse I’d been thinking about how I was going to help Boggs and keep the job because the hours I was working made it impossible to do anything during the day, other than spy on Alex.
Taking this afternoon job, I could work, and, in the mornings, help Boggs in his quest.
“When would this start?”
“Tomorrow. You would not have to come in till 4pm.
“Sounds good then, I’ll take it.”
He seemed more relieved that I had accepted. It made me think for a moment whether this was Alex’s idea, and he had an ulterior notice. If he did I guess I would soon find out.
An hour later I was on my way home.I had a lot of items to talk about when I saw Boggs and a possible mission.
…
© Charles Heath 2019-2021
The cinema of my dreams – It’s a treasure hunt – Episode 1
My mind will not rest.
Down here, it is summer, and the last few days have been rather hot, well, it is summer after all, but tonight it is particularly hot.
So, as I can’t sleep, I’m lying on the couch staring at the ceiling, otherwise known as the cinema of my dreams.
Where am I?
Well, it has to be someplace cool, of course.
I have no idea where or when I got sucked into this game of searching for treasure. Boggs had been reading some newspaper article relating to a Spaniard who had survived a shipwreck off the coast and had supposedly come ashore dragging his treasure chest, all that he could save from the sinking ship.
I think my priorities may have been slightly different.
Standing on the beach where Boggs believed the man came ashore, we looked inland at the coastal plain now overbuilt with holiday houses and apartments, behind that, some parkland, under threat from the developers, and behind that, the mountains.
I could guess what Boggs was going to say next.
“It has to be somewhere in the mountains, a cave perhaps.”
My map told me there was a mountain face for about 25 miles in either direction and rising to two to three thousand feet up. I didn’t calculate the area, I just considered it big.
“If he came ashore here, dragging a heavy chest, and barring all of this building, he would take the most direct route inland.”
He pointed in the direction he thought the Spaniard took.
My eyes followed his arm and stopped at a beacon halfway up the hillside.
That was a long way, pulling a heavy chest.
“Not up the hill, maybe, but somewhere along the base.”
“And don’t you think every man and his dog would have made the same assumption, and covered the ground already.” The treasure hunt was beginning to bore me.
His expression changed, the sort that told me he might not have considered that possibility. Boggs was like that, always thinking he had the original idea.
“Perhaps, then, a drink and more thought on the matter.”
We trudged through the soft sand to the bar just off the sand, a small place called The Spaniard. A sign on the window said ‘Treasure Maps for sale’.
Well, the bar was air-conditioned, and the beer was cold. I have one myself and see where this cinematic experience goes
Thrills, Spills, and just a dash of Romance 