Sunday, February 2, 2014

Risky Business

It is day 2 of the Third Second Annual 30 Minus 2 Days of Writing challenge hosted by Nicky and Mike at We Work for Cheese and today's prompt is It Was No Accident!

A while back I wrote Beyond the Window for Magpie Tales, which I used as an inspiration for this story.  It ended by telling us "what happens next will free them both."  I wouldn't exactly say they were "freed" but I guess it depends on how you look at it.



Big Room, 1948, by Andrew Wyeth
Maggie sat in a quaint outdoor restaurant lunching with several friends, the sun was shining and the tea was sweet.  It was the first time she had smiled in months.  The images that had penetrated her dreams and haunted every waking moment were beginning to blur as time marched forward, taking her reluctantly with it.

Six months earlier she had been coping with the day to day ups and downs of her husband's business, a business that provided well for her but at the same time left her with unanswered questions.

"I have to go to Colombia for a few days, maybe a week" said Tomas.  "There are some contracts that I must see to personally.  When I get back, we will take a trip.  Anywhere you would like to go.  I will even make the arrangements myself."

He is trying, she thought, and smiled her thanks.  "I'll think about it and let you know what I decide" Maggie responded, yet unconvinced the trip would actually take place.

Tomas packed his bag and called his driver to take him to the airport where he boarded the plane.  

"Welcome aboard sir" called the pilot.  

"Where is Manuel?" asked Tomas. 

"He came down with the flu, sir, and I am filling in until he recovers.  Enjoy your flight."

"Thank you."  Tomas proceeded to his seat, and after they were airborne, he asked the flight attendant for a scotch and soda.  His drink finished, he tipped his seat back for a nap.  He was tired and it would be a late night.

As he drifted off, his dreams turned to Maggie.  He saw tears in her eyes, and flowers.  There were so many flowers.  Where was she, and why was she crying?

About that time there was a loud boom as the plane lurched sideways, and there was a gaping hole where the forward bathroom had been.  The explosion had taken out the left engines, the wing was in flames and the pilot was dead.

NTSB investigated, and eventually the voice recorder was recovered.  There was nothing to indicate any mechanical malfunction or human error.  Further scrutiny found the remnants of an explosive device among the wreckage which was believed to have been detonated remotely.  Investigators were still trying to piece together what happened and determine who the intended target was.  Was it Tomas, the dead pilot, or Manuel who was sick with the flu?

Back in Miami, a representative of the NTSB and an FBI agent meet with Maggie.  

"Mrs. Garza, we are so sorry for your loss.  We want you to know that the crash was no accident, and we are continuing our investigation.  Is there anything you can tell us about your husband's business?"




19 comments:

  1. Intriguing and well written! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Great story, Linda! Love the touch of premonition right before the explosion. Will we find out who done it?

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  3. You are leaving us hanging out here. Great little story that will drive us crazy wondering what happened.

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  4. I do hope you're going to do a follow-up to let us know how things turned out!

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  5. I hung on to EVERY word... you are so creative... such an amazing writer!

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  6. Oh dears! I want to know more.

    Nice job!

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  7. OMG! What a cliffhanger! Now I want to know more about his business too.

    GREAT STORY, Linda!

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  8. Columbia, eh? Great little story.

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  9. What? No ending? It is like a movie that ends too soon - now I have to fill in the gaps myself.
    Sheesh ~

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  10. laughing mom- Thank you!

    Nicky- I'll see if any of the prompts lend themselve to that.

    Cheryl- I like to do that. It leaves the door open to advance my characters. This is sort of a continuation of the other post.

    Paula- We'll see where things go with the prompts. If not now, then maybe later.

    Katherine- Thank you so much.

    ReformingGeek- Thanks you! They may show up again.

    Meleah- Thank you. Me too!

    nonamedufus- Thank you. I thought Columbia be interesting for story/character development.

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  11. Tami- A lot of my stories don't end right away. That way I can bring the characters back later to continue their adventures.

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  12. Are you really going to leave us hanging like this? Me thinks you need to continue the story. :)

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  13. So many complaints about the story being unfinished! Dare I say, I'm sure this narrative choice was no accident. Good on you, Linda. Leave 'em wanting more. I'm curious what will take place when the story continues.

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  14. Wow! Good one, Linda. I wonder if Maggie did it. Love how you ended it, wrapping up the beginning where you established that Maggie had many questions about her husband's business. Good job!

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  15. Ziva- You never know...

    KZ- Thank you!

    Jayne- Thanks. So glad you liked it.

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  16. This was a good cliff hanger:~)I loved the dialogue and you definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I do hope you'll continue this one. I need to know what happened.

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  17. Sara- Thanks! I think it played well with the previous story, even though they weren't exactly freed in the sense one might have expected.

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  18. Well done. Very intriguing, too. Lets you go in many different ways.

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  19. P.J.- Thank you! Yes, there is room for expansion.

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