(Revamping the blog. Please excuse the odd headings. Working on it!)

Writing History & Mysteries

When I'm not delving into historical research, I'm planning a character's demise.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Milk Carton Murders 38

Wiscoy Creek (Yes, it's a real place near where I live.)
SETUP: The three girls whose twenty plus-year-old coffins washed out of the bank of the Wiscoy Creek have been identified as Lisa Appleton, Rachel McKenzie and Samantha Briggs. Samantha was a foster child at Dave's house when he was a kid who he knew as Sally, and it was the last place Dave seen her alive. Last time Pepper tells Dave of the stuffed dog found in the coffin with Samantha. Turns out Dave had given it to her before she disappeared. Pepper explained last week a piece of Balsa wood was found inside the toy with a carved message from the girl. (I'm leaving out part of the convo as it has clues and to keep it to 8 sentences.) Dave is trying to keep the "other voice" he hears in his head at bay, as asks what Samantha wrote. Pepper leads us off...

AND NOW THE SNIPPET:

“On one side it said, ‘Sammy Briggs August 22, 1987’ and underneath it, ‘Remember me, September 28, 1987.’ ”

“The August date had to be the week of the fair,” Dave surmised, "but the September date is after she left us—way after.”

Pepper agreed. “I'm sure she guessed something was going to happen, but what she carved on the other side was even more unsettling."

Dave squelched the other voice in his head from coming to the forefront of his mind. “I almost don’t want to know, but go ahead.”

Pepper looked up at him. “It said—the milk man is evil.”

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The link to the other Weekend Writing Warriors is here. You're bound to find something to pique your interest.

The Sunday Snippet writer's on Facebook are here. Between the two there is something for everyone. Thank you for any comments you leave me. Much appreciated!

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BLURB:
When three small coffins are unearthed near the Wiscoy Creek during a routine dredging operation, it’s the last thing DAVE ROBERTSON, of the Lamont Weekly Times, expected. Pinned to the skeleton’s clothing are pictures from milk cartons of missing girls.

Dave is stunned to find that one of the girls is Sally―a foster child his parents had cared for through the Friends of Foster Families (FFF) program. Cold case files reveal the girls disappeared over 20 years ago. Knowing his house was the last place he saw Sally alive, he can’t help but suspect his dad.

How can he write the biggest story of his career if his father turns out to be the killer? If the voice in his head would shut up and let him remember, he might figure it out before he loses his mind and his dad is charged with murder.

Full blurb and snippet recap here.


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My blog may look different again when you stop next week. Some things with this one don't work right, like the side show. :(
It is canning and freezing time so I may not get to all of you on Sunday. I must take advantage of hubby being home to help. I shall be visiting blogs all week though. :)
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26 comments:

  1. Oh is he now? Nice exchange and intrigue.

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  2. AnonymousJuly 27, 2014

    Oh-oh! This is the first time I stopped by and I am intrigued. I sincerely hope for Dave that his dad wasn't the milk man. Great snippet.

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  3. Way after? When the two dates are only about a month apart?

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  4. Sue Ann asked my question :) This gets more interesting every week. I suppose you pick excerpts to have that effect, but I also suppose the story is full of those kinds of moments. Put me at the top of your list to notify when the book is published. I'm putting aside money for it now :D

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  5. Ah, is his dad the milk man? I can't remember!!!!

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  6. AnonymousJuly 27, 2014

    Interesting! Little girl was smart. So I guess now Pepper has a clue that will help him, hopefully. Although I'm wondering if the milk man is symbolic of something because milk men didn't really exist in the 90s? At least I thought they didn't. . . I like how you made David reticent about the carving because it makes the scene more realistic and helps us connect with him. Looking forward to hearing more about it, and if this leads to a significant break in the case!

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  7. My head is spinning with this revelation. Scary and oh so sad.

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  8. Good question on the "way after" as Dave does his best to distance himself.

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  9. I like the way you guys are questioning. There are subtle clues in the way things are said. :)

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  10. I want to read this entire mystery in one sitting so much! Another highly intriguing snippet today, terrific!

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  11. AnonymousJuly 27, 2014

    *cue dramatic music* That's a great message to leave, ominous, but also cryptic. She could mean a couple of things other than an actual man who delivers the milk, like a nickname or something.

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  12. And now I'm wondering what the voice in Dave's head does for a living . . . :)

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  13. Ooh. Very ominous. Got me intrigued!

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  14. I don't know why its not showing my last message? but I loved this!! I wanted to know if its available to buy?

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  15. Write faster. Edit faster! Please add me to the list of people who need to know when this is published. :-)

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    Replies
    1. I know! I know! :) Believe me, I wish I was done too.

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  16. Interesting idea for your book. I love the way mystery aspect. As for the tags, the word "said" is invisible to the reader whereas "surmised" or "agreed" isn't. You might want to simplify your tags of get rid of them all together if possible. Also, "Dave squelched the other voice in his head from coming to the forefront of his mind." comes off as awkward. The milkman is evil, is a great hook.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/

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  17. Wow, that's an interesting clue.

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  18. I like it! I love a good mystery and this gave a real eerie feeling.

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  19. Ooh, chilling. Your mysterious snippets always put me on the edge of my seat. Great job! :)

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  20. I agree that it's both scary and sad. Great tension. That last line is a wonderful hook. Hope that goes into the blurb somewhere! :)

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  21. Oooohhh! Creepy. Great snippet, Cindy. :)

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  22. Creepy is the word. And boy is Dave scared to continue. Great story.

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