The Confidential Case

When I opened the door, the guy who’d knocked held up a flyer.
Tess Trowel Investigations it read. We dig trouble.

“This you?”

I glanced at it. “Who’s asking?”

“It’s kinda… confidential,” he said. “Can I come in?”

He was a looker all right. Wore a white button-down and a pair of red jeans he’d been poured into like a fine wine. Châteauneuf-du-Va-Va-Voom.

I swung open the door. “What can I do for you, Mister…?”

“Caine. Abelford Caine. Heard you’re the best, and I need help.”

“I am the best.” I raised a sardonic eyebrow. “But — wait a minute. Your name’s Abelford Caine? As in — Abel Caine?”

“That’s right,” he said. “And I’m missing…”

“Don’t tell me.” I shifted my toothpick. “Your brother, right?”

He gave a low whistle. “You are good. My twin, actually. How’d you know that?”

“Wild guess.” I leaned against the wall. “Okay, pay up front and I’ll take the case.”

He slapped a chocolate orange on the desk. “There’s more where that came from,” he said.

Good enough for me.

“Tell me something about your brother,” I said. “He look like you?”

Caine gestured at his jeans. “He’s more into stripes.”

“Whatever. What’s his name?”

“Candleford.”

The light went on, and I jumped to my feet. I’d been peppermint-barking up the wrong seasonal fir.

Taking a bite of chocolate, I grinned at him. This was one sweet case.
I just needed to find me the right Candy Caine.

***

 

For the month of December, my goal is to post a piece of festive flash fiction here to the blog every day. Twenty-five stories, each 250 words or fewer — a little fictional festivity to brighten the darkest month of the year. For readers, I offer these stories as a moment of peace within a hectic month of busy. And writers? If you’d like to join me, I’ll feature any flash fiction you’d like to share!

 

More soon…

 

~kc

 

PS I’m kinda in love with Tess Trowel at the moment. You may well see her again…