Detained

With May rapidly coming to a close, I forced myself to sit down and stare at the first genre for my patrons. While I eventually reached for some story cubes to craft my prompt, I want to highlight that I’ve not been honoring my intention of publishing all the content I want, let alone creating it. I do have a back catalogue of work that is itching to be written and brought to the world, but other obligations and projects have been consuming so much of my time. Despite being close to the end of the current project, I’m still not in a place to advertise what’s been capturing most of my free time. I know I’ve said this before, but I’m hoping as this journey closes, I’ll be able to reestablish the cadence that I want to have for my writing, including its publication.

Meanwhile, the stories for my patrons have captivated my attention for the last couple of days, including this month’s Action/Adventure. After I tossed the dice, I examined the resulting collection of images and grouped the nine die into three groups of three. With the seeds prepared, I grabbed the set containing a maze, a figure held in wall mounted arm shackles, and a mace. Granted, this set is more themed to a fantasy setting, so I quickly massaged the more fantastical elements into their more mundane counterparts: a prisoner and a weapon, specifically a firearm. It didn’t take long for me to slot this seed with Kyle Rickman and his private eye agency, Insight Investigations. Once the story sprouted in my mind, it bloomed quickly.

Grab a comfy seat and join me as we follow Kyle as he seeks to complete his latest job.

A young woman hires Insight Investigations to locate someone special to her, but will Kyle be able to free him…

Detained

As a gloved hand opened the building’s rear door, the investigator peered through the widening gap. After a brief search, where he spotted none of the organization’s guards, the man slipped through the doorway and eased the opening closed before he leaned against the wall. Between two deep breaths, he pulled out his phone and placed a call.

After a single ring, a soft and feminine voice banished the building’s silence. “Mr. Rickman, are you ready for me to help guide you to our target?”

The investigator opened his jacket and looked through the contents hanging from the reinforced fabric. Satisfied with his equipment, he released it and brushed his face as he inched down the empty corridor. “Are you sure you’re able to get into their system?”

“I see you,” the feminine voice said in the investigator’s ear. “You look awfully damper in that suit, though it’s a shame you had to ruin it with the interior webbing.”

A soft chuckle rumbled from Kyle’s throat as he neared the first intersection and looked up at a looming camera. “That’s one way to answer my question.” As another silence settled about him, the investigator pointed down each hallway. “Which way do I need to go?”

“Follow the left-hand corridor until you reach the second branching hall on your right,” the feminine voice said over soft keystrokes. “Then you’ll have to…”

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