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27.1.22

COFFEE SHOP

 

COFFEE SHOP

The trade was steady despite the pandemic – people still needed to meet friends, to talk without masks, to chat and to laugh.

Meredith served them all, cleared tables and, if she was lucky, secreted tips in her apron pocket.

One customer always sat alone, sometimes typing on his laptop, more often staring into space before scrawling notes on a napkin. One day his phone rang and he left hurriedly. Meredith read his discarded notes.

Poison? Too easily detected. Gun? Where from? Knife possibly.’

She almost called the police – until she saw him on TV that night. ‘Local author wins award.’

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Wouldn't it be lovely to win an award like that? I often used a coffee sop as a refuge in which to write, and Rochelle's photo brought that to mind. If I left some of my own research notes lying around, I'd probably alarm a few waitresses too! I tried to find a way of working the stunning ceiling glass into my story but a hundred words didn't leave room.


20 comments:

  1. Yes. And the laptop was a giveaway too. I have a friend who writes, almost exclusively, in coffee shops

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    1. I've also seen people conducting their business from coffee shops!

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  2. Let's hope the police don't view his Google search history!

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  3. LOL, yes, computer files and search histories from mystery writers would be very suspicious for police if they saw it.

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    1. Even deleting your search history wouldn't hide it from forensic officers. It's suspicious that I know that too!

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  4. No doubt she asked for an autographed napkin next time!

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  5. I can easily envision this happening. Well done.

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  6. I think coffee shops are the new office.
    I usually go to them when my internet is down.
    It's hard to concentrate with noise and chatter everywhere
    but it's also a good place to get inspired. Coffee helps too.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Isadora ��

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    1. The chatter was easier to ignore when I lived in Tenerife, it was mostly in Spanish!

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  7. Dear Liz,

    This brings back memories of a time I was sharing with a friend at work about how I had to kill off Feivel. A customer cast me a shocked look until my friend explained to her I was a writer. ;) Love this story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Thanks Rochelle. I once called my daughter saying I needed a drink because I'd just killed someone 😅

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  8. What a great story - I will never ever cease to relish and love the power that a writer possesses.

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  9. Oh, the things we look up for a story! Good job with this one!

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    1. Nine tenths of research goes unused, but it's all vital. Thanks Lisa.

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  10. Liz, I like what you did with this. Nice twist.

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