For those just tuning in, this challenge is about taking a story idea from bare bones idea into a fully fledged story by writing consistently every week day for fifteen minutes. The sentence I end with on one day, is the sentence I start with on the following. Part one was Bob’s story and has nothing whatsoever to do with the story below. Part Two follows a character named Penelope. I have a few basic sentences to act as road marks on her journey. I am loosely calling that an outline. We will see where she ends up by the time the story is done. For now, we start Part two of the 2025 Fifteen Minute Writing Challenge.
Day 121: Mrs. Merriweather glared at Agent Michaelson.
Mrs. Merriweather glared at Agent Michaelson. “Asking questions that are none of your concern.”
Agent Michaelson sighed. “Mrs. Merriweather I am tasked with assisting Ms. Douglas as she proceeds into the world of magic.”
Mrs. Michaelson favored him with a stony glare. “No,” she replied. “You are tasked with making sure that rapacious family of hers doesn’t take even more advantage than they have already. You are tasked with uncovering financial misconduct and determining who sabotaged her vehicle. You want to find out about her abilities so you can proclaim her useful for the Emperor and your own advancement.”
“I wouldn’t say…” he began.
“I would,” she replied. “I’ve had to tolerate socializing with those people for the girl’s sake and while repugnant if they have done something wrong, I would delight in seeing them punished. I suggest you focus on that and whoever cut the brake line.”
“As her mother’s break line was cut.”
“Indeed. You still haven’t managed to solve that one have you and it has been nearly twenty years.”
“In all fairness I just received the file yesterday,” he told her. He offered a winning smile, but Mrs. Merriweather was having none of it.
“And the file was simply left to collect dust until the child was old enough to potentially be of interest to you?” She snorted. “How thoughtful of you.”
Michaelson sighed. “I only want to do what is best for the girl. “Then I suggest you stop snooping and focus on the potentially deadly bits.”
“I have that well in hand,” he told her. “I am compiling a list of those who might be a threat to her.”
Mrs. Merriweather relaxed slightly. “Are you? Well, that is a step in the right direction at least.”
“In looking at the list, I found that there was a rumor. One which suggests that Mr. Douglas is not actually Penelope’s biological father.”
Mrs. Meriwether snorted. “You are back to gossip.”
“Potentially necessary gossip,” he countered. “It would explain the somewhat… stilted nature of her relationship with the family.”
“So would a great many things such as the fact that Douglas cares about money and position far more than people, including his own flesh and blood. You think he spends time with that overindulged daughter of his, Trinity? He spends as little time with her as he did Penelope. Or do you think that Trinity is not his as well?”
“Oh no Trinity is his daughter there was a DNA test.”
“Was there?”
“Yes, Jeanette had it done shortly after Penelope’s mother died, we think it is what convinced him to marry her.”
Mrs. Merriweather let out a dry chuckle. “So glad you spent so much time on the important bits of gossip. However I am afraid I have no more time for you today. I suggest you focus on the deadlier threats to Penelope’s life. Then perhaps when you have proven yourself useful, she might take you into her confidence.”
Recognizing the dismissal Agent Michaelson left.
“Although I seriously hope the girl is smart enough not to trust you,” she said to herself. She turned away and in the glass Penelope watched the figure of Mrs. Merriweather fade away.
Penelope slipped her hands from the glass leaving it on the velvet cloth.
Ten til Midnight 