SHORTS FROM THE SHELF features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, administrator of SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. The story line featured currently is “Crime Before the Fall,” which starts today, and the remaining parts will be April 11th and 12th. This is Part Two.

“Here I was struggling with something that might rip us apart, that I was suddenly offered,” Basia screamed at her sister, “and all this time you’ve been hiding from me that you planned to break away.”

“Basia, that’s not it at all.”

“Then what is it, Basha? You didn’t just meet him last night and elope. It sounds like you’ve known the person you want to marry for some time.”

Basha wasn’t going to deny that.

“We were taking things very slowly. I struggled to break it to you how I was even seeing someone. Then he did this, and I couldn’t let the opportunity slip.”

“It doesn’t change that you couldn’t trust me from the start, Basha,” Basia reminded her. “Which makes this choice all the easier. I will take this assignment I was offered. And I don’t care if I ever come back!”