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 over the next  fourteen days is “Shining a Light on Crime”. This is Part 1 of 14.

Roxane always wanted to be a super secret agent or detective. She’d loved pretending to be on the case, even setting up her own little agency working out of her parents’ garage.

ROXANE SHERIDAN INVESTIGATIONS

The kids from all over town came with their issues. Roxane did everything from finding lost cats to thwarting school playground bullies.

As she grew older, Roxane struggled what to do with her life. Her adoptive parents owned a business primarily geared for outdoor lighting and landscaping. She watched what they did and learned about the business trade, but wasn’t sure it was meant for her. Also, she wondered about her birth parents and what they might be like. Perhaps that’s why she always gravitated towards mysteries.

During high school, she became interested in a young Japanese man at school. His strict parents did not approve of them being together, even more so after she gave birth to his daughter. He completely left their lives in hope they all could move on.

Unable to afford college, Roxane started working for her parents’ shop. Seeing that a trusted employee, Lou, showed interest in their daughter, a relationship was encouraged. Her parents strongly believed Lou would be the start of a strong next generation for the business, and a good stepfather to Roxane’s daughter. Roxane cared more about pleasing them compared to her own happiness.

So Roxane and Lou married and together had a daughter he insisted be named Roxalou. Roxane nor the girl liked the name, which quickly became abbreviated to simply Roxa. Also, once Roxalou was born Lou began to be around less frequently.

It made the naturally curious Roxane Sheridan wonder what Lou might be up to.