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 “Shining a Light on Crime”. This is Part 14 of 14, concluding this story.

A long moment passed before Zelle reached into her purse. She got out a small, creased Manila envelope and reached it out toward Roxane.

“Inside here is all I know. I’ve tried for so long to piece it together. The reason I hired this firm was to help protect my visibility while looking for the truth. Yes, I do feel guilt for my choices, but that’s not all of it.. It wasn’t enough. Please, take it. Find out the truth about Chelle.”

Roxane hesitated. So much she thought to be true turned out to be lies. This would be no different. Yet, if she rejected this apparent offer, Roxane might never get a chance at the answers.

She quickly grabbed the envelope before Zelle changed her mind.

“I look forward to being illuminated,” she emphasized with an intentional choice of words.

Zelle headed to the door.

“I need to go before people become suspicious. Lou has people watching all I do. Beware him. Nothing stops him from getting what he wants.”

Zelle quickly grabbed the door handle, stepped our, and hurriedly closed the door behind her.

Roxane carefully pulled out the contents of the envelope and tried to stay silent to hide her surprise. Inside she found copies of diagrams with Chelle Lytene’s name. Along with these were copies of handwritten notes labeled as follows:

WHO DID LOU HIRE TO MURDER CHELLE FOR HER LIGHTING INVENTIONS?

Roxane’s hand gently went to her abdomen. She’d suspected she and Lou might be having another child; now she needed to know without delay.

She could be the mother of the children of a murderer.

For her childrens’ sake, Roxane knew she’d need to devote herself to finding out what really happened. Maybe she’d been born to shine a light on the truth.