Enter Merlin Tyana

By C. D. Moulton

Mertlin Tyana is a mysterious character who appears, always during a thunderstorm, to solve or prevent a murder or the loss of a love.

The idead was somewhat akin to Agatha Christie's,Harly Quinn, but that lasted only for a story and a half.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. D. Moulton
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201941505

Book preview

Enter Merlin Tyana

21 shorts

© 1999 - 2011 - 2013 by C.. D. Moulton

all rights reserved: no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, either electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other information retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder/publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblances to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Introducing Merlin Tyana, a mysterious figure who appears, always during a storm, when a murder can be prevented or solved. He then seems to disappear.

Contents:

About the author

Foreword

Enter Merlin Tyana

Rainy Day People

Small Town Intrigue

Details

Call Girls In Peril

House Party

The Spoiled Brat

Just AWFUL

The Great Escape

Where There's A Will

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night

Hate

Assumptions

Reunion

Weekend

Herbs

Trash – White Trash

Time Enough For Murder

The Body In the Moat

Too Good A Friend

The Decision

About the Author

CD Moulton has traveled extensively over much of the world both in the music business, where he was a rock guitarist, songwriter, and arranger, and in an import/export business. He has been everything from a bar owner to auto salvage (junkyard) manager, longshoreman to high steel worker, orchid grower to landscaper, tropical fish farmer to commercial fisherman. He started writing books in 1983 and has published more than 175 books as of January 1, 2013. His most popular books to date are about research with orchids, though much of his science fiction and fantasy work has proven popular. He wrote the CD Grimes, PI series and the Det. Nick Storie series, among other works.

He now resides in Gualaca, Panamá, where he writes the Clint Faraday mystery series, plays music with friends – and pursues his favorite ways to spend his time: beach bum and roaming the mountain jungles doing botanical research. He has lately become involved in fighting for the rights of the indigenous people, who are among he closest friends, and in fighting the extreme corruption in the courts and police in Panamá.

He offers the free e-book, Fading Paradise, that explains what he has been through because of the corruption.

Author's Foreword

I have always enjoyed the old English mysteries and the way most descriptions and events were presented. I have never liked the modern gore and bedroom stories that seem to lack a plot or plan. They always appear (to me, at least) to be pointless.

I also like the idea of a mysterious hero who appears when there is a murder or other crime, who uses the knowledge of the characters involved to lead them to a solution, then fades into the sunset.

These stories combine the two ideas.

Merlin Tyana uses the names of two famous historical/ mythical sorcerers/sages, Merlin of King Arthur's Court fame and Apollonius of Tyana.

Most people know about Merlin, but not a great many know of Apollonius of Tyana. Merlin appears in fictional works only while Apollonius appears in ancient court writings as well as in other historical writings.

I will leave it to the reader who cares to research either or both of those legends. They are important here only in that the names were used in deriving that of my hero.

One of the included stories (not the first one) is based on a personal experience where simply looking at what several people knew about a case ended me up with the solution – and it was a solution the police had entirely overlooked.

I hope you enjoy these. If enough do I will write more.

C. D. Moulton

Bonita Springs FL

November, 1999

Enter Merlin Tyana

The world is, I'm afraid, a far different place today, more's the pity, Lord Sutton pronounced.

He pronounced everything.

We all change, Henry, that is life, his wife, Lady Thelma, chided.

Ah, but is it we or the world? Which changes and which merely ... here I go again! Know what I want to say, can't say it! Lord Walter Chalmers interjected with his normal wave of a hand to finish a sentence.

A faint, high bell sounded just at the edge of audibility over the raging thunderstorm outside. The four people then occupying the large room paused.

Well! It is rather late for visitors, Lady Irene sniffed.

If it will break the blasted monotony of all this, all this never-ending ... you know what I mean! Lord Chalmers, who never quite finished a thought, said.

Ahem! Sir Merlin Tyana, Littles, the butler, announced. The gentleman seeks refuge from the storm. His vehicle has failed him just by the gates. He presented a calling card with gold letters on a red background.

Merlin? Rather odd name, don't you...? Lord Chalmers stated.

Show the gentleman in, of course, Lady Irene ordered.

Hmmpf! Merlin what? Tyana? Not English – well, Merlin is, Lord Sutter groused. Maybe one of those Greeks?

Watersham Under Makebridge? Never heard of it! Must be one of those odd places..., Lord Chalmers added. I hope he's not....

Sir Merlin Tyana. Littles announced as a tall, dark, well proportioned, rather handsome man came into the room, took his dripping hat and umbrella and silently departed, quietly closing the massive carved mahogany doors behind him.

Bloody unpleasant night, what? Lord Sutton greeted. You could use a brandy. He didn't await a reply, but poured a generous dollop into a large snifter and handed it to Sir Merlin.

I'm called Henry. That's the better half, Lady Thelma. Walter Chalmers and his better half, Lady Irene.

Sir Merlin observed the group with strange almost glowing dark eyes. There was something indistinct about his features, yet there was also a strong magnetism about him. He slightly bowed acknowledgment of each introduction.

Merlin Tyana? Unusual sort of name, what? Lord Chalmers suggested.

It is an ancient family name, dating back to around seven hundred years BC, Sir Merlin replied. "I doubt family names were used before that.

"I enjoy storms. There is an excitement about them and they leave a cleanness in their passing.

I noted these lights, thus engendering hope my presence would not unduly inconvenience the household. There is a black wreath by the gate. I hope I don't intrude into a period of mourning.

The thing should have been removed for a fortnight! Lady Irene protested. "I ordered that it be taken down!

We are beyond the initial shock of the death of our eldest daughter, Sir Merlin. She passed away two months ago on a night much like this, which is why we sit here at this hour. We are just now becoming able to talk and think of our Margaret without such intense pain. It is difficult to remember the good things on such a night and sleep would not come, I believe, for any of us.

If I do not intrude perhaps you could tell me about her? About the good things? Sir Merlin suggested.

Sir Merlin, it soon appeared, was going to be one of those strange strangers people will find simpatico with and will share their joys and sorrows without reservations. What one calls a good listener.

Er, hmmpfth, yes, Lord Sutton replied. She was a lovely creature, much like Thelma here. Not much of me in her to her great advantage, I'm sure. Lovely and talented. Sang like a nightingale, danced like a fawn, very popular and athletic. A master pianist. Whiz at tennis and could swim like a ... not like a fish. Like there was joy in it.

Like an otter, Lord Chalmers interrupted. They play all the time, you see, and she was playful and quite smart and was, er, well....

She was murdered, you know, Lady Thelma confided. "The local police (she shuddered at the remembrance of all those ... persons traipsing through the house) said it was probably a rare type of accident or, just possibly, the act of some transient maniac. There are a lot of them about today.

It wasn't here. It was at one of those places where all those druggie thugs and punkie youths congregate – 'Hang out,' they call it. Purely ridiculous pursuits for all those unsavory types. We were discussing how much the world has changed. Such things were very rare only a few years ago.

People change. The world goes on the way..., Lord Chalmers protested. Always for the worse. Always downward. Good things become less....

Yes. It often seems so, Sir Merlin agreed. "I imagine nothing really changes. People remain people and the world spins along uncaring in its orbit.

Tell me about it. What happened?

Hmmpfth! Lord Sutton pointed out. We'd taken dinner and were relaxing in the game room. Us. The people here right now, you see. The children – we call them children, even though the youngest is twenty six – and their friends and spouses were going to motor into Forsham to try a new club there. That rock and roll noise – well, I suppose our parents thought our swing and jazz was noise – you know.

There were two carloads of them, you see, Lady Thelma continued. "Margaret and her latest beau – Alfred, wasn't it? Or Allan? Albert? Alwin? – anyway, they and Francine, her younger sister, and her husband – Francine's – Nigel, were in the one car and Frederick – that's Walter's only son – and his wife, Harrietta – Harrietta Nesmith-Ashton, terrible name, that, but she's a simply wonderful girl – and a Gloria Somebody – very common sort, really, and Jillian, Walter's daughter, were in the other. They were to call at Anson's –  that's the, what do they call them? Youth hostels? – where they stay, you see, when their own parents have absolutely abnegated their responsibilities for the children they bring into the world. Shocking! To join with another car or two. All jivers and ... those low types. Druggies I wouldn't for one second doubt Gloria’s friends, I also wouldn't doubt. Her and her dear Nigel. Members of one of those perfectly awful clubs of some sort that swear allegiance to each other against the legitimate government or some such silliness."

Everyone seemed to follow her. Only Sir Merlin seemed at all confused, but he let it pass.

Nigel! Lady Irene spat.

Now, dear, Walter warned.

"Nigel isn't, well, suited, if you understand what I mean, Lady Thelma explained. He's a type that today’s young girls seem always to find fascinating. Hair scraggly, clothes absolutely disgraceful – like a strutting peacock. Always has some scheme to make a lot of money, but preaches against anyone who has any. We have to bail them out, but ... that's dirty laundry. I feel you're a mite too easy to confide in, Sir Merlin. I do hope you're ... discreet?"

Sir Merlin bowed his head slightly, somehow reassuring them that anything said stopped right there, as to his part. It helps one to understand if deeper insight into the various personalities is supplied. We may pretend this is but a mythical exercise. Merely a 'What if?' situation.

That satisfied everyone. No one wondered that it made no sense whatever. What if? what?

Nigel and Gloria would be far more suitable a pair than ... well, Lady Thelma went on. "They would be acceptable in their own ... strata, as it were ... of society.

"One bears one's burdens with whatever small grace one can muster. Those punkies will swear to help one another to the total exclusion of all others, but get into difficulties and they run to their sworn mortal enemies, us, to get them out again! Purely disgraceful! If not for the fact Francine is our daughter the bunch of them could go begging!

"Gloria is the one who always suggests those horrible punk clubs – or whatever they're calling them nowadays – and those awful clothes. And those noisy motorbikes. And those dangerous fast boats and sports cars.

No sense of responsibility. That's the whole trouble with today's youth.

We have to take some responsibility for that, Lord Sutton argued. "We raised them that way!"

"We did not! Our children are all well-behaved and cared about and it shows in them! Thelma shot back. Now their parents I can't say the same!"

We are off the track, I think, Sir Merlin said.

Hell’s acre, man! You said you wanted to know about all those odd personalities! Lord Sutton cried.

"Theirs, yes, Sir Merlin replied. You can't let go of your grief if you start recriminations against persons who are not involved or against one another. IT ... WAS ... NOT ... YOUR ... FAULT!"

They all looked shocked.

I ... you have hit ... you are quite correct, Sir Chalmers said ashamedly. I do think we were, in a way, blaming ourselves for something we had no....

Exactly! Sir Merlin responded. Please tell me only what happened and what will be the result.

The result? Lady Irene asked suspiciously. "I think you agree with me – a minority of one – that it was not simply some transient or an accident?"

Such things seldom are, Sir Merlin agreed. "We could be a minority of two should I know the facts."

Er, harumph! Sir Sutton replied wisely.

Who the hell are you? Why are you after...? Lord Chalmers demanded.

"Walter, he is rather obviously an investigator. The police obviously do not really believe it was a random act, Lady Irene replied. Sir Merlin, if that's your true name, ask us questions and I, for one, will hold back nothing!"

How much money is to go to your daughters and when? Sir Merlin requested.

Er, well, really! See here! Lord Sutton cried.

There is a secured trust fund that our daughters receive full principle on their twenty eighth birthdays of one million pounds apiece, Lady Thelma answered. Francine will get two million, as Margaret is deceased. They receive our half of the estate and accounts at our deaths.

And Margaret's age at her death?

She would become twenty eight on the ninth of May. Three weeks, Lady Irene said. It is what awakened my suspicions.

What is the relationship between this Gloria and Nigel? Sir Merlin inquired. Your personal suspicions.

Far too close if you ask me! Lady Thelma replied.

Now, the details of the death?

Ahha! We agree! Lady Irene cried. "It was called a simple accident. They were at a dance club, they had a bit too much to drink, Margaret went outside, alone, slipped on the steps – it was storming, you know – and struck her head on the corner of the balustrade, then fell into the pool and drowned.

"In the first place, Margaret did not drink more than a single very weak cocktail. She was in athletics and they simply don't mix. Smoking or drinking – one doesn’t, you see and Margaret more than most. She was murdered for the money! Mark my words!"

"But no one gets her money except Francine, and she gets a million without Margaret's lot, for pity's sake! Lord Sutton cried. You can't possibly suspect that Francine would kill her sister! That is ridiculous!"

"And that becomes my problem, Lady Irene agreed. Francine and Margaret were very close and Francine is terribly broken up about it.

Nigel and Gloria and their punkie friends act like they're concerned, but fatalistic. They are not sincere people. Not in the least.

Sir Merlin nodded understandingly.

It would be obvious that, seeing as the money is still not available under any circumstances to anyone except Francine and she certainly has no need of it, being..., Lord Chalmers began, then shifted to, There is no motive, as you see, so a transient is all ... and there it is.

"Is the money not available to anyone else?" Sir Merlin asked, studying each in turn.

Well, most certainly not! Lady Thelma cried. It goes to Francine and not for almost two more years at that!

Her stipend from the trust will double, but she already has more than she can ever reasonably spend, Lord Sutton declared. There, as Walter noted, it is!

So we solve nothing, Lady Irene said bitterly. A killer has hidden his tracks very well, it would seem.

Perhaps not, Sir Merlin replied. You must step away to see the whole picture. From being too close, you see only bits and pieces.

Er, mmmpht, Lord Sutton noted. It is quite possible, I suppose, but what have we missed? What have you seen?

Me? Nothing, Sir Merlin replied. I know nothing about it except what you have told me tonight and you have told me what happened and why. You simply have not seen the pieces as they connect together.

Connect a few dots – if they're there to be connected and we can carry on from there to..., Lord Chalmers said.

The money, despite what you wish to think, might have a great significance, Sir Merlin replied. I find that money is a great motivator to certain types. Types you have described here.

"Not to Francine, Lady Thelma defended hotly. The very idea! It's obscene! She doesn't need or want it!"

"Yet you have had to bail her out several times because she did not have what she needed? Sir Merlin inquired. Exactly where was Nigel when Margaret died?"

Great lord! Lady Irene cried. "Of course! Francine has no financial problems, but her dear husband does! – And he gets it through Francine!

"Nigel was with Francine every minute, though, so he didn't do it, but his punkie friends might have. We did tell you they will do anything for each other, by sworn oath!"

But Margaret would never have gone outside with any of that crowd, Lady Thelma said. She had often told me some of them scared her. She simply would never be alone with any of them for any reason. Only Nigel or Gloria, who she knew.

Hmm. Where, then, was Gloria? Lord Chalmers mused, finishing an entire question for once. Who was it who told us she was with ... and who said not?

Gloria was there at the table with Nigel and Francine, Lady Thelma replied. She was there the whole time except for perhaps five minutes, when she went to the powder room.

She went alone? Sir Merlin asked.

"I see! It was Gloria who killed Margaret! Lady Irene cried triumphantly. You, Sir Merlin, are a genius! I think we can prove it. If we know what happened we can force the issue with the police."

Don't be silly, dear, Lord Chalmers chided. "Why would they listen to us, simply because....

We have no motive or....

"The motive is the money and she lied when she told them she didn't leave the table – and we can prove she didn't go to the powder room! She told them she did!" Lady Irene insisted.

"How on Earth can we ever prove any such thing?!" Lady Thelma demanded.

My dear, she didn't take Francine with her! Lord Sutton declared. "When we are at a function you would not think of going to the powder room without Irene and she would never go without you. Francine would always go with Margaret or with you. She would insist Gloria have company in such a place as that ... place.

Women always do that, you know. Men would be, er, embarrassed if another man wanted to go with them, but women almost insist! I've seen it a million times!

I don't know. That's true enough, Lady Thelma said. I think we have to accept that it was a scheme that Nigel was part of and that will not do the family name any good if it comes out! We must consider that!

What would you propose, then? Lord Sutton demanded, giving her a strange sharp look. That your own daughter's husband not be prosecuted for being a large part of the murder of your other daughter? Isn't that taking snobbery to rather an extreme?

No! Certainly not! I didn't mean any such thing! she cried. "We must handle it with discretion. It was GLORIA who killed her and that must be avenged. A quiet divorce of Nigel in exchange for his not being prosecuted and