It's Prickly Under There

By Simon- Peter Broughton

It's Prickly Under There is the title of the second book in the murder mystery series. It's set in Victorian England.

A month has passed on from Brookland Manor. Chief Inspector Daisy Magee is now back at work. News comes in that there has been a body found in the Blue Tunnel.

A new mind game is now placed before Daisy. This time she has to deal with fairies and pixie clubs, David's star, pine needles, hedgehogs, a straw hat along with the magical world of make-believe and ricin.

A long-lost family relative comes back into Daisy's life, and they will help her solve the case along with a new police profiler. Once again, some characters have surprising names to remember. It is also a story that teaches moral and spiritual life lessons.

Simon-Peter hopes and prays that you will enjoy the read in the new mind game. The third book is in the works. It's titled Anyone's Willing For A Shilling. Please send your constructive criticism only to his email at [e-mail].

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662462917

Book preview

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It's Prickly Under There

Simon Peter Broughton

Copyright © 2022 Simon-Peter Broughton

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-6290-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-6292-4 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-6291-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication For Book Two

Other Books by Simon-Peter Broughton

Foreword By Ken Maupin

Acknowledgement

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

About the Author

Dedication For Book Two

If we are honest and even truthful to ourselves, we can look back upon our very lives and see how God has truly blessed us. For He has truly blessed us in more ways than we could ever dream or fathomed from the get-go.

I'm proud to say that one of the greatest blessings God has given is my loving wife. But He has also bestowed upon me my two loving children. Like all children, they bring joy, along with sorrow. But I remember on the seventh day after each one of my children was born, I took them out and held them up to the stars and asked God to bless and protect them.

I'm deeply moved and touched by their unconditional, authentic love and loyalty. Thus, it's my greatest privilege and honour through my love for them, that book 2 is dedicated to my two children, Ben and Ann. Thank you for all the life lessons, you still keep teaching me to become a better man and father. I'm deeply proud of you both. I will always love you with agape love.

Love,

Papa

Other Books by Simon-Peter Broughton

BOOK ONE: Don't Go Chasing After Waterfalls

BOOK TWO: It's Prickly Under There

BOOK THREE: Anyone's Willing For A Shilling. An up-and-coming new book in the series.

Foreword By Ken Maupin

I've known Simon-Peter for several years as an enthusiastic member of our local Church of Christ. I was very interested in the books he was writing, giving the exciting life-story of his own that provides him with a unique perspective on life, love and happiness. He is a colourful character, himself, full of conviction and thoughts and ideas; English; big-hearted and sensitive; a prize to have among my friends.

Like in his first book, Don't Go Chasing After Waterfalls Inspector Daisy Magee must again use her wiles and heart to unravel the clues and locate the guilty. It's refreshing to ride along with a heroine who's sharing her faith and joy with those around her in her daily life while learning from the criminal what lies in the faithless hearts underneath the acts of man's sinful nature, and not dodging or shrinking back from dealing with hard questions about forgiveness and judgment.

So, I encourage you to let the theatre of your mind again visit this community so friendly and cheerful you are saddened to see it tainted by any attack on its people, to sit in the congregation and absorb the powerful Christian messages by Bedford Eggington Davis and to be refreshed by the simple, genuine emotions of a casual-paced culture that rejoices fully when it rejoices and mourns heavily when it mourns.

Ken Maupin

Acknowledgement

I have come to learn that in life, anything worth fighting for, anything worth doing, is more often done by a group of trusted friends and advisers. This is so true when it comes to an author.

This author is so thankful and honoured to have the type of wife of thirty-seven years and counting. She has supported me in this new chosen career in writing, along with my children, and our wonderful daughter-in-law, who we are so proud of. I also have to mention my own family who have been supportive back home in the United Kingdom.

I have always been a person who is willing to learn in order to become the best I can be in what I set my sights upon. This sometimes comes in what I call life-lessons. I'm deeply thankful for the person who helped edit this work. Let me state; You have made me a much better writer, and I'm deeply thankful for your guiding hand, I may not know who you are, but you do, thanks. Any author needs a great case manager. Let me state to any author, you can do no better than Ashley Nottingham, you'll find her friendly and helpful, yes, and kind-hearted. Let me also take time to thank The Page Design team and The Art Department, this work could not be complete without you all. I'm indebted to one and all who have encouraged me along this life journey. I will always love you like Christ loves me.

CHAPTER ONE

The Sky Is Falling, Mr. Prickles

It's very easy to think that today is just going to be like any other day in one's life upon planet earth. Yet it could also seem to be simply another average day whereby mankind goes about their life concerns along with their honey-do list in their hands, or one could simply be preoccupied with appointments. Alas, before anyone would know it, one could simply die before they get to an end of a chapter in their very lives; anyone could die at any given moment in time and space. Sad to say, most human beings are so caught up in themselves; they forget that their very life is but a vapor that comes and then is gone from the pages of history through God-given time and space.

There is nothing normal about today. All one has to do is ask Daisy Magee; she'll tell you that in a heartbeat. Everything is normal, for all things must function as planned. Truth be told, Daisy Magee is a survivor in this thing called life. It's been one month since Brookland Manor.

Today then is never going to be normal at all because the sky has become dark, full of black, grey, and green clouds. Soon it would rain; the creatures of the forest know all too well the signs that this is going to become a tremendous storm. No sooner said than done, it starts pouring buckets of rain; water falls from the heavens faster than anything could push it away. The water floods out the ditches, so they become hidden from plain sight. Nearly eight inches of rain falls within three simple short little hours. The problem isn't the volume of water that came down from the heavens; it is how fast it had fallen from the clouds. It was like the heavens opened up, and showers of blessings were released. The river had overflown its banks creating new flood zones and mini lakes.

The sad truth at hand is that trees in the forest were bent over; some of the branches broke under the weight of heavy rains and strong winds. Another thing for sure, pathways in the forest had been washed away; there was no hope in hell of finishing out the day's planned events for they had all simply been postponed because of the storm. But in the darkness, they say, evil abounds in more ways than one.

Timothy Prickles lives in the cave he had carved out from a hard rock. The entrance has two solid oak doors. An archway, also made of oak, is attached to the outside; but it has a tin roof. A fire pit is in the centre of the room. Seating is carved out of the rock walls along with a couple of beds. And the cave sits a thousand yards away from a sharp drop over the running, raging spring river below. On top of the cave, Timothy Prickles has carved four seats each pointing outward into the direction of the four points upon a compass, and a hole goes through the centre of the cave roof in order for the fire smoke to escape. Timothy is very proud of his home; it is a quiet place with only the sounds of nature and the flowing spring river to keep him company. It is the very place that had sparked all his writings in his fairy-tale books and drawings. Even the rains falling and beating upon the tin roof inspired the music of all his books. He truly was the master storyteller of fairy and pixie tales in his day. Private clubs were formed, and these clubs met secretly because some of the members came from the upper class and the aristocracy.

The morning after the heavy rainstorm, Timothy had gotten up early. He shakes off the night sleep with a big yawn and has a strip-wash with the cold spring water. He cooks some boiled eggs and toasts some crumpets over the open fire. After eating his breakfast, Timothy heads out of his cave where he stops to view a rainbow coming up from the spring river. Then he cuts down the pathway carrying his writing satchel over his left shoulder; in his right hand is a thick cane that has a yellow-and-brown stain. He's heading towards the Blue Tunnel that will take him towards the main road heading towards the city.

It was a pleasant walk through the woods; and as he reaches the steps that lead down to the Blue Tunnel, he stops to look around, for something didn't seem right to him. He gets this tingling feeling all over his body. He moves slowly down the steps, and as he enters the tunnel, he sees a man's body facedown on the ground, head tilted to the left side of his body. Timothy stops and takes out his drawing pad from his satchel and draws a picture of the crime scene including all the details. After he is done, he hurries into town and heads towards the police station.

Sergeant Holden is behind the front desk when Timothy enters through the two large blue doors of the station.

Good morning, Sergeant. I need to report a dead body I found in the Blue Tunnel, Timothy said. Timothy then gives the details to Sergeant Holden, and Sergeant Holden tells him to take a seat while he goes and fetches Chief Inspector Magee. Suddenly Timothy gets a pleasant grin upon his face as he takes his seat, while Richard Holden heads down the hallway towards the Crime Room and Daisy Magee's office. Upon entering the Crime Room, he notices that Daisy is in her own glass office. Adelaide and George haven't reported to work yet; it's been a month since Brookland Manor. Daisy had only reported back to work the day before. She has a calm countenance upon her, and she has her head stuck inside a book.

Richard Holden knocks upon the office door, which seems to startle Daisy; then she bids him to enter her office.

Ma'am, there is a gentleman up front that has reported a dead body he found in the Blue Tunnel. I thought you might want to take his statement in person.

Thank you, Richard. I'll come right away. They both head down the hallway back towards the front desk. Upon arriving at the desk, Timothy Prickles stood up.

Timothy Prickles, is that really you?

Why yes, Daisy Magee, it is I. It's been a very long time indeed, hasn't it?

Dare say it has, Timothy. Does my papa know you're in town?

Never really left in the first place, Daisy. I've been tucked away in my own man-made cave for years, enjoying Mother Nature and writing my books while placing my own drawings inside the stories.

Richard, this here is a dear old friend of mine. In fact, he is my papa's cousin. Thus, he's my cousin also. Richard, this marks the beginning of another annew cannew.

Richard reaches out his hand to shake Timothy's right hand.

Nice to meet you, Sir.

Likewise, Richard, likewise indeed, says Timothy.

Say, cousin, do you have time for some Earl Grey tea and scones while I take your statement? For Richard will send a couple of constables to protect the body in the Blue Tunnel.

"Why yes, Daisy, a cuppa sounds fun. Did you make your mother's famous scones? If so, I'd like to try one or two, with strawberry jam and cottage cream."

Daisy asks Richard to send the two constables to the Blue Tunnel and bring some fresh Earl Grey tea along with her mother's famous scones. Daisy leads Timothy to the interview room.

So, cousin, how has life been treating you? I've read all your books since I was a little girl. Your drawings are wonderfully illustrated. You sure have a fantastic imagination inside your head.

Well, Daisy, life is sure better than great. It's fantastic. I have a wonderful life, a simple cave dwelling. God has been good to this old man as He is with you and the family.

I'm so happy for you cousin. My papa would love to see you. Any chance in that?

"Oh, Daisy, I've always been meaning to drop by and see you all, but alas, as you are well aware, time comes and goes before all