Mirror with Hallucinations: A Cozy Mini-Mystery

By Jwyan C. Johnson

As a limousine does a drive-by shooting, was this literal “shotgun wedding” real... for everyone? Or was a celebrity stalker outsmarted by her bodyguard? It’s another ‘street fight on a chessboard’ as Major Shields hires courtroom war king Miles Turner. It’s a staring contest into a ‘mirror with hallucinations.’

Was the victim, Mr. Wright, really right about a secret love affair? Was the bodyguard really shooting his ‘competition?’ Do reflections change in the only homeless eye-witness? And will this mirror reveal even more as The Jury Whisperer employs her most dangerous legal strategy?

Mirror with Hallucinations will have you ‘seeing things,’ with a whodunit range from Simon Says, Silent Knight, Phil Shakedown, and even the movie star herself, it’s a where smoke-and-mirrors meets self-reflection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jwyan C. Johnson
• Release date: Apr 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224039753

Jwyan C. Johnson

Years ago, author and award-winning poet Jwyan C. Johnson wrote the script to a cartoon. The story starts off with a police chase to a giant dictionary: the home of our vocabulary words. Cops break down the cover, and they all rush in with their weapons drawn. And as they move around inside this book, we learn that they’re looking for one specific word: a simple 9-lettered noun. It has been bragging about its countless offenses committed against our society, against mankind. Surprising unarmed, and not dangerous, this specific word simply turns us against each other.Detectives follow the "alphabetical” directions to the right page, the right column and the right row, only to discover that this word has disappeared! Nowadays this divisive word lives inside our minds if we let it! The accomplished mystery writer reveals that "ignorance” was the word the police were after.The creative writings of Jwyan C. Johnson aim to biblically "protect and serve” the mind state because "ignorance is still at large in our society!” And with his latest kingdom-seeking contribution, Christian Parables, there are some places where ignorance no longer resides so we can win back each other.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Broken Glass

I saw the whole thing, Owen Moore replies from the witness chair. A limousine drove up and shot him!

A limo, Erin Powers clarifies.

Yeah. And it just sped away!

Like a drive-by shooting?

Not quite, the witness replies for the jury. "The man seemed like he was expecting this limo! He was dressed real fancy, walking towards the door and then BANG. At least five shots."

Sounds more like an execution.

Objection, Miles interrupts from the defense table. "Leading."

Sustained, the judge agrees.

What happened next Sir, Erin questions.

I searched the man’s pockets for spare change.

You’re homeless?

Yes, Owen Moore admits.

Did you find anything?

He had a wedding ring in a new box.

Any weapons?

No.

So this was NOT a self-defense shooting!

Objection, Miles interrupts. Prosecution is steering the witness.

Sustained, the judge agrees.

Do you see the shooter in this courtroom today?

Yes, the eyewitness replies with a point. That’s him.

Let the record reflect the witness has pointed to the defendant, Major Shields. Nothing further.

Erin returns to her table as Miles stands to cross-examine.

Did the shots come from the driver’s side? Or was the shooter riding… shotgun?   

The passenger side.

So more than one person inside that limo!

Probably but…

Do you recognize my client as a bodyguard for movie star Jasmine ‘Jazzy’ Gem?

Yeah. I’ve seen him beside her on television.

Television? I thought you were homeless!

I was offered a housing resource during this trial.

Was this payment for your finger-pointing testimony here?

Objection, Erin calls.

Withdrawn, Miles replies. The original police report mentioned a wedding ring box but no ring! Do you know why?

I’m not proud of my actions. But I was desperate.

"Desperate to… eat the diamond?"

The witness stares in anger as Miles elaborates.

"Your ring theft is at the mercy of the prosecution, meaning now your freedom is desperate! Maybe THAT’S how you somehow saw my client through tinted windows."

Objection, Erin calls.

Overruled, the judge decides.

Look, Owen Moore responds, "the REAL peer pressure was for me to remember seeing Jasmine Gem in that limo too! But I refuse to add to what I saw. A limousine drove up, shot a well-dressed man, and just drove away. I saw your client."

Chapter 2

Invisible Reflection?

Put your seatbelt on, Tana whispers to a news reporter. Here comes the twist.

Mam, Miles approaches the new witness. Although you’re familiar to some, please state your name and occupation.

"My name is Mya Penny. And I’m a social worker with Mother Bear Foster Care."

Did you recently help plan a special meeting?

Yes. I arranged for one of our girls to meet movie star Jasmine ‘Jazzy’ Gem in person.

The courtroom cheers at the famous name as Miles continues.

"Are you referring to the annual Foster Kids Party field trip to Jazzy’s home?"

No. But that did happen too! Our little girl missed out with a medical emergency that same day. And she’s Jazzy’s biggest fan! After hearing this, the movie star made a special hello video, just for her, on my cell phone! Our little girl was thrilled. But she was in for a bigger thrill when I told her my phone was in her treehouse.

Why is that?

"Inside her treehouse… was Jasmine Gem herself!"

The courtroom applauds as the judge smiles.