A Note Before We Begin ….
Breast cancer is not humorous.
This series is not intended to make light of cancer or diminish the very real experiences of those who have faced it. I have watched loved ones walk this road, and I understand the weight it carries.
The Murder of Ted is based on my real experience and my personal way of coping with an unexpected life-changing diagnosis.
For me, humor doesnât remove the seriousness of the situation; it simply makes carrying it feel a little lighter.
This series is part journal, part mystery, part author life, and hopefully a reminder that even in the darkest of times, laughter, hope, and storytelling still belong.
Thank you for joining me on this unexpected, uncozy adventure.
The Murder of Ted
A Series of Unfortunate Events, an Uncozy Adventure
Chapter One: The Discovery
Every mystery has a beginning. Sometimes itâs dramatic. Sometimes thereâs a body. Sometimes thereâs a suspicious phone call. And sometimes an unwanted intruder who moves in and hopes nobody notices.
Ted arrived about eight months ago. I didnât know his name then, but I knew he was there lurking in the darkness. At first, I wasnât overly concerned. I was used to these types of invasions. You see, I already have an agreement in place with another tenant, my brain tumor.
The arrangement is simple: I leave him alone, and he mostly leaves me alone. Sure, there would be warning signs that he might be getting a little too comfortable, but there was also the chance he would keep to himself. The arrangement was not ideal, but it worked.
So, when Ted appeared, I assumed this would be another one of those situations. An unwanted growth. An annoying roommate. A âwe acknowledge each other and move onâ kind of arrangement.
UnfortunatelyâŚTed turned out to be the kind of character who starts nice and slowly reveals himself to be the villain.
At first, there were little things. My resident brain tumor tried to stretch his legs a bit; my body was a little more tired than usual. Some tests were run, and some physical pain joined the party.
But a few of these clues didnât quite add up. Ted remained suspicious, but was not convicted of any crime other than starting to take up way too much space. Itâs like he brought the largest U-Haul stuffed to the hilt and moved into a studio apartment. Hoarder Much? He quickly began spilling out onto the front lawn, so to speak
Meanwhile, my immune system, my internal attack team, had apparently been completely hoodwinked by Tedâs charm and failed to remove him from the premises. The code violations were stacking up against him. But Ted continued to pass test after test. Three times, he came back highly suspicious but without cause. Three times, nobody could fully prove he was the bad guy.
Honestly, if this were one of my books, Taryn would already be getting threatening notes and a stern eye roll from Detective Parker.
Being the mystery writer and amateur sleuth at heart that I am. I channeled my inner Taryn and had already made my decision. Ted had to go. He was cramping my style, taking up entirely too much space, and acting like he owned the place. Absolutely not, I thought. That was the day he got his name. Ted.
But then the breast surgeon, my detective for this story, entered the crime scene. And unlike the rest of usâŚshe saw right through Ted. With one keen eye and a lot more experience than the rest of us, she looked at Ted and said, âOh no. I know your type.â And Ted received his eviction notice.
And just like that, the uncozy adventure started, and the mystery shifted. Ted wasnât just suspicious. He was caught red-handed; the crime: destruction of property, trespassing, and attempted murder!
My breast surgeon detective fired off multiple ways to collect evidence at the crime scene. More clues needed to be gathered, motives uncovered, plans made, and Tedâs true origins needed to be revealed.
I wasnât surprised. She was right, we need answers. With Tedâs increasingly bad behavior and the locals becoming extremely disgruntled, it was time to take action.
I donât know exactly how the next chapters unfold yet.
But I do know this:
Ted underestimated his setting. He could get away with murder, but he landed in a mystery series, and villains rarely make it to the final chapter.
Stay tuned for the next Chapter of the Murder of Ted: Chapter 2: The True Investigation Begins
Need an escape while we wait for the next chapter?
The antidote to the uncozy is a cozy mystery.
While Ted continues to cause unnecessary drama, my fictional world remains open to visitors.
Come visit Silver Springs, Colorado, and join Taryn OâKelly for a cozier investigation, where the victims stay fictional, the mysteries get solved, and every story has a happy ending.
Until next chapterâŚ
Happy reading.
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! -Michelle â¤ď¸
Cozy Mystery Escape: Come visit Silver Springs, Colorado, for a cozier investigation filled with humor, heart, and hope.
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