Detective Liam Niles: The Diarium of Lady Tauna Drake- Second Edition by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

Lady Tauna Drake stood in front the stain glass window, her eyes affixed upon Liam’s Depiction . Her face, dull and bleak of saddening requiem while looking upon his imagery.

Pastor Connor standing few feet in back of her, moved forward to be with her. “I have displayed his depiction as you wished. A knight in trench coat. Now, how are we to display you?”

Tauna quickly veered at him in speechless demeanor stood staring at her father with broken hearted love along with a ripped upper sleeve showing a touch of small bruise upon her shoulder.

Pastor Connor, giving a compassionate stare back to her. “My daughter. You know as well as I. It is out our tradition and custom of our family lineage to administer the final placing the colored glass in certain position that shall last for generations for sake of our heritage.” He goes to the stain glass window, pointing his finger to an image of his former self with a woman. “Your mother and I as we were young. So it shall be with you and your husband. And one day it shall be of your son and and his wife after you. Your grandparents and great grandparents and so on. They are all here to see.”

Tauna, in much tearful sorrow, goes into her father’s open arms. “Ohh Father. What have I done! How can I forgive myself. How could be so foolish to think I could destroy the enemy but only to carelessly extinguish my own kin?”

Pastor Connor, stood held her tight. “Inspector Crouse has our backs. He will not let us go astray without hope.” He pulled back vigilant, braced her arms with his hands. ”Regardless of outcome. We must go on from where we stand. Trey will stand in for his brother as much as You must be strong as the Lady of Chivalry Chapel. Right. Your mother is waiting for me as we prepare the window for your depiction. I must go now.” He kissed her forehead, walked away.

The masons gathered around the window prepared for the additions.

Trey slowly approaching her. “Tauna.”

Tauna looked at him.

Trey, with the same loss of his brother. “He is only missing you know.”

Tauna, with loneliness of little comfort of that thought. “ How you doing Trey?”

Trey, “I’m doing ok.”

Tauna, “And how is our family taking it?”

Trey, “As much to be expected. We all miss him very much.”

Tauna, in self unforgiveness. “This is my fault this happened? That if wasn’t for my treacherous foolishness he would still be here? I should request my father for my penance.”

Trey, looked at her in compassion. “No Tauna. I was not your fault.” He takes her hand with his hand. “I miss him terribly too.”

Tauna affixed her eyes back unto Liam’s Image. Taking a big breath of air. “Father will be forging the depictions of me standing next to Liam’s image upon the stain glass window as I requested.”

Trey also looked upon his brother’s image. “That’s great Tauna. I’m sure it will be magnificent. So magnificent that even Liam himself would stand proud to see it. You know Liam. Always admiring in the glory of his achievements.” With sly smirk.

”Tauna looked suspicious at Trey. “You’re looking very coy

Trey. He’s your brother. Come on , what is it you’re not telling me? What do you know.”

Trey looked at her. “You know as much as I do. Your husband, my brother. You heard what Inspector Crouse said. Our Liam is filed under, ‘Missing in action.’ But Crouse was a close friend…..’closer than a brother’ as the old saying goes. And Crouse is even more coy than I am. I shall solve the clues beside him. Liam’s my older brother. We were close growing up. I always looked up to him. I love him and will do anything for him. Even stand in for him as sacrificial lamb.” He smiled warmly at her.

Tauna smiled warmly back at him. “I can feel him around me Trey. When I walk down the corridor, I swear I can sense his presence as though he is somehow watching me.”

Trey, “And I can still feel him in spirit. As though he’s about to tackle me at any time like when we were young boys.”

Tauna, smiled again.

Trey, stood in a moment of saddened expression, then gentle grin in quirky silence.

Inspector Crouse, just coming around the corner. “Detective Trey Niles. …..Our duty awaits. Lady Tauna. Don’t worry love. We will find the answers to what happened to Liam. That he himself would boast in victory.”

Trey, giving a quick gentle touch of his hand upon her face in reassurance, then walking off with the inspector.

Tauna stood staring at their strange departure.