The Weekend Freewrite 11/24/18 - My Entry 'Missing Manuscript'

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Missing Manuscript

The tea was getting cold. How much longer did he expect her to wait?

Aaron sat on the hard high back chair in the cold stuffy parlor. The lengths he has gone to get his hands on the manuscripts is just astounding him. She looks at him over the rim of her glasses and clears her throat.

"Well, Miss Prittle, you must wonder what on earth this rush meeting is about. I know it has been well publicized by your family that you have no intention of allowing anyone to access your library of treasures." Aaron begins.

"Stop right there, young man!" injected Miss Prittle. "I knew you were here on false pretenses. You are just like all the rest. You will leave immediately!" She rose stiffly, abandoning both him and the tea with a gracious sweep from the room.

”But it's only something I am saying, you see. I have to go somewhere else.” Aaron says to her trusty manservant when he comes to the parlor to escort Aaron out.

"And I shall take you there" replied Andre. "Miss Prittle has instructed me that I am to to show you the door."

Aaron stood back outside in the icy wind next to his car, looking over the dilapidated mansion. He is thinking there must be a way to get inside and gain access to those manuscripts undetected. Perhaps if he returns under the cover of darkness there would be a way to gain entry through those casement windows. He gets into his car and backs down the overgrown neglected driveway.

Once he reaches home again, he calls a dear friend for assistance. "I have a bit of breaking and entering to do tonight. Are you up for a bit of mischief? Meet me at the food court on Ninetieth Street and we can make a plan."

”The mystery is starting in 10 minutes…" Aaron whispers to Nigel as they crouch outside the casement windows in the gloom of night. The co-conspirators shiver and ready their tools. All is dark in the mansion as Nigel holds the light and Aaron applies some light oil to the rusty hinges of the casement window. After a few minutes of prying by the flat screwdriver the window creaked outward. First Aaron and then Nigel climbed in through the window, finding themselves in the library room. Wall to ceiling shelves lined 3 of the 4 four walls, each filled with ancient leather bound books, old manuscripts, portfolios, and journals. A treasure trove of history amassed in this room, filled with dust and cobwebs. Where to even start looking for the manuscripts of Jonathon Winter, Aaron's great-great grandfather?