Four The Brookstone Project

 Laura didn't get too far in reading the old book before her phone rang. It was the mayor of BrookStone asking her to come to city hall for a meeting. Laura agreed but had no idea what the meeting could be about. Laura also had no idea why she agreed to take on this little side investigation, she found it interesting at first but now just thought it was a stupid wild goose chase. She bundled up and kissed both her cats on the head getting yawns and sleepy looks from each one and headed out to her car. 

  At city hall, Mayor Anna Czech was in her office awaiting Laura's arrival. She talked to her assistant and Detective Pugge about her plan to bring Laura up to speed a little faster than had been planned. Eventually they agreed that there was no other way, they didn't really like it nor did the Mayor, but time was short and Laura would just have to be shown the hard way. They knew it would be hard on her at first but she was the best person for the job and they were sure once she saw the reality (and accepted it) that she would agree to it. Mayor Czeck's assistant left the room and returned quickly with a tray of donuts (Laura's weakness they all knew) and a fresh pot of coffee. 

Laura arrived right on time and was shown into the Mayor's office. The mayor tanked her for coming and told Laura to please call her Anna and then said "and of course you know detective Pugge." Laura nodded and took a seat saying "Hello detective I wasn't aware you would be here too so I'm assuming this is about the case you have me working on?" 

"it is "he said

Laura said "oh I'm very sorry to disappoint you detective, but I am just getting nowhere even after talking to Thomas, who was my best lead so far. It's just not coming together. I mean it is very interesting and Thomas did provide a good source book, but I just haven't put together any good theories as of yet."

Anna and detective Pugge exchanged glances as Laura talked. Laura said "I really have enjoyed the assignment but it seems like I'm missing something very important and as of right now I'm at a dead end. Both the Mayor and detective listened intently as she talked. Laura ended by saying "anyway I suppose that's not why you called me here then?"     

Anna said " Well Laura I can tell you that detective Pugge and I both chose to assign you this case and we are happy with your results so far. However there is some information that you have not been privy to and we would like to get you up to speed contingent on you accepting a full time position as combined liaison for the Mayors office and consultant to the BrookStone police department."

Laura was not expecting that at all and the look on her face showed as much. She asked "a liaison between The city of BrookStone then, and who? 

Anna got up and poured coffee for everyone and offered the tray of donuts and then sat back down glancing at the clock. She said smiling "unfortunately that information is contingent on you accepting the job offer" and she handed Laura a packet with pay and benefits information and waited for Laura to read it over.

Laura read as she drank her coffee and ate a donut (glazed - her favorite she thought) reading and munching. Then looked up after thinking a few minutes and said " this is a very generous offer, and I would be crazy not to accept. Generally I like to know all of the available information before taking on something like this but, well she blinked her, eyes getting a little blurry and then readjusting. Well I accept the position.    

    She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few more times trying to focus and said "oh I'm so sorry my eyes are playing tricks on me. Anna suggested she just relax and rest her eyes for a few minutes while her and Detective Pugge explained more about the job.

Anna went on to explain that ever since the shut down in 2020 for the pandemic the work force was forever changed and keeping things running was almost impossible, even more so when things tried to open up fully again. Some smaller cities will just never be the same without some kind of drastic and strategic planning. A few open minded leaders from several groups in BrookStone met and came up with a plan. Myself included. This meeting was very informal and held out at Whisper lake at Thomas's house. Anna watched as Laura tried to listen and adjust her eyes at the same time and tried to hurry through the explanation before Laura started to freak out. We came to the conclusion that to keep all of our businesses open we would need to get creative. Actually the CREATIVE idea came from Thomas who used to be my um, roommate. He and I and all the others in attendance agreed on a plan tiny bit of magick, from Thomas's great great grandmothers book which you are now in possession of. Thomas  and I had been using the bit of magick for years already just between us two. A little sprinkle of a very old recipe baked into any food would allow animals to seen and heard and Most importantly understood in the way any person sees any other person. Laura's eyes were growing wider as she started to understand. Anna continued " so you see I wasn't just Thomas's roommate I was his pet. His pet cat to be specific. Thomas has known for years of mine and other animals capabilities and we all thought it was an answer to the shrinking work force problem. And it turns out it was!! Laura looked about ready to pass out in her seat as she focused in on Anna the Mayor or Anna the cat sitting at her desk paws laid gently in front of her and talking softly - almost purring you might say. Anna smiled gently at Laura as she licked a bit of glazed donut off of her paws.

"Now" said Anna "if you just keep relaxed the detective and I will take you around town and show you our little project at work and let you decide if you still want the position. We think you will be excellent at the job and so does Thomas, who would like to retire but has agreed to stay on in a consultant position until you feel more comfortable and get completely up st speed. Laura? Laura are you still with us? No response just Laura's wide eyes and gaping mouth. Detective Charlie Puuge got up and gently put his paw under her chin and pushed her mouth shut and stood back as Laura gaped at him now, and then gaped back and forth between him and Anna still not saying a word.

Anna said "let's give her few more minutes her eyes are still adjusting.

Charlie said "you mean her brain is still adjusting"

Anna said " She'll be fine it's a normal reaction. 
    

  

Three-BrookStone-Legends of Whisper Lake

 Laura stopped into the bookstore after leaving Thomas's to grab a few research books from her office in the back.

Gerald was helping customers so she didn't get a chance to talk to him but it looked like everything was going good today and he waived as she went by. She finished up at the store and headed home to work on a pile of information she had gathered for her investigation.

At home Laura sat on her couch while her cats engaged her in a never ending game of play and pet me time and she of course obliged them. The research would still be there when they finally meandered off to sit in front of the fire and fall asleep. 

With one cat taking up each hand she thought about Thomas's statements. True,Thomas drank quite a bit but he always appeared to be in control of himself, it was just putting together the things he said in a logical way and making some use of them. This was a problem and she couldn't quite make sense of it, or his odd questions to her but she knew they had some meaning that she wasn't seeing. 

when she commented how tame the wildlife was here he chuckled and agreed with her and then asked if she had pets. She told him she had cats and he smiled big and asked if she was one of those cat lady's that talked to her cats and waited for an answer. She laughed and admitted that she did. He went on to talk about the abundant wildlife even in town, especially BrookStone Square and asked if she ever talked to the critters running around the Square when going about her business. She laughed again and said "oh yea I do that too and sometimes they seem to look at me like they want to say something. 

Thomas said " next time your in the square and you see one of the local critters hanging out ask em a question"  

"Like what?" she asked laughing again. 

He just winked at her and told her that if she were actually hyper aware-almost to the point of paranoia she may pick up on something useful. Perplexed Laura just agreed with a smile and moved on. She thought when she did he seemed to be giving her a hard knowing look before letting that subject go. 

Laura the asked him about the local legends of Whisper Lake. She had heard a few but wanted his take on them, like did he think there was a logical explanation or did he buy into the more supernatural ideas. Thomas said the he didn't really think there was anything so supernatural about it but that depended on what she defined as supernatural. He then told her that out here at the lake it was usually quiet and people were spread out more so it stands to reason that people hear more clearly than when they were in a group of people talking and cars going by and whatnot. She nodded in agreement. As they walked down to the lake Thomas told her there was not enough ice yet to walk on it just to be safe but that they could get down on the shore. They stopped and looked out at the lake and he told her to be a still and relaxed as she could and to just listen, listen with all your senses.

Laura observed several small animals out on the ice, they all stopped to watch the couple and Laura relaxed and listened. She heard no whispers or anything but the wind blowing through the pines. She watched closely as the animals meandered away back to whatever they were doing and the a soft whisper that seemed to be right by her ear said "I old you!" then another in answer "just give it time, you have no patience." then louder the first voice said we are running out of time, we have been patient long enough!" Laura looked around her and saw nothing but critters skittering around the area. With no small amount of shock on her face she looked to Thomas who just smiled winked and nodded his head. When she asked him where the voices came from he just handed her a worn leather bound book from his coat. He told her to keep it. 

Thomas want on to explain that in his opinion, there is a reason for everything and he could only tell her for sure what the whispers were Not.In his humble opinion.

Laura back on her couch now,cats content in front of the fireplace having had their fill of belly rubs and head scritches. She picked up some papers and looked at some of the theories she had written down.

She just couldn't get on board with any of these:

ghosts of those lost to the lake

radio frequencies picked up from past residents

cell phone picking up chatter from other conversations

Sasquatch type character

other monster

drug or alcohol induced auditory hallucinations  

 None of these fit all the instances and some were just unreasonable yet imaginative. She put this stack of papers aside to file in the trash later and moved on to the book Thomas gave her. It was old and worn and thick with pages. This was going to be really difficult to read.

 

 

 

 

 

Two BrookStone-Whisper Lake

   Laura made her way over to the old man's table after Sonny left with a drink and a charming smile to introduce herself. The man looked up at her through wise but faded eyes and told her to make herself comfortable.

No one at the bar took note of this except Fox. Now this interested him and also was an unexpected development, to bad they were at a table and not the bar he would have to settle for keeping an eye open as there were too many people in the bar right now for him to pick up any verbal information. He continued working his shift with one eye on the odd couple at the table. As luck would have it chicken Linda and drunk Linda asked him to take their picture, he conveniently posed them so he could get Laura and the old man in one of the pics without looking suspicious. Both the Linda's were well on the way to a rough night-for his relief bartender and were making their way back to their bar stools. 

 Laura and the old man who's name turned out to be Thomas talked for quite a long time Laura taking a few notes down as they talked before she left for home. She told him she would meet him tomorrow as he smiled and raised his glass in salute. Fox took mental note and watched Laura leave.

Laura got home about 5 pm, started a fire in the fire place and set out the plate of donuts she planned to binge on as she went over her notes and took in the information that she just learned from Thomas. She got comfortable and thought about some follow up questions she would have for Thomas tomorrow morning.

 Thomas made his way up to the bar about 7:30 and eyed up Fox at the next stool as he paid his tab. Fox said "your out early tonight Tom" Thomas smiled gently and said "yea I've got a little work to get to in the morning" Thomas walked out of the pub as Fox watched a perplexed look on his face. Fox finished his beer and left for his upstairs apartment. 

 The next morning Laura gathered her notes stuffed a donut in her mouth and grabbed her coffee as she walked out the door on her way to the south side of Whisper lake to meet Thomas.

She was dressed warm with heavy boots on ready for the walk around of the property on the popular yet mysterious lake.

The house and truck Thomas described were there and his directions were easy to follow. She was grateful it had quit snowing and the roads were cleared as she hated winter driving especially on roads she didn't know. Thomas met Laura at the door ready for some story telling.

The lake didn't have enough ice yet for safe walking so Laura was spared that part of the property tour at least for now. They walked and she listened as he talked and the made their way back to the house. Thomas made coffee and Laura took out her notepad. All in all it was a long morning for both of them but Laura thought she had what she needed and thanked Thomas as she left. Thomas followed her back to Brookstone Square where he headed into the pub and she made a stop into Benson's Books. 

 

 

Brookstone Square-Pilot -One

 Brookstone Square in mid December is bustling with shoppers picking up Christmas gifts. A fresh blanket of snow helps to decorate for the season as people sip on hot coffee drinks and carry packages filled with books and and other gifts for under their trees. 

Laura stops in the bakery to grab a dozen fresh baked donuts and a loaf of Italian bread for dinner. She thinks about grabbing a coffee for the ride home but changes her mind when she sees Sonny walking into the pub across the square. She pulls her hood up against the wind and and heads that way. 

She steps into the pub already filling up for happy hour at 3:00 and spots Sonny. She makes her way over to a stool right next to him. his eyes light up and he smiles in greeting as she sits next to him. All eyes are on them looking for a juicy bit of gossip to bite on and spread around, Laura orders a drink and sets her shopping bags on the stool next to her. 

Sonny-What are you up to today?

Laura- Just picking up a few things for dinner,how about you? Wait let me guess you were out at the lake checking the ice thickness. as she laughs.

Sonny- grins big and says-Yep, only 2' so far but it's shaping up to be a good year.

The onlookers already bored turn to back to their own drinks and conversations. The jukebox played loud enough for people needed to speak up loud enough for the bartender to pick up every conversation is he wanted to. Right now he wasn't much interested except in the ice thickness. he was off at six and now he was saved a trip out to the lake to check it himself. He continued to serve drinks and monitor the room without paying to much attention to any one person, at least not conspicuously. Drunk Linda and Chicken Linda sat at the end of the bar together and made for an odd pairing, drunk Linda must be looking for information on someone the bartender thought to himself. He kept the beer and shots flowing her way as usual.

Fox was the day time bartender and knew way to much about everyone in the bar. Generally he stayed out of the slander machine that was The Dipper Pub but wasn't apposed to hearing what was going on for his own informational purposes. Today he just wanted his relief to get there so he could sit down and watch while he drank beer until he was ready to pass out and go home. It had been a long day.

Sonny and Laura continued talking and Laura jokingly asked him if he heard any voices today when he was out at Whisper Lake. He grinned his dark brown eyes sparkling and said

"Think what you want legends get to be legends for a reason, but no I didn't hear anything today. Laura grinned back and sipped her drink. Fox came over with refills and they ordered some Southwest Spuds to munch on with their drinks. Sonny pointed to a table in the corner with an elderly man sitting alone and drinking beer faster than any normal bartender could keep up with. Sonny said " see that guy at the corner table? Laura looked and said "yes who is he?"

Sonny said " I'm not sure what his name is but he's lived here a long time. He'll talk up a storm once he's finished his second bucket of beer and starts adding shots of bourbon which should start pretty soon here from the looks of the bottles collecting on his table. He lives right on Whisper Lake,South side somewhere. He drinks a lot and I mean a lot but he's also seen a lot. That might be the next person you want to talk to about your case. I would ease into it though he's not gonna give up the gravy in the first conversation. Go make friends, maybe don't bring up that your a PI unless he asks but be up front if he asks. He of course already knows but you"ll want him to warm up to you. I think he can help with what you need. Laura smiled as she listened and planned out her approach.    

Their Spuds came and they ate as they talked. Sonny told Laura that the old guy was a drunk but he was no fool and was actually pretty interesting to talk to. 

Laura pulled a note pad out of her bag and made some notes as they ate. Fox the bartender took note of this and tuned his ears in to their conversation a little more than he had been. This was something he may have a use for at some time, not just the regular gossip the went through the bar.

  

  

Regina Rose Green - Reggie songs

 https://suno.com/@reginarosegreen for full songs

Dive bar stripper 

Back at it again 

Lime green leggings 

Safety Dog 

Pine county History Museum

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19zBVpoWxnPine County History Museum

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Another exciting event for the Holiday Season! Don’t miss out! We are thrilled to have two amazing & talented performers gracing us with their beautiful voices for a Holiday Concert! We welcome Abrianna Schmidt & Jace Legarde to our stage! Check out their impressive bios! This event also includes a delicious buffet created by The Little Mermaid Cafe! Tickets (including buffet) are $20 per person. Tickets available at The Pine County History Museum! For more info call (218) 348-8141

Depot in Finlayson Minnesota lit up for Christmas

  

FROM:

Friends of Historic FinlaysonBig Pine Lake - Finlayson, MN

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After over a century, the Finlayson Northern Pacific Combination Depot is decorated for the holidays.

A huge shoutout to Greg, Dave & Tristan for hanging the lighted displays plus the workcrew that attached all the lights. They look fantastic !

For the local Finlayson residents, take a drive downtown to see the depot festively lit up plus the downtown pole decorations decorating the night landscapes.

Fintown never looked so bright!

A big Thank You to Sue Prill for donating the Reindeer & Snowflakes and George Collova for making the trees.