Self-Review – Mina’s Mission

Let’s Look at Mina’s Mission

When I was researching what became The Real Hub of the Universe, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Pinkerton had hired female detectives. And so, Mina’s Mission covers a possible mission during the US Civil War.

I started to write this story during the third quarter of 2021. I finished it in the first quarter of 2025. The original prompt word was local.

Background

These days, it’s almost a matter of course for a country at war to attempt to end the life of the opposing leader. Not only would it throw the enemy into disarray, but it could also potentially demoralize great, big swaths of soldiers and true believer-type patriots.

And so, I got to thinking about how it would all go down if this method was used in the 1860s.

Plot

Wilhelmina Kelton works as one of the only female agents in the Pinkerton Detective Agency. But in 1862, the war is going rather badly for the Union.

And so, a plan is devised to assassinate Jefferson Davis. Pinkerton chooses Mina because no one would ever suspect a woman. To further demoralize the South, it would be the height of shame for the president of the Confederacy to lose his life at the hands of a woman.

For poetic justice, the idea is to commit the deed on July fourth. Mina’s mission is to deliver the bomb.

Characters in Mina’s Mission

The characters are Mina Ferguson (Kelton), Allan Pinkerton, Miss Katie, Mervin Curtis, Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Bradford, and Joseph, a nosy kid on the train, who is with his mother. I mention Pinkerton, but he’s never on screen.

Memorable Quotes

A young mother and her son got on at Fredericksburg and sat across from Mina.

“What’s in the bag?” asked the boy.

“Joseph, that’s rude,” said his mother.

Mina stayed silent. It’s a bomb. There’s no way I am telling you.

“But Mama, I want to know.” Joseph was probably around four. His pout and his folded arms threatened to turn into a tantrum.

“It is not your business.” His mother turned to Mina. “I do apologize. He’s an inquisitive child.”

“It’s probably a sign of intelligence.” Mina turned to Joseph. “Do you know what your Mama has packed in her bag?”

“Well, sure I do. It’s handkerchiefs, and—”

Mina held up a gloved hand. “Not another word. See, that’s not my business. But whatever she’s packed, I probably have more or less the same thing.”

“Oh.”

The rest of the trip passed in silence as the train picked up or discharged passengers at, seemingly, every crossroads in Virginia.

Rating for Mina’s Mission

The story has a K+ rating. There’s nothing violent on screen, but the reader knows what Mina is trying to do. In addition, she suffers what at the time people would have called overly aggressive wooing. But these days, we would call it sexual harassment.

Takeaways

This was a short story that was a kind of revelation for me when I picked it up after about three and a half years. I love the premise, and Mina really could get a full-length novel. The genre would most likely be alternate history.

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Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then check out some of my other articles about my shorter works.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.