Chapter 20

Stepping into her apartment, Betty threw her keys on the side table by the door and greeted a very ecstatic Beaux Jacques. He jumped on her, which she usually didn’t allow, but she made an exception on this particular evening. She found it oddly comforting to have the pooch’s paws on her shoulders as he sniffed her hair and attempted to lick her face. “Okay, okay. Enough… I’m back. Part of my delay was getting something to keep your appetite in check until I can actually take time to shop for supplies.”

Beaux Jacques sat expectantly as Betty’s feet while she struggled with opening the bag of dog food and poured it into his bowl. It made an odd clanking noise as the pellets of food hit the metal structure. It hadn’t occurred to her, but the sound seemed oddly chilling that night. Despite Beaux’s best attempts at being comforting, she felt an odd sense of horror and paranoia creeping up her spine. She really didn’t want to be alone, but she didn’t know who to call. She had hard evidence that would help in the investigation, but August’s words still haunted her. Did she really want to continue to pursue this matter and get deeper into the investigation? Did she really want to know who killed the woman in front of her inn? Was it worth it?

Betty watched as Beaux contented himself sampling the new food she had purchased, and she was content. He seemed pleased with it. He did have expensive tastes in his kibble, but she honestly didn’t blame him. After all, she had some particular dining habits as well. She didn’t like it when her food touched other things on the plate, nor did she enjoy it when her soda or water was served with ice in it. She found the former diluted the true flavor of what she was eating. The ice, well, she had no explanation for that. She looked at her digital clock, and it read ten until eleven. It was late to be up, yet she found herself stir crazy and craved company. She just couldn’t stay in her apartment alone. Picking up the phone, she stilled her nerves and dialed a few numbers.

She patted a still eating Beaux Jacques on the head while the phone rang on the other end. She took a deep breath right before a rich baritone voice picked up. “Hello?”

“Hi. Brannigan?”

“It’s me. What can I do for you?”

“Um…hi. It’s Betty—"

“Betty! Oh, I didn’t recognize your voice. It’s good to hear from you. Are you okay?”

Betty smiled and blushed slightly. She reddened at the incredibly awkward situation she had just created for herself. She debated whether or not she would tell him the true reason for her call, but finally, after a long pause, she swallowed a lump that formed in her throat and continued. “Betty, are you there?”

“Yes…I’m here, Brannigan. Sigh, Listen, I was wondering if it’s not too much trouble if you could swing by.”

Hearing the quieter tone in her voice, Brannigan jumped to attention, sensing something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong, Betty?”

“Oh, nothing’s wrong per se. I could just use the company… that is, if you weren’t busy or anything? I could order a pizza, and we could just talk.”

“I’ll pick one up on my way. I’ll see you in a few minutes, Betty.”

“Are you sure you weren’t busy? I’d hate to interrupt if you had—"

“A date? Haha. Oh no. That hasn’t occurred in quite some time. I’m a bit behind in that department, it seems.”

“Well… I certainly appreciate you coming over. You can bring Bear if you want.”

“Nah…the old fella’s crashed out for the evening. He’ll be fine, he snores louder than I do, it’s nearly impossible to fall asleep if he goes out first.”

“Well, then you’re welcome for the peace and quiet.”

“Bye, Betty.”

Betty hung up the phone and looked at Beaux Jacques, who had finished his dinner for the evening and was looking at her expectantly. “Well, Beaux, I say we call it an evening and put on some comfy clothes, what do you think?”

The boxer woofed in response, and Betty patted him on the head as he padded off and lay on one of her loveseats as she went down the hallway to get changed into something a tad more comfortable for Brannigan’s visit. She didn’t know exactly what she was expecting, but she was certainly grateful for the company. She changed into a pair of soft dark brown leggings and a pair of oversized knit socks, as the temperature had grown chillier. She then pulled on a well-worn cotton sweatshirt, which despite its age, still was a vivid maroon and hugged her body in the right spots. She was comfortable, yet still looked put together. Being cool on the surface, yet a basket case underneath her clothes was beginning to become her normal. She knew that definitely needed to change and hoped once the murder investigation was finished, she could finally relax and allow more time for introspection into her life. Once the messy business of death was taken care of, then she could finally take the time she needed to figure out what made her happy. Was there a role for the handsome mailman in her future? She hadn’t really considered the possibility, but Betty couldn’t deny there was a spark that lingered between them that was inexplicable.

After taking one final glance in the mirror, she decided to let her hair down. Brushing it out and fluffing the ends, she realized it wasn’t only more comfortable. It made her look younger and almost delicate in her low lighting. She took the time to light a few candles on her kitchen counters, then plopped down on the plush sofa, turning on the remote control for the fireplace. It was one of the chillier nights there had been since her arrival, yet she was also chilled by the emptiness of her apartment. She sat listening to Beaux Jacques snore lightly before there was a soft knock on the door, which stirred both of them from their respective reveries. Betty stood up and looked through her peephole. She was pleased to see the Brannigan actually did follow through on her invitation. He stood in her doorway wearing an old, faded baseball cap and a pair of jeans which were tight-fitting in all the right places with holes in the knees. He wore a snug grey hoodie which did nothing to hide his chiseled chest either, which Betty appreciated but only reddened at her own lustful thought.

She opened the door and stepped aside so that Brannigan could cross her threshold. “Pizza delivery… is this Betty Cornish’s residence?”

Betty smiled and chuckled softly. “Well, yes, sir, it is. Come on in. Thank you so much, I appreciate you coming over.”

She took the pizza from Brannigan’s hands and set it on the kitchen counter as he shuffled in, pausing to take off his ball cap and unlace his sneakers, setting them to the side. “It’s not a problem, Betty, I’m glad you invited me. Bear doesn’t talk much these days, and it was getting to be a boring evening.”

“Oh, now I’m sure you had other things you could be doing rather than taking up your evening eating pizza with an old lady like myself.”

“Um… no. I’m honored to be in the same space, with I dare say, a beautiful and intelligent creature.”

“Normally, I would be immediately distrusting and completely remiss at that compliment, but you’re lucky, Brannigan. Tonight I will take any compliment I can get.”

Brannigan smiled at Betty and accepted her offering of a drink and a plate of food as they sat down together on her plush sofa in front of the fireplace. “Again, Brannigan, thanks for coming. I really appreciate it.”

“So Miss Cornish, what is on your mind? You sounded worried when you called.”

“Did I? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just…I don’t even know to put this… I just didn’t want to be alone tonight. You know I’m not one for superstition or drama, but something just feels off for me tonight.”

“Hmm. I understand. I was anxious earlier. It didn’t seem to bother my good ol' Bear, though. He was fine. It doesn’t look like Beaux is too concerned either.”

Brannigan glanced at the giant Boxer curled up on his blanket, reclined on the loveseat, and smiled. “He’s such a good companion for you. You two seem like a match made in Heaven.”

“Oh yes, the Commander is definitely my rock. I don’t know where I’d be without him. We’ve made it through some tough times together.”

“Why do you call him that?”

“Oh, haha, Commander? That’s an old nickname from when he was a puppy that’s just stuck. When he was barely a year old, I was given a bag of old things from a coworker to sort through and donate to charity. As he was ‘helping’ me, he found this old stuffed toy that was Kobra Commander from G.I. Joe. He absolutely loved it. He played with it constantly and carried it around with him everywhere. The doll eventually got torn to bits, but I referred to him as ‘Commander,’ ever since.”

“Ha! That is adorable! Some days I wish I could be as carefree as Bear. His only concern is where he’s going to take his next nap.”

“He’s lucky to have a hard-working human like you in his life. Most guys wouldn’t respond to the beck and call of their friend late at night, once the pizza has been made.”

“Ah, well lucky for you, as a mailman, it’s my sworn duty to always deliver. Trust me, Betty, I understand what you’re going through. I think it’s just an eerie evening for everyone with the funeral and the turn in the weather.”

“Right. The funeral… that has been on my mind as well.”

“Oh yeah? Why does it concern you?”

Brannigan turned to face Betty and moved slightly closer to her on the sofa. He watched as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear and turned her eyes downward nervously. “Betty? Are you okay? What’s going on? I promise you can trust me.”

“I stopped at the Stop n Gas tonight to get Beaux some food…which remind me I definitely need to stock up my pantry, and there was a man dressed up in there who approached me discussing the funeral services. His name was August Whitmore. I think he low-key threatened me. He basically told me to not concern myself with the murder of Hannah Davis.”

Brannigan narrowed his eyes and then took Betty’s hand gently. When he looked up at her, he realized that she had begun to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes. “Hey now… none of that. Tell me what’s wrong, Betty.”

Betty took a deep breath and exhaled. As she did so, she was unable to control the sobbing that came from her core. Brannigan made soothing sounds and placed his arms around her tenderly. He half expected her to pull away, but she didn’t flinch and allowed him to comfort her. As she continued to sob, he tightened his embrace and waited on her to steady herself. “It’s just that I don’t understand. The only thing I wanted to do was come here and start my life over. I wanted to get out of the high-pressure job I had, I wanted to retire to a small town, have a little business that would eventually be handed off, and spend some time by the sea. I wanted to be able to take Beaux on long walks and enjoy the beauty in all the little moments I had missed earlier in life. I wanted to be able to have time to sit down and paint my nails, or work a puzzle, or maybe, even for one millisecond think about having a family. I just wanted to be normal… and it seems like everything’s fallen apart. The town has all these expectations of me, my bed and breakfast is tainted by a murder, and I have to undergo a massive remodel. Honestly…I’m thinking of just throwing up my hands at this point, selling to the highest bidder and getting out of this town and starting over once again.”

“Ah…I see. Betty, just so you know…you’re doing great. You’ve done nothing wrong, and in fact, I, for one, am grateful you came into town. Just think… you’ve already put down roots in the short time you’ve been here. You’ve earned the respect of the staff at the Cornerstone, and Charlotte is happier than I’ve seen her in ages. If you were to leave now, you’d make a lot of people very sad. I know it’s hard right now, but it will work out. The murder will be solved soon enough…even if we have to do it ourselves, and as far as August is concerned…well, he better hope I don’t catch him outside of the Parker residence.”

“Well, I certainly appreciate the sentiment, Brannigan, but that’s not necessary. I just want this all to be over with. “

Brannigan was relieved that she had seemed to calm down, yet he still held her close, making soothing motions with his palms along her back. Her skin was warm, and it felt oddly natural to have her in his arms. “So, what else happened today?”

“So…earlier in the evening at the start of the funeral service Charlotte and I may have accidentally stopped by Veronica’s apartment.”

“Haha, accidentally?”

“Yeah, um, if anyone asks I was lost…”

“Sigh. Go on.”

“So I have something to show you.”

Brannigan took her cue and unwrapped his arms from her body. They both reddened at the lack of contact between them. Betty already missed his arms and hoped that when she returned, he would wrap her back up once more. She didn’t know what that embrace meant between them, but she was tired of fighting that emotion. She liked the mailman and felt they had chemistry. She would finally allow herself to relax and go with the flow. After all, every relationship didn’t have to be like her last. She deserved to have a good man who was kind and supportive without any ulterior motives. She hoped that Brannigan could be that man, at least.

She returned to the couch with the box they had retrieved from Veronica’s apartment and sat down in the same spot she had been in previously. She blushed once more as Brannigan draped his arm around her shoulder. She smiled slightly and hoped he didn’t notice her grin, and she purposely focused on carefully opening the package so as not to damage the contents inside. Once she felt the flush leave her face, she relaxed back onto the sofa into Brannigan’s arm. She couldn’t help but feel a surge of passion rise up through her midsection when his breath tickled the side of her neck as he looked at the box in her lap. “What’s that?”

Betty turns slightly so that Brannigan could see the contents of the package with her. To her surprise, he gave a low whistle, and his voice was barely over a whisper as he said, “Whoa. This is huge. I can’t believe this. Betty…do you know how potentially damaging this evidence could be?”

“I think I caught the gist of that whenever I was approached by August tonight. I had planned on turning these into Sheriff Walker in the morning… I just couldn’t be the only one to see them, do you understand my concern now?”

“Yes… I certainly do. You did the right thing by calling someone else and making the decision to go to the authorities. I just can’t believe this. It looks like Veronica had been telling the truth all along about Hanna.”

“Oh, just keep looking… this just really makes you think, doesn’t it?”

Brannigan continued to flip through the photographs in the box. Betty watched his expression as his eyes widened with shock. “Wow. I just really can’t believe this. It looks as if Kevin was no saint either. Sigh. Seeing things like this always makes me sad.”

Betty stiffened under Brannigan’s embrace. She disliked the topic of the conversation and hoped he would change it, but instead, he pressed on. “It’s just that to me at least…when two people start a relationship, they should be on the same page, ya know? They should both make that commitment to one another that despite anything that life puts in their path… other people included they have a responsibility to communicate with one another at all times.”

“I’d have to say I agree…though that is an ideal, isn’t it?”

“It doesn’t have to be. I mean, what’s stopping two people who honestly love one another from doing that?”

“People change. It’s been my experience that despite all the flowery notions of romance and the constant babble of forever, that very few people actually mean that. For example… look at divorce rates. They are higher now than ever, it’s like people are all disposable, and relationships are merely a game. It’s just one status update away from true love, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. I suppose you’re right. I guess I’m just old-fashioned. I was always under the impression that patience is everything when dealing with matters of the heart, and if you want something permanent, you have to wait and work for it.”

“You know what’s sad, Brannigan?”

“What’s that?”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Why is that sad?”

“You and I may be the only people left on the planet who truly feel that way.”

Betty relaxed once more into Brannigan’s embrace, but neither one dared to speak about the physical contact that was happening. Betty even sat up for a moment, placed the box of photos on the table in front of her, and repositioned her legs so that she snuggled in closer to Brannigan’s chest and shoulder, laying her head against his body, inhaling the smell of his cologne. She closed her eyes and forced herself to just be still a few moments, enjoying his warmth and closeness before he spoke. “Oh, Betty…I’m sure all the pizza delivery guys feel the exact same way I do. Next week you’ll have some other poor sap on your couch philosophizing about romance.”

“Haha. Nah… next week, it will be the mailman.”

They both laughed, and Brannigan sighed contentedly. “I’m glad you decided to land in my town Betty Cornish. I think I’ve been waiting for you for the last decade.”

“Well, I never said I was timely, only determined.”

“That you are, my dear…that you are.”

The pair discussed current events and the investigation once more. Brannigan agreed to go to the police station with Betty in the morning after checking on Bear, and she was grateful to have him with her. Despite her dislike of Sheriff Walker, she knew that the information could prove useful in his case, and given his chauvinistic attitude, she determined he would consider the evidence a bit more closely if it were provided to him from a male. She knew his type and, even in her legal experience, had faced the same double standards and glass ceilings as she did now. When the conversation finally died down, and the pizza became very cold, Betty got up and went into the kitchen, pouring them both a small glass of hearty red wine and retrieved a blanket from a chair in the corner. She then turned on the television to find the Wizard of Oz playing. They both speculated over what character they would be. Betty decided that Brannigan would be the cowardly lion, brave inside, but very reluctant to let his feathers get ruffled or his anger stirred, while Betty, of course, would be Dorothy, transported to a new land by what could be debated as either fate or coincidence. As the Wicked Witch threatened to get Dorothy and her little dog, too, Betty and Brannigan clung to one another as both their eyes drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

The following morning, Betty opened her eyes and smiled at seeing Brannigan still the same position they fell asleep in. She studied the way his reddish hair fell across his forehead. His eyelids twitched, and his brow furrowed. She couldn’t believe that he was actually there and stayed the night, content to hold her protectively. She wondered what he was dreaming about at that very moment. Secretly she hoped he was dreaming of her and how they would spend the day together. She then allowed herself to let her eyes roam over his body. He was fit from his job and was broad-chested. She felt warm and safe in his embrace and, for a few moments, let her mind wander to what else those strong arms could do, and wondered just how his lips would feel as they brushed her own in a moment of passion.

She realized the mid-morning sun was coming through the window and knew that Beaux would have already expected her to be up and ready to go for their morning stroll. He had been quiet that morning. She thought it was odd that he hadn’t padded through the living room yet, to make sure that she was okay. On days when she was sick or decided to sleep in for whatever reason, he was always at her bedside, licking her face or hand, waiting for an acknowledgment that she was okay. She stirred and shifted, shaking Brannigan gently, purring his name into his ear. “Brannigan…come on. Wake up, it’s getting late.”

He didn’t move and only murmured, “Five more minutes.” He then attempted to pull her close once more, but she resisted. Instead of pulling herself away from him completely, she wiped her eyes and stood up stretching, her neck and back popping from sleeping on the couch. Her mouth dropped open in horror when she saw the scene in front of her, though. Her apartment door was cracked open. One of her lamps had been overturned, and she saw Beaux’s dog tag laying by the door, the light from the door shining off its reflective metal surface. “No!!! No!! Beaux! Beaux! Come here, boy!! Brannigan, get up!! Oh, my God!! Beaux’s gone!!”

Brannigan was up in a moment, woken by Betty’s screams. She stood pale and shaken in shock. “Betty, what is it?! What’s wrong?”

“The door! Beaux’s gone, oh my God! Brannigan, where is he?! He’s gone! Please! We’ve got to find him…someone’s taken him!”

“How did this happen? We were here last night… I didn’t hear anything, did you?”

“No!”

Betty’s eyes narrowed, and rage flashed across her face. She turned cold as she blamed herself for not checking on him. While she was lusting after the handsome mailman, someone had taken her best friend. “You! You did this, didn’t you?! How could you?! I trusted you! Get out! “

“Betty… wait. I didn’t have anything to do with this. You’ve got to believe me. Just calm down, we’ll find him… I promise you that love, but you’ve got to trust me.”

“Get out! Just get out!”

Betty’s screams turned to sobs as she watched Brannigan walk towards the door. She then picked up his hat from the countertop and threw it out the door behind him as he walked out with his head hung low. “I’ll find him, Betty. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

Without a response, Betty slammed the door after Brannigan and crumpled to the floor, clutching her cell phone in her hands, unable to dial the only person left in the world she knew that would be completely on her side.

When Charlotte arrived, she found that Betty hadn’t moved from the position she was in after she dialed the numbers. She hadn’t found the strength yet to get up and move anywhere else. Charlotte approached the woman who was in shock and gently placed her hands on her shoulders. “Betty. I’m here, it’s Charlotte… you need to get up now it’s time to go see Sheriff Walker. I know he can help get Beaux back. Sheriff Walker may not be the greatest sleuth, but I’m sure he’ll be able to find your dog, Betty.”

“What if he’s been taken to another state or just dropped off in the woods or something?”

“Which is why we have to hurry. Come on now, Betty, get up.”

Under Charlotte’s prodding, Betty stood up, and the pair walked to Charlotte’s car after Charlotte made sure the residence was secured once more. When they were in Charlotte’s vehicle, Charlotte made certain that Betty was coherent enough to answer any questions the Sheriff may have had. “So tell me, Betty, what happened this morning?”

“Well, last night when I got home, I had a strange feeling after talking with August Whitmore —"

“Wait, when did you talk to him?”

“When I left your place. Last night, I had to stop at the gas station and get poor Beaux some food. I promised him that I would get him some better the next time I went to the store…” Betty’s voice trailed off once more, and Charlotte made shooshing noises then continued. “Betty…I need you to focus. Tell me exactly what happened last night. You were a lawyer…right now I need lawyer Betty, okay?”

Betty nodded her head and, between deep breaths, recounted the events of the night. Charlotte nodded her head and then reassured her friend that they would locate her lost companion. Betty then locked the door to her apartment and got in Charlotte’s car as they headed to the police station with the box of photographs they retrieved from Veronica’s apartment and Beaux’s personalized dog tag.

When they arrived at the police station, the same bored-looking officer on desk duty looked at them sullenly as they gave their report. She instructed them to wait in the lobby while she picked a phone and dialed Sheriff Walker’s office number. This time Betty made no grandstanding efforts, nor did she barge into the station demanding to see the Sheriff. She sat in the waiting room, defeated, and slouched in her chair.

She anxiously looked down at her phone and stroked the screen with her index finger. Her screen saver was a picture of Beaux she took the previous Christmas with him in a Santa hat. She couldn’t believe he was gone. She hoped they found him in time. This was her breaking point, however. Once she had Beaux back in her possession, she made up her mind, she would just quietly pack up her things and move back out of town. Sure, as heroic as Charlotte made detective work sound, it was equally as dangerous it seemed. She knew this wasn’t the life she wanted. Sure, she had made a really great friend in Charlotte, but she could find another friend anywhere, even she even chose to socialize again. After all, as long as she got Beaux back, they could start over again anywhere they chose. She decided that as soon as he was returned to her safely, she would put the bed and breakfast back on the market, maybe even see if August Whitmore was interested, so it could be unloaded quickly, then she would go ahead and quietly book a flight to someone even further on the coast perhaps. She wondered if Beaux Jacques would like the beach. He had seemed to enjoy running in the sand when they had gone once when she was younger. Maybe he would grow accustomed to the salt air as well.

“Betty… Betty! Snap out of it! The Sheriff wants to see us now, come on.”

Charlotte gently took Betty by the elbow and helped her up from her chair, then led her back to the Sheriff’s office. Charlotte knew that she and Betty would be in hot water for snooping into the investigation, but she didn’t care. At this moment, all she wanted to do was help her friend find her beloved pet and find the killer so their life could return to a happy normal. When they entered, the Sheriff was sitting at his desk in front of a half-drank cup of coffee. There was also a bottle of what appeared to be antacids on his desk, and Betty could guess by the worried and haggard look on his face, there were the makings of an ulcer beginning to form due to the stress of the investigation. He sat with his eyes a dark brown, and his expression was that of anger, not of respect or gratitude. His jaw muscles worked, and as they entered, he took a deep breath and exhaled it for an extended period of time. “Close the door.”

Charlotte did as he asked, and he motioned for the two of them to sit in front of his desk while he stood and pretended to examine a large map that hung in one of the corners of the room. He then wordlessly turned back around red-faced. “You know Betty, I’m just at a loss. Before you showed up here, I was well on my way into retiring peacefully. I looked forward to coming into work every day and just dealing with some petty squabbles and a few disturbances of the peace. I had some traffic citations and even some shoplifting here and there, but nothing like this. Now I have a breaking and entering on top of murder to investigate. You know, though, I’ve been doing some soul searching in regard to this matter…, and I just wanna take a moment to thank you, Miss Cornish.”

“Thank me? For what, Sheriff?”

“This whole situation is the reason I wanted to go into law enforcement, to begin with. Who wants to settle into retirement giving speeding tickets? I certainly don’t. In fact, this whole drama has made me reconsider retirement completely, to be honest with you. So you know what we’re going to do now, Betty?”

“Are you arresting us?”

The Sheriff’s face contorted once more, but this time it was a surprising smile that formed. “Ha! Lord, no! If you were one of my deputies, I’d promote you for that find. No, Betty… you, Charlotte, and I are going to go find your dog. Then I’m going to track down the guilty party who killed that poor girl and get some justice for her. I don’t care what your stance is on any type of risqué behavior. No one should be the judge, jury, and executioner. I think the world is much nicer when people don’t meddle in the affairs of others. So go ahead and cancel any plans you have for today and grab your jackets. we’re taking a field trip, ladies.”

After a short trip to the Sheriff’s car, they arrived at Veronica’s apartment. She came to the door in a huff with a long-sleeved sweater wrapped around her shoulders. She was red-faced, and her eyes were swollen. Her eyes appeared watery, and she sounded a bit stuffy. “Yeah. What do you want?”

“Well, that’s no way to greet someone, Veronica. Good morning to you too. Do you know why we’re here?”

“No. I’m assuming it’s not to bring me soup.”

“No. Where were you last night, Veronica?”

“I was here in bed after I went to the funeral service for Hanna. Where else would I be?”

“Oh, I don’t know… I never knew you were an animal lover, though. I don’t recall you ever blogging about the desire to have a puppy.”

“Sheriff…I really don’t know what you’re implying, but I don’t know anything about puppies. In fact, I could never have one. They’d get fur all over my clothes, in fact, I think that’s disgusting. Animals should all be outside.”

“Mhm. That’s good to know, Veronica. Can you tell me how much you made off the funeral?”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh…you know what I’m talking about. I saw that you were broadcasting it last night over your social media sites. Did you even have the decency to check with the family first?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t make a dime off of that slut.”

“Despite your hatred for that slut she did butter your bread, didn’t she?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sheriff…do I need to call my lawyer? Are you and your lovable bunch of losers arresting me for something?”

“Not yet. Do you mind if we come in and look around?”

“Yeah. I do mind.”

“I figured as much. Don’t you worry, though …I’ll be back later with a search warrant.? I wouldn’t do much traveling. In fact, you should take care not to cross any state lines. In fact, I think you should just stay put and get some rest. I hear it’s hard to sleep in jail. Good day, Veronica.”

The Sheriff nodded his head at Veronica, and they all walked back to the car. Betty looked disappointed as they got in the car, ready to go question another suspect. “Don’t you worry, Miss Cornish, we’re still going to get to the bottom of this. I don’t think Veronica has your dog, though, but you never know. She does have all the signs of an allergic reaction. She looked fine last night when she posted the selfies of her next to Hanna Davis’s coffin.”

“If he was there, though, he would have caught my scent and came running. He’s trained to come find me should be ever become separated.”

“We’ll definitely use that to our advantage.”

“I don’t know about, you ladies…but I think I’m ready for lunch. What do you say we splurge and go to a steakhouse on the department’s dime?”

Charlotte chimed in and said, “Oh, I don’t think Betty and I could possibly eat. It’s been such a bad morning, you know?”

“Well…let’s just say I have a hunch that the bar will be more interesting than the kitchen.”

Betty took a deep breath and clenched her jaw muscles. She was ready to bring the fight to whoever had taken Beaux. “You know what, Sheriff…I suddenly have my appetite back. Let’s go and when you order for me, make sure my steak is rare. “

“Very well then. Buckle up, ladies…it’s going to be a long day, but I couldn’t ask for better companions.”

The Sheriff made a drive through the mostly empty parking lot at the steakhouse at the edge of town. Rare had been opened in the late eighties and normally brought in a late-night crowd of mostly affluent businessmen and businesswomen. They’d finish their workday and stop in for drinks or perhaps to just satiate their hunger on high dollar cuts of meat. The owner catered to the crowd and made certain to keep the restaurant’s high-class atmosphere afloat. There was an established dress code, which of course, the Sheriff didn’t care about. They walked into the restaurant, and the hostess looked at them with a disinterested scowl on her face. “Hello, Sheriff, can I help you?”

“Why yes, young lady. We’d like a table. Preferably one close to the bar.”

The hostess shook her head and picked up a phone that was on her stand. She pressed a button, and before they could say anything, the owner of the restaurant had appeared to stand alongside the hostess. “Well, hello, Sheriff Walker, what brings you to our fine establishment?’

“I brought these two lovely ladies here for lunch. We’d like a table, preferably one by the bar, if you can find an opening. I mean… it does look packed in here, though.” Sheriff Walker emphasized the lack of patronage, knowing that it would get under the owner’s skin. “I guess that your biggest draw is your bartender’s liberal use of top-shelf liquor in their drinks. I also have a feeling that if you don’t find it necessary to accommodate us, there may be an investigation on just how your middle-aged male customers frequently seem to find and manage to woo the underage ladies here on weekends.”

“Our liquor license is legitimate, and we always abide by state and local laws here, Sheriff. You know this is true. If you have any doubt, feel free to do an investigation. However, I do value your department’s business… so let me show you to a table, and we’ll see how the weekend goes.”

The trio got seated by a table adjacent to the bar, and the Sheriff ordered for everyone and the owner, then brought out a bottle of red wine, taking care to open it and pour each a glass. The Sheriff said, “I’m on duty, so I’ll pass, but we definitely appreciate the hospitality.”

The owner nodded at the three of them and gave the Sheriff a strained smile. “Well, everything is on the house today for our hard-working law enforcement officers in this great county.”

“I’ll be seeing you around, James.”

“Sheriff, do you know blackmail material on everyone in town?”

“What can I say, Charlotte. You know how much of a people person I am.”

Charlotte chuckled at the Sheriff’s sarcasm, and they chatted about the likelihood of Veronica’s alibi being truthful. They all agreed she probably was at home, but at the same time, there were some underlying questions. What had happened from the time she was feeling well at the funeral service up until she answered the door that morning clearly under the weather? Betty then pulled out her phone and looked at Veronica’s social media account. She had already broadcast a post in which she called out Sheriff Walker and the police department for starting a ‘witch hunt’ for those who knew Hanna Davis. “Sheriff, look at this.”

The Sheriff picked up Betty’s phone and immediately rolled his eyes. “Sigh. This is all we need. I suppose the mayor will be all over my ass for this, but you know what… I don’t care anymore. It’s time that those with money and influence can’t hide from their crimes.”

A waiter then came out and delivered their meals. Betty realized then she was actually hungry. Her mood had improved considerably once she realized Sheriff Walker was actually going to start working on the investigation whole-heartedly a Beaux would be recovered soon. She only hoped that whoever took him wasn’t stupid enough to harm him. She would surely need a lawyer herself then. She knew a few good criminal defense attorneys who would definitely not hesitate to use the insanity defense when she murdered whoever harmed her beloved Beaux Jacques. She began cutting into her steak, which the Sheriff had ordered rare at her request and took a few bites, savoring its flavor. She could tell by the way it was marbled that it wasn’t a cheap cut of beef and had been prepared with masterful skill. She hoped once the bed and breakfast’s renovation was completed, she could take the time to learn such culinary mastery as well. Charlotte seemed to be enjoying her meal as well. She seemed to be lost in thought as she chewed. Betty surmised the woman was probably considering all the flavors of the dish and deconstructing them in her brain, figuring out how to reconstitute them to her standards should she be asked to replicate them for the Cornerstone at some point.

Before anyone one of them could comment on their meals, Betty and Charlotte saw the reason why Sheriff Walker had been adamant about coming to the steakhouse. August Whitmore just walked in the restaurant and nodded at the hostess. She smiled at him, and he handed her what appeared to be a rather large tip. She then walked with him over to the bar, where he was seated and left him with a menu. The bartender, a balding middle-aged man wearing a white button-downtown dress shirt with a black vest buttoned up over the top of it smiled at him and, knowing his usual order, just waited patiently for August to signal. He lifted up two fingers to the bartender, and the man returned with a glass half-full of dark brown whiskey, the ice cubes in the glass already melting away and pooling at the bottom with the liquid.

August Whitmore pulled out his phone and took a few sips of his whiskey before typing a few letters onto the device. He heard it ding and then smiled. He then pocketed the device and began perusing the menu before the bartender brought him a sealed envelope. August immediately placed it in his jacket and picked up his phone once more. He nodded once more, seeing that he didn’t have any messages, and proceeded to order an appetizer from the bartender while checking his watch.

Sheriff Walker unfolded his napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth. “You ladies will have to excuse me, I have some business to take care of.”

“Oh… I think I need to pay Mr. Whitmore my regards as well. Are you coming, Charlotte?”

She nodded her head, and then the trio got up and walked to the bar area where August was sitting alone. The Sheriff spoke first. He was unable to hide a sinister grin that crept upon his face as they spoke. “Well…as I live and breathe…it really is you, August. I haven’t seen you in ages. What’s it been now ten or fifteen years? I think the last time I saw you, you were a boss at the winery working on the floor when my daddy was on the crew. It’s a shame what happened, but you know… I know how life is. Sometimes people just have to make sacrifices for the greater good, don’t they?”

“I suppose so, Sheriff. That was a long time ago, wasn’t it? It’s funny looking back on those days. Sometimes I sit, and I think did I do anything wrong? Then I look at the million-dollar home I have and the luxuries I have provided for myself and my wife… and I think to myself that I made all the right choices. Can you say the same for yourself, Sheriff?”

“I know that I sleep just fine at night, August. I wonder though… how did you sleep last night? Did you toss and turn wondering if she was going to find out? Did you notice if she looked at you funny, narrowing her eyes or questioning your routine? Anyway, I do have some official business we need to clear the air about. Where were you last night, August?”

“If it’s a crime to be out after dark, then I most certainly broke curfew. You know that practically everyone in town was at the Davis girl’s funeral. It was veritable who’s who of the elite in attendance. I would most certainly be remiss if I didn’t show up to represent the Parker family appropriately, now wouldn’t I?”

“Oh, yes… you’d be remiss, I’m sure. How are the Parkers faring anyway? They’ve been quiet since the girl was murdered. I suppose it was a shock to their delicate systems, especially poor Kevin. I can’t believe that he hasn’t come forth to make some type of announcement. I really do hope he was at the service. The grief counselor we keep on hand at the station, well, she says it’s important to appropriately grieve the loss of a loved one. Do you think that’s true, August?”

“Oh, I’m not certain. I do, however, have proof of my attendance if you should need it for something. You also have a witness to my whereabouts standing beside you. I do believe we’ve met Miss Cornish.”

Betty glared at August with her eyes a shade of steely blue and glowered. “How did your wife like her ice cream, August? Do you think it will save your marriage because we know there’s not enough rocky road in the world to cover up your philandering? What’s her name, August? You better get it right because she should be here any minute, shouldn’t she?”

“Oh, that’s preposterous. You women are all the same …looking for drama where there is none. Did your hound enjoy his kibble, Betty?”

“Where is he?! Where’s Beaux?!”

“Why, how in the world should I know? It’s not like I carry around steaks in my pocket, attempting to lure all the neighborhood dogs home. I just know how to woo the ladies. Now, if you will excuse me, I do have a lunch date planned.”

The Sheriff cleared his throat and looked from Charlotte to Betty. He was a family man through and through. He could never cheat on his wife, and in fact, he fell more in love with her every day. She was looking forward to his retirement and had already lined up a list of places for them to see once he ended his days on the force. The Sheriff knew he needed something to hold August Whitmore in connection with the murder if only for questioning as a bargaining chip into the Parker residence, but he had no proof of the underhanded scheme that August was involved with at that the bar. He needed a lucky break.

As Sheriff Walker turned to walk away, the hostess came over, interrupting them, whispering something in August’s ear. He nodded vigorously then smiled at her, flashing a pearly white smile that Betty surmised was made of synthetic materials. Before the Sheriff could ask what the conversation concerned, a young woman dressed in a tight gold dress entered the bar area. The outfit was skintight and left little to the imagination. Her hair was firmly in place with what appeared to be several layers of product, and her make-up and nails were immaculate. She sidled up behind August and paid no mind to the Sheriff or the others in her area.

She didn’t even stop to consider he was in the middle of a conversation. She simply walked up to August and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind as she kissed him on the cheek and said, “Hello there, stranger. It’s good to see you. My name’s Lily. I'm the friend that Madison was telling you about. You’re even more handsome than the picture you sent. So, what are you not going to buy a girl a drink?”

August reddened and cleared his throat and then looked down once more at his phone. There hadn’t been any messages from his wife, which was a relief to him. Before he had a chance to offer Lily a seat at the bar Sheriff Walker intervened. “Excuse me, ma’am? Lily, is it?”

“Yes, sir. What can I do ya for?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any identification on you by chance?”

“Why yes, Sheriff, I do. It’s in my purse here somewhere. Is it okay with you if I set it down here on the bar to get it for you?”

“Yes. Please do so, Lily. You’re going to be a big help to me today, and I appreciate your time in this very important matter.”

The girl smiled, and her expression brightened. “Oh yeah? Wow. That’s cool. I’ve always wanted to big a part of something big, ya know?”

“Well, let me assure you, Lily…this is going to be big.”

The woman fumbled through her purse for her wallet while August attempted to stand up. “Lily…I’m sorry, something’s came up at the office, and I really must be going now.”

“Oh no! Why’s that August?! You promised that we would have a really nice dinner and then we’d go look at the stars when night fell. This is important, don’t you think?!”

The Sheriff cocked an eyebrow at August then coolly said, “I’m sure there’s nothing at the office that can’t wait, isn’t that right, August? I know I would certainly make time for a beautiful lady if I were still in my prime. So what’s the emergency, August?”

“Um…nothing.”

“Aha! Here it is. I’m sorry, Sheriff. It takes me forever to find these things. That pic… ugh, I hate it. The lady at the DMV said absolutely no smiling in the permit photos… I think my smile is my best feature, don’t you August?”

August didn’t respond as the Sheriff looked at the young lady’s identification and grimaced. “I’m afraid August won’t be joining you for dinner, Lily, but I do promise that you’ll have a nice dinner on the police department wherever you choose. I’m going to have to ask you to step back now.”

Sheriff Walker grabbed August roughly by the lapel on his jacket and stood him up. He read him his rights and charged him with the solicitation of a minor. August immediately asked for his lawyer, and the Sheriff knew that by the time they arrived back at the precinct, he would attempt to say he had no knowledge concerning the girl’s age.

After booking August at the station, they got back in the Sheriff’s car to continue their investigation. “Wow. How long had you known about August trying to solicit minors for favors?”

“Betty, that particular investigation has been ongoing since March. I’m very fortunate to have caught a break in the case. It seems with the Davis girl’s death, August finally let his guard down and messaged the wrong lady. Lily was undercover with our department. I hope you see that with every investigation, things aren’t instantaneous just because you’d like them to be, Betty. Justice is a slow process at times. I’m sure your experience as a lawyer has taught you that.”

Betty sighed and nodded her head. Her experience had taught her that though, admittedly, her patience was wearing thin especially now that Beaux was missing. “Where to now Sheriff?”

“Well I don’t know about you ladies, but I think it’s time we paid a little visit to the Parker Estate. Without their watchdog August on the premises, we may actually be able to have a little chat with Kevin. He’s been oddly missing lately.”

“I agree Sheriff. Let’s go.”

They pulled up the long and curvy driveway at the top of the hill and Betty marveled at the view. The estate was situated atop a hill and Betty could see the mile and miles of vineyards that lay behind it in the distance. She took notice of the immaculate gardens out front as well as the fountain in the middle of the driveway. Seeing it was the Sheriff’s car, the security guard standing in a shelter at the left of the gate pressed a button and waved the car onto the grounds. The Sheriff wasted no time in parking the vehicle and getting out of the car. Betty and the Sheriff walked up to the door, while Charlotte lingered behind. She seemed to be looking at something by the fountain, so Betty decided it would be best to not draw attention to her. When Charlotte had a gut feeling it normally seemed to be right. Betty accredited it to some type of home spun wisdom she had gained for years of working in a kitchen. The Sheriff rang the bell and was surprised to find that Mrs. Parker actually answered the door herself and hadn’t sent one of her butlers or a housekeeper to do it on her behalf.

Before the Sheriff could introduce himself, Betty jumped into the conversation. She cordially extended her hand, which the aging Mrs. Parker looked at but didn’t immediately touch. “Hello, Mrs. Parker. My name is Betty Cornish. I know you don’t personally know me, but recently I purchased the Cornerstone. I’m looking forward to meeting as many people as I can in the town, and you are certainly one of the, if not the most prominent person I’ve met. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Mrs. Parker reluctantly accepted Betty’s hand in a limp handshake and inhaled deeply. Attempting to contain the annoyance in her voice she asked, “So what brings you to my residence, Betty? I wasn’t expecting company, especially the Sheriff.”

“Oh, you see I had an accident last night and it seems that my dog, Beaux Jacques managed to slip out the door. I was just wondering if you had seen him. I mean, I know it’s not close to town here, but if I know one thing I know Beaux and he loves to run in any open field he can. I was thinking that maybe he made a visit to see the vineyards.”

“Oh no. Nothing like that. To my knowledge the vineyards haven’t been disturbed. You’re more than welcome to check them out if you’d like. In fact, Betty I could even set up a guided tour for you sometime if you’d like. I know that the Cornerstone has a storied history with our family and I’m hoping that we could continue the tradition even under its new ownership.”

“Well that would be lovely, but I’m afraid that I don’t know how much longer I’ll be managing it myself. It’s just that while the murder and the renovation becoming painfully slow, I think I just may pack up and try my hand at a different start up business. It seems that inn ownership may not be for me. You see, all I wanted to do was settle in and spend long days and warm nights with my pal. Now that he’s gone, as soon as I find him, I’ll probably pack up and leave town.”

“Oh, well… isn’t that a pity. Well you know what they say Betty… nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Haha. That’s very true. For a moment there I thought you were going to say all is fair in love and war. Which would be an apt cliché as well now wouldn’t it, Mrs. Parker?”

Before Betty could continue her verbal assault, the Sheriff stepped on her foot as an indication for her to be quiet. With a strained smile, Betty continued, “I’m sorry Mrs. Parker. That was very rude of me. I’m just so overwhelmed and losing my pal has just sent me into a nervous condition I’m afraid. Thank you for giving me the offer of that tour. Once things have settled down at the Cornerstone, I will most certainly take you up on the offer.”

Betty took her cue then and stopped talking while the Sheriff intervened. “Since I’m out here and really don’t want to bother you again, Mrs. Parker, could you tell me if you’ve heard from your son since the murder? He’s been laying low it seems, which is quite understandable after a loss, but people are starting to talk ya know.”

“Well I understand that young woman’s funeral was last night. Such a sad affair when a life is taken so young isn’t it Sheriff? Kevin wasn’t up to going to the services, though he did ask his friend Veronica to live stream it for him, so he could at least get some closure. He’s been in his room since the incident. He barely speaks to anyone; the staff tell me he’s not eating well and looks pale.”

“The staff? You mean you haven’t checked on him?”

“Well of course I have, silly. But really what am I do, force feed the boy? He’s a grown man now and not an infant. No one likes dealing with death; however it is an unfortunate necessity of life isn’t it? I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of dead bodies in your line of work Sheriff and it never gets any easier does it? I remember when my husband passed, you were standing right by my side, stoic and unwavering as ever. That was the most comforting thing anyone did for me Sheriff, just being cold and clinical forced me to rationalize and accept his death that much easier. That’s all I’m doing for my Kevin you see. I’m just making certain he understands that despite the tragedy, the young woman is not coming back.”

“When you put it like that Mrs. Parker, it seems a very kind thing to do doesn’t it?”

“Absolutely.”

“So, you’re telling me you haven’t physically seen your son leave the premises since the night of the murder?”

“That’s correct Sheriff.”

“Do you think it would be possible if we went to go speak with him? I’d just like to hear it from him personally concerning his whereabouts last night. I know that nearly everyone was at the service and could vouch for him logging in to send his regards online, but you do understand despite the delicate nature of death, I am running a murder investigation.”

“I most certainly do understand the situation, Sheriff. You have to respect my position though. Well how would it look if the most eligible bachelor in town, as well as the most socially prominent family were dragged out into the public eye after a gruesome murder? It would look poorly upon the family for certain and could even tarnish our family’s legacy. I simply cannot have you parading my son out in front of the media like a common criminal. So, no Sheriff, I’m sorry it’s just not going to be possible to see Kevin.”

The Sheriff sighed deeply and looked up at the skyline surrounding the vineyards. He could certainly see why the Parkers wanted to keep the property in their family. He admired the acres and acres of lush green grapevines, as they entangled with one another. He could smell the sweetness faintly as the breeze drifted their aroma in his direction. He hoped when he retired, he could find somewhere equally as tranquil to settle down and enjoy some peace of mind. Shaking the thought of retirement from his thoughts, he looked at Betty, who looked as if she were ready to rip off Mrs. Parker’s head. He knew that she was the type that was slow to anger but dangerous when she was furious, so he knew he had to take control of the situation. “I understand Mrs. Parker. Thank you for your time. Be prepared to brief Kevin on our visit though, I’ll be back with a search warrant either tonight or tomorrow. It just depends on how quickly Judge Stuart finishes his golf game. Lucky for all of us, I hear he’s terrible.”

The Sheriff tapped Betty on the shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly as he motioned for them to walk away. They turned and paused for a moment, while looking down the driveway at the layout of the property. They both scanned the mansion for any signs of life coming from upstairs but couldn’t make out any shapes or shadows in the windowsills. They then walked to get in the car to go back to the Sheriff’s office when Betty suddenly asked, “Sheriff? Where’s Charlotte?”

In unison they both began calling out for the bubbly woman. They didn’t realize that she hadn’t ever joined them during their conversation with Mrs. Parker. The last time Betty spotted her, she was examining something alongside the fountain but made no mention as to what it actually was. Betty figured that when they got back in the car, she would be given a full report. Betty called out for her friend in a panic. She had already lost one friend the previous night, she certainly wouldn’t lose another. The Sheriff picked up his radio and was getting ready to call for backup to the residence, but as the radio crackled, Charlotte emerged from behind the property. She grinned from ear to ear when she saw Betty’s face light up. Charlotte had found Beaus Jacques who wasted no time in leaping into Betty’s open arms and licking her along the face. She had also found Brannigan as well.

Betty embraced Beaux Jacques and laughed in joy as he continued to woof excitedly. “Beaux, where have you been my friend? Did you go on adventures? I’m so glad you’re home. Now we’re going to find the person who kidnapped you. No one’s going to get away with this.”

The Sheriff narrowed his eyes and looked pointedly at Brannigan. “Hmm. I do think it’s awfully peculiar that you happen to be up this way, Brannigan. This isn’t your day for delivery here is it?”

“Now Sheriff…don’t be getting any wild ideas.”

“Well I think you can explain what you mean by that at the station. Let’s go.”

They all piled up in the Sheriff’s car where Betty had yet to say a word to Brannigan. She just merely held Beaux Jacques closer to her and stroked his head. He didn’t show any signs of trauma and she was glad he was safe. She realized at the moment that her apartment was still considered a crime scene.” Charlotte, would you be willing to let Beaux and I stay at your house tonight?”

“Why of course, Betty. That is always and option. I know that your place probably doesn’t feel very safe right now.’

“No Charlotte, it doesn’t. I don’t know when it will again.”

After they arrived at the police station, Sheriff Walker immediately took Brannigan in for questioning and Betty didn’t object. She found it awfully peculiar that her dog should disappear while he was around and only be found by him and him alone. There were so many unanswered questions. Why would he take Beaux Jacques and what we he doing alone at the Parker Estate? After the Sheriff and Brannigan left so Sheriff Walker could interview him, Charlotte, Betty, and Beaux all piled up in Charlotte’s rather small compact car. Beaux was in the backseat yet felt the need to situate his large frame so that his head hung out Betty’s passenger seat window. Betty smiled, feeling his hot breath panting against the side of her neck. She was grateful that Brannigan had managed to return him to her, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but suspect him. After all, Beaux had been just fine before he came into her life. Maybe she was being too untrustworthy, but she couldn’t just let someone come into her life and sweep her off her feet. No matter how good Brannigan seemed to be, she just couldn’t let her guard down. Not yet at least, not until the murder business was taken care of.

“Charlotte, before we go to your house, do you think we could swing by the Cornerstone? I’d like to check in on it and just make certain that things are running smoothly.”

“Of course, Betty, but I’d imagine things are working just as they always do. It’s not like we’ve been overly busy since the murders. We’ve just had mostly onlookers and some of the Sheriff’s people wanting to book a room after they had a few too many beers after work.”

“Exactly.”

“What are you talking about, Betty?”

“I have a hunch I think we should follow up on. I think it’s awfully peculiar that the guest list has remained mostly vacant since the murders. After all, most places with an active investigation site would be crawling with onlookers. I just think it’s strange that no one’s turned up to oversee the investigation, there’s not been any reporters in the area to pick up the story or even ask for a quote from witnesses. I just find that peculiar.”

“Do you think they’ve been paid off?”

“I think that still remains to be seen.”

They pulled up to the Cornerstone where Betty decided to leave Beaux with Charlotte. Whoever took Beaux was still on the loose and she didn’t want his abductor to know he had been located. The longer they could keep that under wraps, the longer the criminal and possibly the murderer would think he was in the clear and let his or her guard down. She opened the door to the Cornerstone then turned and looked across the street. It was just as she thought. She walked to the front desk and asked the young woman on duty, “How have things been today? Still slow?”

“Yeah, pretty much, just a few investigators in for lunch and a couple stray vacationers. Oh, there was an older guy that came by earlier, he took some pictures of the lobby. He said he needed them for the renovation?”

“I’ll check with Tyler. He didn’t mention anyone stopping in, and he would normally clear that with me first. Thanks for keeping an eye out for that. You’ve all done really great during my recent absence. I appreciate it.”

The young girl didn’t smile, nor did she even seem to acknowledge the compliment. She merely gave a slight head nod, then put her ear buds back in, returning to her desk and open anatomy book. She saw the page turned to a cross section of a human heart. Betty shuttered at its gruesomeness. She suddenly found it funny that the love was associated with such a gory body part. Thinking about love, his mind roamed back to Brannigan. She could still somehow smell the scent of his cologne on her. She wanted to believe him and to believe he was real but didn’t dare allow the vision of them together cloud her judgment. She’d been duped by a lover before, and she didn’t intend on suffering that kind of hurt again. She pulled her sweater around her a bit tighter as he exited the Cornerstone. The air suddenly had a chill to it, and her skin prickled with goosebumps. Looking across the street and upwards, she realized that there was one piece of evidence that to her knowledge hadn’t been explored.

After petting Beaux Jacques who felt the need to climb in Charlotte’s passenger seat while Betty was in the Cornerstone, she commanded the dog back to his spot and slid in beside Charlotte. Her voice was hushed yet excited as she said, “Charlotte… what do you know about that shop across the street?”

“Oh, Greetings and Salutations? It’s been around awhile now. The older folks around here still make it a point to support small businesses and the town council doesn’t like the notion of big box chain stores coming into town. They feel that is makes the place feel less of a community. That’s why the majority of the superstores are off the freeway outside of town.”

“Hmm. I see. What do they do there?”

“It’s a greeting card shop, kind of like a Hallmark store, but they also have copiers and I think they ship packages also. I haven’t been there for a very long time though. I haven’t had a special occasion to celebrate in years.”

“Well I think we have a very special holiday coming up.”

“We do?”

“Yes. I’m looking for just the right card. I need a special goodbye card.”

“Goodbye? Betty, you can’t leave us here. I know things have been rough for the past few weeks, but everyone here likes you and we consider you family at the Cornerstone.”

“No Charlotte, I’m going to say goodbye to the murderer who has ruined my life and tried to steal my best friend. Let’s go shopping. Pull your car over there in front of the store, and if you don’t mind, hold Beaux’s leash like he’s your own.”

“Whatever you say, Betty. I’m starting to trust your gut more and more.”

“I am too, Charlotte.”

Charlotte repositioned her car and the pair got out. Beaux was reluctant to go with Charlotte holding his leash. “Now Commander, don’t be that way. We have to do this for a short period of time, then things will be back to normal once I find the culprit who took you.” Beaux grumbled and huffed, then slowly hopped out of the car and Charlotte patted him on the head. “That’s a good boy Beaux, now let’s go in and don’t cause any trouble.”

The trio entered the shop and a small bell rang, announcing their entrance. A thin, frail-looking woman appeared. She was older with grey hair that was long and pulled back behind him. She wore a pair of glasses on a chair around her neck. At some point in her existence, Betty would have guessed she was a librarian. Now she appeared so wispy that she was almost the ghost of a librarian. Her voice was remarkably quiet and soothing as she said, “Welcome. Or should I say greetings and salutations. Can I help you find anything?”

“Well my friend and I are looking for the perfect card for a wedding? Do you think you can help us?”

“Oh certainly. Now I’m no expert on matters of the heart, but I’m sure we can figure something out.”

“Thank you so much, we appreciate it. I’m Betty Cornish, I own the Cornerstone across the street.”

“Charmed. I’m Marsha Dinkley. I’ve owned this quaint little shop now for twenty years. I’m glad the Cornerstone has new ownership. We need some new blood in town to liven things up some. Perhaps if more guests arrive my business will pick up. If I didn’t own the apartment upstairs as well, I would have been out of business ages ago.”

“Well that’s definitely the plan. I’ve started a renovation, but it’s hit a snag. With that poor girl being murdered it’s put a stop to any progress. Not to mention, it’s a little tough to advertise fine vacation lodging with yellow tape everywhere.”

“Ha. Yes, I’d imagine it would be. Well if there’s anything I can do to help you just let me know.”

“Actually, there is…”

“Name it.”

“You have security cameras, don’t you?”

“I do, but I couldn’t tell you the last time I reviewed them. I don’t get many customers, just a few people dropping off packages to be shipped, I haven’t had the need to.”

“Do you still have the footage from the night of the murder?”

“The man at the security center set it up for me to automatically record all footage onto a DVD and every day I just change the DVD so I’m certain I do.”

“Would you mind if I borrowed those for a bit?”

“No. Take all of them you need. They’re just cluttering up my office, honestly.”

“Thank you so much. For your assistance, I owe you big time. “

“I owe you. I’m positively excited about the changes across the street. This is going to be wonderful. Now I can call my distributor and tell them to go ahead and proceed with my next month’s card shipment.”

“Yes. You do that. I also expect to see you at the ball when the renovation is complete. I’ve heard it’s a bit of a town tradition.”

“Oh yes, it is a wonderfully whimsical affair. Though, as a rule I don’t allow whimsy much, it’s not productive you know.”

“Oh, trust me, I know.”

Marsha disappeared upstairs then returned with a handful of DVDs which she handed to Betty who accepted them graciously. Beaux Jacques wagged his tail at her and woofed appreciatively as well and Marsha laughed and patted his head. “Well you’re welcome sir. I suppose that was my bit of whimsy for the day. I’ve got to get back to work now, I have to prepare the old stock for return.”

“We will leave you too it. Come on Commander, let’s go.”

Charlotte and Betty loaded back up in the car with Beaux and drove to Charlotte’s house. “Well, I don’t know about you, Betty, but I’m simply famished. It’s been quite a day hasn’t it?”

“Yes. It certainly has been. I can’t believe our good fortune in finding these DVDs. I also can’t believe Sheriff Walker didn’t think to check with the owner for those. I just want this to be over with so we can move on.”

“Well, I think we both need to have a nice, warm supper and get some rest. You look absolutely drained, dear.”

“I’m much better since finding my buddy. If you don’t mind, I’d like to change, do you have some old sweatpants or something I could borrow?”

“They’ll swallow you, I’m sure, but I probably have something. You can shower if you’d like. Help yourself to anything you’d like Betty. While you’re freshening up, I’m going to make dinner. I’ve been thinking of a stew all day to ward off this chill in the air. What do you think?”

“Sounds wonderful. Charlotte…I know I don’t say it often enough but thank you for being a true friend.”

“I’ve never had a best friend before, Betty. I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

“No thanks needed, ever Charlotte. You remember that. Beaux should be fine he looks settled but if he misbehaves just scold him and he’ll go pout in the corner.” Charlotte looked over at the dog, whom had already circled himself several times before plopping down in one of her plush armchairs for a nap. “Oh, he looks comfortable. I’ll make him some stew also, sans vegetables or seasonings, I’m sure he will be hungry when the aroma hits the air.”

Betty walked down Charlotte’s hallway and opened her closet. Inside there were racks of aprons all neat and pressed, along with several pairs of solid black non slick shoes. She imagined that Charlotte found them comfortable and practical when working in the kitchen. She then pulled out a dresser drawer and found a pair of grey sweatpants with drawstrings and an old t-shirt she was certain that Charlotte only wore to sleep in. The flamingo pink top had ‘juicy,’ printed across the top and it looked to be the smallest of the shirts in the drawer. While certainly not her style, it would do. Betty wasn’t there to criticize Charlotte’s fashion choices and actually found herself smiling at Charlotte’s quirky ensembles. She was glad her friend had some type of a unique personality.

Charlotte’s bathroom was small yet decorated with charm. Her shower curtain was lavender, and she had pale yellow walls. Over the mirror, there was a faded love letter that appeared to be from WWII framed and matted. She never figured Charlotte for a romantic, but it seemed that in this space, she was expressing her softer side. She made it a point to ask Charlotte where she got the letter from and also vowed after the investigation was over, to help Charlotte find a companion of her own. As the warm water, hit her back, Betty’s thoughts turned back to Brannigan. She thought they did have a connection, yet she still had doubts about his involvement in Beaux’s kidnapping. Maybe she should allow him a chance to explain himself. She eased back into the stream and lathered her newly red hair in the spray. She knew she should be using a product specifically for color treatment, but in that moment didn’t care. She needed this. She needed the water to wash away all the stress and fear that had accumulated over the past night and day. She got out of the shower and toweled off, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She did look tired. She didn’t know how she had gotten to this point in her life. This move was the change she needed, but now she just felt for lack of a better word afraid. She took her time, brushing and drying her hair. She then steeled her resolve once more. She would have the life she wanted and she wouldn’t let her own fear or for that matter a murderer stop her.

She padded back into the hallway after finding a pair of thick cozy socks to borrow from Charlotte. She was delighted when the aroma of dinner hit her nostrils. It smelled like a holiday in Charlotte’s home. Betty stopped dead in her tracks though when she heard a male voice speaking in a smooth baritone. She rounded the corner and her mouth dropped. Brannigan had arrived unexpectedly. She took a deep breath and rounded the corner. As she did Charlotte and Brannigan’s conversation was suddenly silenced. Brannigan was the first to speak. He stood up with Bear at his side. “Betty…”

“Betty, Brannigan stopped by and he’s going to say for dinner.”

Betty walked to Brannigan wordlessly and stood in front of him. Charlotte spoke loudly, “You know I think I have some laundry that desperately needs to be put in the dryer. I wouldn’t want it mildewing. Dinner is almost ready anyway. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

After Charlotte exited the room, Betty remained frozen in front of Brannigan and Bear. Beaux looked at her quizzically, unsure whether he should be concerned about her well-being or simply stay seated comfortably. Betty looked at Brannigan’s kind eyes, full of mystery and wonder. In them she found no malice, nor did she see any traces of guilt. How could she have suspected this beautiful man of trying to hurt her? Tears fell down her cheeks on their own volition, and she did nothing to stop them. Her sobbing continued as she went to Brannigan and wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in his scent. He accepted her embrace without hesitation or rejection. He let her body relax into his own and as her sobbing grew louder, he simply held her tighter against him. “Brannigan…I’m so sorry.”

“Hush now. That’s enough of that. You have nothing to be sorry for. Had I been in your position I would have reacted the same way, probably much worse. Let’s put it behind us now, yeah love?”

Betty nodded and sat beside Brannigan on the sofa, snuggled in his protective arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and Beaux came over to the other side of her, leaning against her as well. Betty could hear Charlotte approaching from the hallway and it stirred her from her silence. “So how did you know where to find Beaux? Who took him?”

“Now I’m not entirely certain of who took him, but I was just following a hunch when I found him. I remembered a spot that Bear used to love visiting back when the Parkers were far more social with the town. He had a fascination with the vineyards and for a bit we would take weekly strolls there. That was until Joseph Parker passed away. After his passing, the rest of the family became reclusive and insisted on gating the property so that no one had full access to the mansion. It still makes me wonder what they’re hiding. I found him up by the vineyards and had just coaxed him around back when you and the Sheriff showed up.”

“Speaking of the Sheriff, aren’t you supposed to be in jail?”

“Nah. I told him you were my lawyer and were on retainer. He just rolled his eyes and released me since he really didn’t have any charges to hold me on.”

Betty sat up and punched Brannigan playfully in the arm. “Hey! Don’t do that again. I will never ever be your lawyer pal!”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

“Two reasons. One, it would be a conflict of interest. Two, you could never afford me.”

“Ha! We’ll see about that, Miss Cornish.”

Charlotte shuffled into the kitchen and began spooning out bowls of stew for themselves and the dogs. After getting situated on the couch with dinner and hearing the dogs lap their broths happily, Charlotte popped in the DVD from the night of the murder. They all watched intently for any sign of intruders but were treated to mostly empty parking lots. Shortly after midnight, though they watched a car pull up and park. A young woman got out of the car and crossed the street, out of the camera frame. Before they could see anything else, occur they heard gunshots pop in the distance, and the car remained fixed in place for the rest of the recording. Charlotte, Brannigan, and Betty stopped eating and looked at one another in amazement. Their investigation had been so focused on the Cornerstone, that no one had thought to find out how Hanna had arrived at the bed and breakfast or why she was there to begin with.

“We all saw the same thing just now didn’t we?”

Charlotte nodded vigorously and began talking excitedly. “Yes. That was Hanna. Do you think her car is still there? I can’t recall if it was there or not when we parked earlier. I’m surprised it hasn’t been towed by now… surely there’s got to be more clues there? Can we go investigate?”

Betty stood up and began putting their dinner dishes in the sink. “Yes. Let’s go before the Sheriff has the same idea about the crime scene. Charlotte I’ll ride with Brannigan if you want to ride there alone, or if you’d rather, we can go back to the apartment and I’ll get my car.”

“No. That’s fine. You and Brannigan have some much needed catching up to do. I’ll follow you.”

Beaux, Bear, Brannigan, and Betty piled up in the back of Brannigan’s pickup truck and they headed off to the Cornerstone to see if the car that Hanna Davis was last in was still parked in the same location. The dogs wagged their tails and sniffed each other happily as they became more acquainted. Betty was happy they seemed to be getting along as Beaux Jacques was as particular with his pick of animals as he was his pick of people. She also found it surprising that Brannigan drove a hefty pick-up truck. It was solid black and sturdy. She thought since he walked everywhere, he would have been the type to forgo a larger vehicle for either a smaller compact car, or even a moped. He placed the truck in gear and Betty watched his hands firmly cover the gear shift. She felt the heat rise to the surface of her skin as she traced the lines of his strong hands as he maneuvered the stick. “Well, buckle up Betty, it’s time to go for a ride.”

She clicked the belt in place, and they drove to the front of the Cornerstone. The trip was mostly quiet, with the dogs occasionally woofing at a passerby. Brannigan didn’t turn on the radio, nor did either one of them dare speak in fear of somehow ruining the mood. When they turned onto the connecting avenue in front of the bed and breakfast, Betty caught a chill and Brannigan saw her involuntarily shiver. The air was thick and heated between them as he placed his arm around her shoulders and rubbed them. Betty allowed herself the luxury of placing her hand on his thigh and leaving it there, causing Brannigan to clear his throat and redden. Their collective breathing quickened and as Brannigan pulled up and parked the truck the windows had already began to fog up. He quickly placed the truck in park and turned off the headlights. He wasted no time grabbing Bear’s leash and walking around to open the passenger side door for Betty and Beaux Jacques. He was obviously flustered by Betty’s touch and knew that for both their sakes, they needed to focus on the matter at hand before their hormones and emotions overwhelmed them.

“Look Brannigan! It’s the car, it’s still parked in the same spot. Let’s go check it out.”

Beaux Jacques began grumbling and attempted to lead Betty in the opposite direction, as Bear and Brannigan lead the way. “Now come on Commander, there’s no time for cowardice now. Let’s go see if we can go find anything to help get our lives back on track. Then it’s me and you in front of the fireplace, okay?”

The dog huffed in exasperation but hung his head and complied with his owner’s wishes as Bear and Brannigan approached the vehicle. They all took care not to make too much noise in case the assailant happened to be patrolling the area still. Before they could reach the vehicle, they saw Charlotte pull up in her car and park behind Brannigan’s truck. She got out of her vehicle and waved excitedly. Before she could shout out to the both of them Betty hastily put a finger to her lips as Charlotte giggled then cleared her throat and nodded. As the three of them examined the car, they noted it was certainly a luxury vehicle and it was immaculate both on the outside and inside. It looked as if it had just been detailed and glistened in the streetlight. They peered inside and noted that the front seat was pulled up considerably more than the passenger seat. Apparently, someone with long legs had been riding shotgun previously, or the driver never felt the need to adjust that seat for any reason. There was nothing in the drivers’ seat to indicate ownership, there wasn’t any personal effects hanging from the rearview of the vehicle or were there any vanity plates on the car either. There were no fast food relics remaining in the cup holders. There weren’t any receipts strewn on the floor or on the dash. From their vantage point it almost looked as if it were a rented vehicle.

Bear scratched at the car’s wheel well and Beaux Jacques pulled Betty towards the back of the vehicle. They seemed intrigued by something near the truck of the car, so without hesitation, Brannigan went back to his truck and returned with a screwdriver. After uttering several expletives under his breath, he managed to pry open the lock of the trunk. It made an eerie whooshing sound as it flung open in the middle of the night and echoed in the empty alley. They all shined their cell phone lights in the trunk and Betty put her hand over her mouth to cover a shocked squeal. The trunk had several items in it consisting of sunglasses, an iPod and earbuds, as well as a worn and smelly pair of basketball shoes. Betty carefully bagged the items and they all returned to Charlotte’s house to regroup and discuss their findings. Betty couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t Hanna Davis’s car at all.

Charlotte poured them all steaming mugs of coffee as they looked at the items on the coffee table. “So, it’s Kevin Paker’s car? I don’t understand, why would Hanna be driving his car? I thought they broke up?”

Brannigan shook his head. “Maybe they decided to bury the hatchet and forgive each other’s adultery. Love does forgive many things.”

“No.” Betty chimed in and sipped her coffee pensively. “Love doesn’t forgive cheating. This must have been a dire situation or Hanna took the car without Kevin knowing. Perhaps she still had access to the Parker estate and Kevin’s wealth as a bribe for keeping quiet about his infidelity.”

Charlotte yawned and leaned against the back of the sofa, propping her feet up on the hassock in front of them. “Well I know if I was cheated on, I wouldn’t have anything to do with my ex or his family. I’d forget about all of them and cut my losses. I think that whole ‘being friends with your ex’ thing is a myth. It’s impossible to forget all of that history and all of those shared feelings at some point they’re bound to come back and either reignite the flame or burn the bridge.”

“I don’t know, Charlotte, I think in some cases it may be possible to remain friends. I know many people who still have… mutual friends.”

Betty cocked an eyebrow at Brannigan and stood up excitedly. She threw her arms around Charlotte and laughed out loud. Charlotte was glad to see her friend in such a joyous mood but was genuinely confused at her reason for celebration. “Well Betty…what on Earth has gotten into you?”

“You, Miss Charlotte are a genius.”

“Don’t you see Charlotte, that’s it! They shared a mutual friend. Kevin’s best friend, what was his name again?”

“Oh, you mean Alex. He’s a good kid as far as I know. He’s one of those kids that seem unusually quiet. I don’t think he does most posting on social media, at least Veronica’s never blogged about him as far as I know.”

“Do you know anything about him, Brannigan?”

“Nah. He keeps to himself, mostly it seems. His parents are normally overseas on business and he told me once, that he considered Kevin a brother. Since his parents travel so much for business, it seems as if the Parkers took him in and practically raised him. I think it’s sad when kids are left to their own devices. I mean, the world is cruel enough. When I have a son or daughter I’m going to be actively involved in their life. I want to be that dad who goes to the swim meets and the wrestling matches. You don’t get those moments back while chasing dollars.”

Betty smiled and looked down at her coffee which was growing cold. She blushed deeply and just for a moment had a vision of herself and Brannigan holding a little girl’s hand while walking through the park together. She shook her head, though quickly shaking off the vision, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. “So, if they were brought up together, wouldn’t it make sense they would share certain things with each other as well? Like vehicles?”

“Yes. It certainly does make sense… but how did Hanna end up with the car?”

Betty continued her hypothetical line of questioning. “Brannigan… pretend you’re nineteen and I’m your best friend’s smoking hot girlfriend….. “

“Go on… I’m liking this.”

Brannigan flashed a charming grin at Betty and wagged his eyebrows at her, patting the sofa beside him. Betty scooted closer to him and continued. “Say you knew I was recently single and you had something I needed… wouldn’t you let me borrow your friends car just for a little bit, if it meant you had a chance of getting closer to me?”

“In a heartbeat you vixen.”

Charlotte smiled at the two of them exchanging witty banter. She knew without a shadow of a doubt after seeing them together that they just simply fit with one another. Still puzzled she asked, “I don’t understand, so it wasn’t Hanna’s car?”

“Nope. It was on loan to Alex from Kevin. Alex must have used the car to go back and forth to school and practice, and at one point, Kevin and Alex went to the gym together. That’s why Kevin’s things were in the trunk. Hanna obviously used her feminine wiles to trick Alex into lending her the car so she could either go party or even step out on Kevin again.”

“But why would she do that knowing that Alex may tell Kevin?”

“Maybe Kevin already knew that Alex and Hanna were closer than what they should have been.”

“So, if Kevin knew about Hanna and Alex, and Hanna obviously knew about Kevin’s infidelity, what was the problem then, why murder Hanna or worry about Veronica’s photographs being leaked?”

Brannigan sighed and looked at his watch. “Well, it’s late. I say tomorrow morning we go see Alex and see what he has to say about the situation for himself. What do you think?”

Betty yawned and Charlotte looked exhausted as well. “Yes.” Charlotte saw the dogs were situated both laying side by side on the sofa. They seemed content at their newfound friendship. Charlotte gestured down the hallway and continued. “Down the hall to the right I do have an extra bedroom if you’re interested. There’s plenty of blankets and pillows in there as well. I’m going to go pass out myself. I’ll leave the hallway light on for you.” Charlotte then turned off the kitchen lights and dimmed the ones in the living room. In the soft light, Brannigan and Betty merely looked at each other, both unsure of how to proceed with the sleeping arrangements.

In the darkened room, Betty looked into Brannigan’s brilliant blue eyes, which seemed to have a magical glow. They were full of fire and excitement as they locked with hers. Brannigan reached out and touched the side of Betty’s cheek. “Betty…”

Betty felt herself being pulled to the man and wanted nothing more in that moment for him to pull her into a deep kiss, but she forced herself to still her emotions. Now wasn’t the time, she very well couldn’t trust her own feelings for the man. What if they were merely emotions based on the situation and not his personality. It was too risky at this point for Betty. Before he could connect with a kiss, Betty pulled away saying, “Brannigan…”

He abruptly stopped her, shaking his head. “Shh… It’s alright Betty, I understand. You don’t have to explain. Listen, I’d prefer it if you’d take the bedroom. I’d never live it down if anyone ever found out I let a lady sleep on the couch while I sprawled out on a queen size bed. Besides, I’d rather be in here just in case anyone decides to pay Charlotte a late-night visit.”

“Brannigan?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you…for both keeping guard and well …um…”

“You don’t have to say it Betty. Listen… I’m in no rush. We can take things as slow as you need to. I do want you to know, however, that I feel a pull to you, it’s almost like we’re on a river and you’re the rapid that’s been guiding me to the bank. I’m not going anywhere Betty. I can promise you that.”

Betty softly shut the door to Charlotte’s spare bedroom and sat down on the edge of the queen-sized bed. Charlotte had kept it immaculately made and it was very romantic with pink sheets and a rose embroidered throw. Betty pulled back the covers and slid underneath them and the soft sheets, she could still smell Brannigan’s scent on her from where they held each other on the sofa. She felt completely at peace when she was in his arms, but she also knew the dangers in falling for a man that made her feel that way. However, when she shut her eyes, she slept easily dreaming of walking through the park hand in hand with Brannigan. He was holding Bear’s leash and she was holding Beaux’s. They stopped at an oak tree to admire the changing colors, their greenery fading into brilliant orange, yellow, and deep shades of red. When the dream faded his lips were on her own and she fell into their surprising softness.

The following morning, Betty awoke to the smells of Charlotte fixing breakfast. She hummed to herself, as Brannigan stirred on the sofa. Betty padded through the hallway and saw that she had already brewed coffee, which was set on the counter with a few selections of creamers standing by. Charlotte had just placed bagels and fresh fruit on the counter beside the coffee when Brannigan bolted up from the couch, rubbing his eyes. “Top of the morning to you ladies. Despite the lovely spread and the even lovelier company, I’m afraid I’m late. I have packages to deliver even though it’s Saturday.”

“Well, at least take a bagel for the road. Take one for Bear too. He looks hungry. “

The dog yawned and stretched, wagging his tail happily when he realized that Brannigan was grabbing his leash to take him on their morning walk. “Bye ladies, do keep me in the loop on anything you discover today.”

They heard Brannigan coax Bear into his truck and start it. Betty smiled to herself, glancing over at the couch where the impression of his body still lingered on the cushions. She then poured herself a cup of coffee and busied herself spreading cream cheese on a bagel and plating a few grapes. “Betty. What are you doing? Sit down this very instant.”

Charlotte looked cross for a few moments and then her expression softened. “What’s up Charlotte? What’s on the agenda for today?”

“Well first thing’s first. What are you doing?”

“What are you talking about? I’m drinking this delicious coffee and thinking about what our next move in the investigation will be. I’m also considering taking Beaux for a stroll after you drop me back off at my apartment.”

“That’s not what I meant. I meant what are you doing with Brannigan? I’m not sure if you’ve realized this, but he’s pretty much settled on having you as his girl.”

“Oh, Charlotte. That is ridiculous. I like lots of things about Brannigan. I like the cute eye crinkle he has when he laughs, and the way he knows when I’m watching him walk away and he intentionally walks slower. I like the way he smells when I’m against him and how warm he always seems to be. I like that despite the fact he’s got red in his hair he never seems to get angry about anything. Despite the fact I like all those things, I’m not ready to be in a relationship with anyone.”

“Mhm. So, what’s the problem?”

“Nothing. He’s wonderful…so far.”

“So far? I see. Betty, why did you come here? I mean, didn’t you come here to start life over?”

“Yeah. I just needed a change of scenery.”

“Well…I think it’s time you accepted that change of scenery includes a dashing mailman. Betty…he’s not going to wait forever. In fact, I can already tell he’s getting ready to give up on you. When he left this morning, he looked a bit dejected in case you didn’t notice. Betty if you don’t let go of that negativity from the past, it’s going to eat you alive and you’re going to end up losing a great guy.”

“You don’t understand Charlotte. I thought I found the one before and it just ended badly I thought that it was going to be my happily ever after. You know the stuff of fairy tales. I was never the girl who was picked to play the princess and I finally had a Prince Charming. Then it just ended.”

“I understand, but you can’t hold that against Brannigan. Trust me, Betty, there are a ton of women in town who have wanted him in the past and a couple he even dated, but none have made him stick around as much as you. You’re special to him, Betty. Let yourself take a chance and don’t let that slip away.”

“You’re right Charlotte. It’s time all this business is behind us and we can go on with our lives and let the past live in the past. He’s unlike anyone I would have imagined myself with, but I have feelings for him nonetheless. Can you drop me off at the apartment so I can get my car? I have a few errands I need to run. Are you coming with me today?”

“No. I’m afraid I must go to the Cornerstone and take care of things at your bed and breakfast today. The weekly deliveries are scheduled, and I have to rotate the produce. Also, I meant to tell you, the Parkers sent the Cornerstone a generous supply of new wine selections for the town gala. They left a note that it was with their complements. It was signed by August Whitmore.”

“I wonder what they want? If there’s one thing I’ve learned about this town, Charlotte, it’s that most of the upper echelons of society don’t send anything out for free.”

“Do I keep it or send it back?”

“Keep it. We will play their game and hopefully we will toast to the arrest of Hanna’s murderer at the gala.”

Charlotte and Betty made the quick drive back to Betty’s apartment, where Beaux started barking and woofing excitedly at seeing his home. “Oh. I’m glad to be back too, boy. I’m glad that you’re happy to be here. Don’t ever leave me again, okay Commander. The dog only licked Betty’s hand in response then went to his food dish, eagerly discovering his leftover dog food waiting for him. She then looked around the apartment and sighed heavily. Charlotte was right, Brannigan was a good man and she wasn’t giving him the benefit of the doubt. She was judging him based on her experiences with a man she didn’t know well enough. She went into the bathroom and changed clothes, then returned and grabbed her car keys off of the counter. She would get her locks changed after she went on her errands. She was going to find Alex Carson and get to the bottom of why Hanna Davis was driving his car. She was also going to see what he had to say about Kevin Parker’s disappearance since Hanna’s murder.

Betty called for Beaux Jacques who happily bounded to her side as she put his leash on and they walked to her car. Before she got in she saw Brannigan’s hat still lying in the grass where she had thrown it in anger. She frowned and shook her head. She picked up the hat and put it in the backseat of her car. She was going to keep every part of Brannigan he would allow her to have. She then rolled down the windows and hit the freeway to the outskirts of town where the University and its beautiful campus awaited her and Beaux Jacques.

The sound of squeaking sneakers and blowing whistles welcomed Betty as she pushed open the gymnasium doors. There were a handful of men playing an impromptu practice game. She felt out of place, but she summoned her inner lawyer and pushed ahead. She sat down on the bleachers and recalled her younger years. She didn’t attend any of her high school’s homecoming festivities nor did she attend prom. After all, she needed to focus purely on academics so she could support herself after her parents’ demise. She suddenly thought of Brannigan and wondered if he played any sports in high school or college. Did he even go to college? There was so much more to learn about the man who had somehow found his way to the forefront of her brain.

After practice ended, Betty identified Alex by his name on the back of his jersey and called out to him. He grinned at his teammates who gave some wolf whistles at the sight of a woman waiting on him in the stands. Alex walked over to her shyly and while toweling off sweat asked, “How can I help you?”

My name’s Betty Cornish. I recently bought the Cornerstone. I just have one question for you. I know that you and Hanna Davis were friends. Why was she driving your car the night she got murdered?”

The young man looked down and reddened, then looked back up at Betty sullened. “Oh no… they found it didn’t they?”

“Yes, Alex they did. I think you better tell me what happened. If you do, I promise you’re going to be okay.”

“You don’t think I’ll lose my scholarship?”

“No. There’s certainly nothing illegal about a person borrowing a friend’s car…that is if it was your car. It is your car isn’t it Alex?”

The young man sighed then hung his head once more. “No. No ma’am it’s not my car. It’s Kevin’s.”

“Did Kevin finally figure out that you and Hanna had been fooling around? Is that what this is all about?”

“No! I swear I didn’t have anything to do with Hanna’s death. It’s so sad. I miss her. When I first met her I wanted her, but so did Kevin. So, I did what any good friend would do, I stepped aside so Kevin could have her. When she found out that Kevin had been fooling around with Veronica it was over, so at that point I decided I would let her know my true feelings. Then…it was too late. I still can’t believe she’s gone. I still look for her here sometimes…after practice, waiting for me outside the locker room with a smile on her face.”

“I know this is hard for you to talk about Alex. We all have been working very hard to figure out what happened to Hanna. I bet she was a wonderful person. She looked like she had a lot to offer the world.”

“Oh, she certainly did she was beautiful and brilliant. She was so intelligent, more so than Kev ever gave her credit for.”

“Speaking of Kevin…have you seen him?”

“No. He hasn’t been seen since Hanna’s death. “

“If he wanted to be left alone…say he was going away for a weekend with a girl, where would he go?”

“When we were younger, sometimes we would go drink at a cabin by Lake Greystone. Kevin did have a few girls there once, but nothing happened. We just spent the weekend talking and staring at the stars. I think Kevin did go skinny dipping though.”

“Alex, you’ve helped me more than you know.”

Betty grabbed Beaux’s leash and headed out the gym doors as she heard Alex call out and compliment Beaux. Betty yelled a quick ‘thank you’ over her shoulder as she raced to her car and got both of them buckled in. She looked at Beaux and patted him on the head. She then rolled down both of their windows and cranked up her radio. “Beaux, I hope you’re in the mood for a trip to the lake because that’s where we’re headed.”

Betty accelerated down highway and only hoped she could make it to the lake in time before Kevin decided to bolt. She then pressed a few buttons on her car’s steering wheel and her phone sounded through the speakers. She speed-dialed Charlotte and got her voicemail. She supposed that Charlotte was still working with the delivery driver. She wondered to herself what he looked like. She pictured Charlotte attempting to flirt with him and stumbling over her words at a frantic pace as she often did when she was excited or nervous. Betty glanced over at Beaux who had his head fully outside the window sniffing the air and enjoying the feeling of the warm breeze though his fur. They definitely needed more road trips. Once the murder business was taken care of she swore that she would take more time to travel. Maybe she would take a long vacation and site see with a certain tall mailman. Unable to resist the temptation to speak with him and share her news, she then dialed Brannigan’s number. The phone rang through her car’s speakerphone but there was no response. On the line was only a gruff and confused sounding man with a voicemail message. “Umm I don’t know… this is Brannigan, leave a message if you want to I guess.”

“Brannigan…it’s Betty. I’m on my way to—"

Before Betty could continue her message the call abruptly ended as the message timed out. “Well Beaux Jacques, I suppose it’s just you and me, huh?” The canine leaned his head in only to lick Betty’s hand as they continued to accelerate farther away from town.

It was near dusk when Betty arrived at the remote lake. She held Beaux’s leash in her hand and the dog was on high alert with his tail pointed straight in the air. She looked at the skyline for a moment and realized just how peaceful the location was. Maybe she would rent a cabin for a weekend after the renovation was completed so her and Beaux could have some time alone to contemplate the future. As she walked closer to the lake and saw the light diminishing and reflecting off the water, her face flushed a bit as she brushed a stray thought aside concerning Brannigan. She thought for a moment how nice it would be to get him alone in a remote cabin for a few days. Surveying the campground, she noted that all of the cabins seemed to be unoccupied with the exception of number 13. She saw an expensive-looking SUV positioned near the front door and assumed that Kevin was inside.

She tried the knob and found it was unlocked so her and Beaux went inside. Her companion immediately began a low growl and she attempted to quiet the dog. “Shh… it’s okay Beaux. We’ll be out of here before too long.”

She walked into the cabin and her footsteps echoed in silence against the hardwood floors. “Kevin! It’s Betty Cornish, Kevin! Come out and we’ll talk about what happened. We know it was your car Hanna was driving when she was murdered!”

In response to her statement, Betty heard a cigarette lighter flick. She rounded the corner as the sun fell, making it almost impossible to see in the darkened cabin. As she entered the master bedroom, she saw the lighter’s flame highlight a face, then it was obscured in silhouette. A thick, cold female voice replied, “Yes. It was definitely Kevin’s car.”

“Mrs. Parker?! What are you doing here? I thought I’d find Kevin here and we’d talk.”

“I’m sure you did think you’d find Kevin. I thought he’d be here too. I’ve been looking for him since his little slut friend died. It seems that my eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be.”

“What are you saying?”

Before Betty could take another step toward Mrs. Parker she heard the distinct metallic clink of the hammer being pulled back on a pistol. “Like I said, Betty…my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be. I’m an aging woman now…and alone in the remote woods, well it would make sense that I fire at you point blank. After all, how was I to know you weren’t a robber, or for that matter, a wild animal that happened to break into my cabin.”

“Listen… Mrs. Parker. I just want to talk…” Betty backed up a couple paces with her hands raised in the air.

“You have extremely poor timing for a chat Betty. In fact, I’m tired of you just dropping by whenever you feel like it. “

“I’ll leave as soon as you tell me where Kevin is. Sheriff Walker will want to pick him up for questioning.”

Beaux whined and growled at Betty’s side. “Can’t you shut that mutt up! Ugh. I hate dogs. That’s part of the reason I set him loose. It’s a shame he found his way back to you.”

“What?! It was you that took my Beaux?!”

“You stupid girl… you still haven’t figured it out yet, have you?”

Mrs. Parker threw her head back and chuckled. “I suppose there’s no harm in letting you know since I do have at least two in the chamber. There’s one for you and also one for your dog. I never understood it really. I never could figure out after all the years I spent at Joseph’s aide why he felt the need to leave everything to that screw up of a son we had. I mean, he couldn’t even keep a relationship, how was he going to keep our lineage alive? The Davis girl…well I suppose it is sad, but she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s how fate works sometimes though. Sometimes it’s the right person and the right time. Other times, it’s the right person and the wrong time. This time it was the wrong person at the wrong time.”

Betty narrowed her eyes and her voice became shaky. “Oh my God…you did it. You murdered Hanna Davis. You thought that she was Kevin when she pulled up in his car, so you sat across the street and shot her.”

“Like I said… I’m an ailing, grieving widow with diminished eyesight. So yes…I shot her and I’d do it again, even if she was with Kevin. Pity you won’t be around to investigate his death.”

Mrs. Parker applied more pressure to the trigger, and as she was getting ready to fire Sheriff Walker along with Charlotte and Brannigan burst through the door. “Drop it! Drop it Mrs. Parker!”

Seeing she was outnumbered, and knowing that the Sheriff was a far better shot, Mrs. Parker slowly put down her gun and allowed the officer to arrest her. Brannigan and Charlotte went to Betty and embraced her and Beaux Jacques as well. “How did you know I was here?”

“The Sheriff had been tracking the GPS on the Parker family vehicles. It finally came back with a ping. Also, we tried calling you and knew that you had beaten him to Mrs. Parker’s location. With your testimony it will be enough to put Mrs. Parker behind bars for the rest of her life. We’ve got justice for Hanna after all.”

In the month that followed the investigation and trial of Mrs. Parker, Betty’s renovation of the Cornerstone was completed. She came to the bed and breakfast every day to see, not yellow caution tape everywhere, but new coats of paint or new pieces of furniture awaiting her. The moose head was finally taken out of the office and kept to be given out as a raffle prize for the annual town gala. Tyler and Betty made the lobby more formal and elegant yet kept alive it’s tradition and history by finding photographs from the Cornerstone’s heyday and enlarging them. They were matted and hung in the sitting room in front of the check in desk, as a tribute to the significance the landmark had in town.

The dining room was revamped as well. The guests would be treated to fresh flowers, and new linens. The dishes were new as well and the dining room now had the feel of a five-star restaurant that would be fitting for lavish Sunday brunches, instead of the feeling of a buffet line at a funeral home. Charlotte was given full reign and every day a new menu was prepared for the guests. There had even been press coverage concerning the renovation and a dining critic gave Charlotte an outstanding five-star review which brought in many new customers for lunch and dinner.

When the renovations were completed and the night of the Gala had arrived, Betty stood in front of the mirror of her apartment looking at her reflection. She realized that the woman in front of her staring back was not the same woman who recently got a makeover. This Betty Cornish who stood in front of the mirror wasn’t weakened by the heartbreak or fear of a past relationship. This woman was one born of strength who stood face to face with a murderer and didn’t flinch. This Betty Cornish was confident and allowed herself to feel sexy and assured. She finished applying her mascara, which brought out the sparkle in her eyes and made sure her lipstick was straight before taking a deep breath and wrapping her shawl around her. She patted Beaux Jacques on the head an made certain he had food and water before stepping to the door. “Now, Beaux…you hold down the fort while I’m away. Don’t let anyone steal you. I wish I could take you with me, but I’ll be out a long time. Besides, Commander you told me a long time ago you hated dancing.”

Betty and Brannigan couldn’t attend the formal event together because of some obligations that Brannigan had previously and she found herself wishing he was there to take her by the arm and walk her to her car. She didn’t even know if he would show up, but she was secretly hoping he would. He had been distant in the month following their impromptu overnight stay at Charlotte’s house and she wanted to clear the air between them.

She arrived at the Cornerstone and when she entered her mouth dropped. The staff had outdone themselves with the decorations and the set up. There was a set up to play as well, and it appeared they had instruments for a wide selection of dancing. There were several buffet tables set up lining the walls and Charlotte had even engineered a sparkling chocolate fountain along a dessert table. Betty was in awe of how the placed seemed transformed into a magical ballroom upon her entrance. Charlotte saw Betty enter and ran to her. “Betty! Wow! You look amazing! That color looks wonderful on you! You look like a completely different woman. “

“Charlotte, you took the words right out of my mouth! I can say the same thing about you!” Betty admired Charlotte’s green gown which was cut to flatter her figure. She had curled her hair and had it in an up do. She let the ringlets cascade around her face, which of course as bubbly and jubilant. “Look at his place, Charlotte! Never in a million years would I have dreamed it to be so glamorous! I simply must address the staff.”

Betty walked up to the band leader, who was attending to his musicians and fumbling with a baton. She tapped him on the shoulder and he nodded his head at her, handing her the microphone. Betty tapped it several times to get the crowd’s attention and cleared her throat. “I’d like to thank all of you for coming out tonight for the annual town Gala as well and the grand re-opening of the Cornerstone. We hope you find it welcoming and will come back to enjoy some of that hard-earned vacation time in the future. Speaking of that… I want to take a few moments to thank everyone who helped set this up tonight. When I came here, I was a fish out of water. I didn’t know anything about running a bed and breakfast, but I’ve become a quick learner. I appreciate all of your hard work during this transition and I also appreciate your dedication to keeping the Cornerstone alive. For your resilience through a murder investigation and a renovation, I’m giving all of you an extra two weeks of paid vacation time to take whenever you choose this year.”

The entire crowd erupted in laughter and applause. Several employees could be seen high fiving each other and began talking excitedly about when they would take their time off. Betty then handed the microphone back to the band leader, who gave a signal to start the music. The pianist began softly playing and laughter could be heard throughout the room as the guests began uncorking bottles of red wine and a few started dancing. Before Betty had a chance to pour herself a glass, Charlotte interrupted her. “Betty, I think there’s a situation upstairs that needs your attention.”

Betty nodded her head and walked upstairs quickly to see what the issue was. She suspected there was an issue with one of the upstairs toilets that needed attended to. Betty made a mental note to have a plumber called first thing Monday morning. When she arrived upstairs, she found it vacant save for a young couple that were giggling and kissing each other hotly in front of their bedroom door. Betty turned back around and confusingly wandered back down the hallway stopping at the top of the staircase. Gazing down she was what the emergency was. Charlotte had fooled her. Brannigan stood at the foot of the stairs, looking dashing in his black tuxedo as his mouth dropped at her appearance. Betty took her time walking down the staircase as he waited on her at the bottom. When she reached the bottom stair, he bent to one knee and took her hand in his own. “Betty. You are so beautiful. I just couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t dance with you just one time in my life.”

Wordlessly, Betty took Brannigan’s hat out of her purse and placed it atop his head like a crown. She let the tears she had been fighting back fall and they dropped on her deep, merlot colored dress. “Brannigan, I’ll dance with you from this day on if you’ll have me.”

“Then let’s start now.”