'Tis the Season by Bonnie Hardy

Author:Bonnie Hardy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781954995109
Publisher: Barbra Hardy

12

SMART, FEISTY, AND SLIGHTLY DISHEVELED

With a dab here and there, she lifted her eyes. Michael stared right at her, a slight smile on his lips.

If only I could tell him the truth. He's so smart and alert. The kind of guy who would make a great partner, someone I could rely on. She remembered how he'd reacted when she broke her ankle. How he took charge right away, without fussing or making her feel stupid.

She glared at him across the table. "Eat your soup and stop staring at me." One more chunk of bread. She stuffed it into her mouth and chewed.

After swallowing she looked back at Michael. He leaned over the table with his arms crossed in front of him. She cleared her throat.

"So I was wondering. What happened to that Maguire character? He must have a first name. You don't actually call him old man Maguire to his face." She tried to look interested but not too keen.

"We just called him old man Maguire," Meadow said, her voice growing quiet. "I think his first name was Alfred. No one ever mentioned that. He didn't like the name but didn't seem to mind that we called him old man at all."

Michael nodded. "It was hard to ruffle him. He was unflappable."

Dixie noticed the use of the past tense. "So Alfred Maguire…"

"He's gone," Meadow sighed.

"The first responders thought it was smoke inhalation," Michael added. "They took him away. I don't know exactly where."

"Autopsy," Dixie said, before she could stop herself. Scrambling to cover herself she added, "I only know that because of other insurance cases. I've read reports. That's what they do when a body is found in a fire."

Despite the circumstances, Michael smirked.

Unable to leave it alone, Dixie continued, "So where does Lily Rock take cases like this, when further investigation is required?"

"Riverside County Police," Meadow answered immediately. "We don't get a lot of their attention, so it may take a while before they issue a report. Some of the newer residents think we need a cop up here on the hill full-time. So far Riverside can't spare anyone. The police force is already stretched too thin." She adjusted the napkin over the bread basket.

This may be a sensitive topic for Meadow. She seems a bit nervous, fiddling with that napkin.

Meadow kept explaining, "The Old Rockers aren't in any hurry for police up here. We handle everything in our own way."

Dixie clamped her lips shut, realizing she wanted to disagree with Meadow. So the tension is between those who want a local cop in Lily Rock and those who think it's unnecessary.

She took the last sip of soup. I better call the captain. He'll be wondering what I've been up to. Can't wait to hear him yell when I tell him about my injured ankle.

She looked down at the bag of ice, which now dripped onto the kitchen tile. Her toes felt cold and slightly numb.

Meadow pushed her chair back. "I'll get you more ice. I also have homemade sugar cookies for dessert.

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