Mary smiled and walked outside into a clear and starry evening.
“Nice night,” Mitchell said.
“Huh? Oh.” Mary grabbed her chest. “You scared me.”
Mitchell was standing under a tall oak tree with Valerie. “The town cleaned up nice.”
Mary felt a warm glow enter her heart. She hurried over to the tree and hugged Mitchell and Valerie. “When did you two arrive? Oh, you should have called me.”
“We arrived about an hour ago,” Mitchell said and hugged Mary.
“Oh, it’s so great to see you again.” Mary nearly began to cry. She grabbed Valerie. “Oh, I’m so happy you’re here. The talent show has just begun, and we have some really talented performers inside. A circus was passing through town and some of the circus people decided to be in the talent show, considering it’s for a good cause.”
Mitchell smiled. “I’m glad you finally got to put on your talent show,” he said. “We’ll try and catch an act, but right now we’re more worried about finding a place to stay the night.”
“Oh, you,” Mary giggled and nudged Mitchell with her arm. “You’re both going to go home with me.”
“Well, maybe for a short while,” Valerie told Mary as a warm breeze played with the brown dress she was wearing. She reached up and pulled her brown cap down further on her head. “A woman needs a place of her own, you know.”
“And a retired cop needs a place to call home, too.” Mitchell smiled and looked at Mary with love. “How is Betty?”
“Betty is inside managing the talent show,” Mary told him. She raised her eyes just in time to see a falling star and made a quick wish. “Are you hungry?” she asked.
“Starving,” Valerie confessed.
“Same here,” Mitchell added.
Mary glanced over her shoulder. “Betty will be fine,” she told herself and wrapped her arms around Mitchell and Valerie. “We’ll go to my house and Mitchell can cook us supper.”
“Sounds perfect,” Mitchell said, allowing Mary to walk him away from the auditorium. “Oh, before I forget,” he said, “I have some news for you.”
“Let me tell her,” Valerie begged.
“Sure, go ahead.” Mitchell smiled. “Valerie has been very impatient to tell you the news.”
“What news?” Mary asked.
“Mr. Walsh and his daughter are in prison,” Valerie said in a happy voice. “Ellie Wording will spend her life in prison. Mr. Walsh…maybe a few years, but those few years are enough to teach him a lesson. I doubt he’ll ever bother us again.”
“Why only a few years?” Mary asked in a concerned voice.
“Money and power. Also, good lawyers,” Mitchell explained, fishing a cigar out of his black coat pocket. Sure, he was retired, and sure, he didn’t have to dress like a cop and wear his black suit and fedora, but old habits die hard. At least he was smoking cigars instead of Lucky Strikes. “But, as Valerie said,” he told Mary as he lit his cigar with a match, “the few years Mr. Walsh will spend in prison will be enough to teach him a lesson.”
“What will he do when he is released from prison?” Mary asked.
“Go back to his studio, what else?” Valerie sighed. “It seems like the people in Los Angeles like a little scandal.” Valerie shook her head. “No matter, honey. We managed to catch a deadly black widow and put her behind bars. Now,” Valerie said and squeezed Mary’s hand, “it’s time to begin a new life.”
Mary looked at Valerie with loving eyes and then looked over at Mitchell. Out of a horrible, confusing murder case she had managed to acquire two new family members who now owned a very special place in her heart. “Talent show…murder…tornado…scary mansion…spooky studio…” She let out a tired laugh. “Guys, I wonder what the future holds for us. Whatever it is,” Mary said, walking down a moonlit sidewalk, “I know it has to be something good.”
Far away, a newspaperman ripped a piece of paper out of his typewriter and scribbled Mary’s name on it. “I hope you get this, Mary,” he said as a black car pulled up in front of his office. The man jumped to his feet and ran out into the night, leaving behind a trail of mystery and danger.
Dear Reader,
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Thanks again,
Wendy Meadows
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About the Author
Wendy Meadows is a USA Today bestselling author of cozy mysteries. She lives in “The Granite State” with her husband, two sons, two cats and lovable Labradoodle.
When she isn’t working on her stories she likes to tend to her flowers, relax with her pets and play video games with her family.
Get in Touch with Wendy
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Also by Wendy Meadows
Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Series
Nether Edge Mystery Series
Chocolate Cozy Mystery Series
Alaska Cozy Mystery Series
Sweet Peach Bakery Cozy Series
Sweetfern Harbor Mystery Series
Candy Shop Mysteries
Pineville Gazette Mystery Series
Clueless Chase Page 15
