Epilogue

A little over one month later

“Thanks, Taylor,” Duke said, lifting his coffee to take a sip. He tossed a dollar into the tip jar, grabbed the tray filled with the other coffees he ordered, and left Mocha’s Merriment.

He’d already had a cup of coffee before he left for his shift, but he liked to support the local shops as much as he could. While Lila and Bryce were working hard on rebuilding their town to a place full of Christmas joy, it was slow going.

Bryce still hadn’t hired anyone to replace Becca’s position. And while Duke knew Lila hadn’t stepped into the role of secretary, she helped Bryce out while also working as an independent PR consultant for the city. She had so much work to do to turn their image around.

The moment she found out Bryce had wanted to pay her out of his own bank account, she blew a gasket he even thought to do something so outrageous—and so generous. Her ire didn’t last too long because she knew it had come from a good place. Juliet had the bright idea to pay her what Becca had been paid. Since they had done that, there wasn’t any money in the current budget to hire him a secretary. They were making do for the time being. Duke had to admit they were a dynamite duo in work and out of it.

Tourism was still down, but much better than a few months ago before they hired Lila. Her ideas were always brilliant and worked like a charm. In the moment, anyway. Maintaining the crowds in town was the problem. She would have to keep putting on small events to reel people in until something stuck. Something that would change the entire image around. Duke knew it was taking a toll on her.

Bryce fought her all the time about taking it slow. She had been hurt only about a month ago. She had to do things carefully and keep up with physical therapy. It didn’t leave her a whole lot of time for everything she wanted to do.

But in the short time she had, she’d done amazing things. Easter had gone wonderfully. The attendance had been off the charts, considering the recent murder and mayhem that had occurred. She’d had most stores set up social media accounts, constantly monitoring that they were doing their part to stay relevant. Harper also pitched in with that project as well. It was too large for one person alone.

Aster had finally left. While he jumped for joy—privately, of course—he could tell Juliet missed him. Not that she had admitted it to anyone. But Duke knew. He saw the sadness in her eyes at his departure.

In the beginning, he had tried to lift her spirits, but she hadn’t seemed receptive to anything he attempted to do or say. So he’d given up even trying. He missed their friendship, and he wasn’t even sure where he went wrong. No doubt the whole I-hate-Aster thing did it. Though he had never been outspoken about it. His body language had been loud enough on its own.

He made it to Tinsel Lake, not surprised to see Bryce and Lila already there. But he had meant to be first, so it irked him. He made sure to hide his irritation. Lila needed to slow down.

“Don’t even say it,” Lila said, and glanced at his hands, smiling as she grabbed her coffee cup. “You’re the best, Duke.”

“Only for the best.” He winked, before turning the tray to Bryce, who grabbed his coffee as well.

Lila gulped down what seemed to be half the contents of the hot liquid, then off she went toward the dock where Teddy and a few members of the football team were hanging a sign.

Teddy and his friends were home for the weekend from college to celebrate the fishing opener. Most people in town loved to fish. The fishing contest they had on opening day was a big hit. Lila was going all out with it this year, even more than they had in previous years.

The Christmas decorations around the lake were big and bright, mingled in with singing fish and poles wrapped like presents under the tree. It had a very merry vibe that he enjoyed seeing.

“She needs to slow down.”

Bryce nodded, watching her for the longest time, then looked at him. “I keep trying. She’s on this crazy mission, and I can’t get through to her. Her shoulder is healing well. The cut on her chest is already healed. But I do worry about her.”

“Take her on a vacation.”

“Actually, I’ve been talking with Zinnia and Poppy. We’re planning a trip to California. Hopefully, it will help slow her down. I know she wants this town to succeed, but I don’t want it to be at her health’s expense.”

Duke agreed. She’d been through so much. She needed to take the time to heal properly and then go all in. Because he had no doubt in his mind she would bring this town back to the glory it used to have.

“You fishing today?”

Bryce jerked his head toward the left where fishing gear sat. “I convinced Lila she had to join the contest. Which means for the next few hours, she will have no choice but to sit and relax with a pole in her hand.”

Duke chuckled. “How long do you think that’ll last?”

“Oh, she’s competitive. She’ll play to win. Though I know she’ll let someone else take the ultimate prize because she wants people to keep coming back for more.”

Duke wished them luck and they parted ways. An hour later, Bryce, as the mayor, gave a riveting speech, and wished everyone good luck on the lake. Some people were in boats. Others fished from the shore. Some even sat on the docks sprinkled around the perimeter of the lake. The event was lively and full of people. Duke, Theo, Griffin, and two other officers patrolled the area, ready for any sort of mishap or problem to arise. Generally, though, not many eventful things happened on the fishing opener other than people squabbling over who had the bigger catch.

There were thirty minutes left until the time would be up. Everyone would have to reel in their catches and find out who had the biggest prize.

“Hey, Chief, you might want to come around to the north side of the lake. We have a problem,” Theo’s voice crackled through the radio.

Duke cut short the conversation he’d been having with a few folks and decided to check out the issue as well.

He used the four-wheeler he’d brought along, making it to Theo in short order. Not a lot of people had set up camp to fish on this portion of the lake. Which turned out to be a good thing.

Because a dead body was never what they wanted to find and for people to witness.

Ronan stood to the side, near Theo. Duke formulated he had found the body. Or had fished it out if the pole near the body was any indication. Griffin had also arrived.

“Seal this area off. Don’t let anyone close,” Griffin said in a subdued tone, looking at Theo.

Duke leaned closer, checking out the tattered clothes. The body appeared to have been submerged for a long time, the features indistinguishable to make out who the person could be. But the name tag still pinned to the shirt was clue enough.

“Beth Terden.” Duke stood up. “She worked at Noel’s Cafe. Abruptly left, leaving Juliet in the lurch. That’s around the same time Eve appeared and took her position last summer.”

Griffin nodded, remembering. “Apparently, she didn’t leave town.” He looked at Ronan. “You dragged her out of the water.”

He jerked his head once. “My line caught on something. As soon as I saw what it was, I pulled her out. I hope I didn’t contaminate anything.”

“The water did a good job of that already. It’s okay, Ronan. I was only double checking,” Griffin said.

Duke looked out at the water to where Bryce sat in a boat with Lila. “Is there any way to keep this information from Lila?”

Laughter burst from Griffin. Even Ronan chuckled, knowing why he’d said it.

Bryce had conveyed her thoughts on turning their town from merry to horror. With another murder on their hands, it wasn’t a far-off concept to accept.

“Duke, it’s your case. If you want it.”

Theo had responded first, but he had seniority. It would be his first murder. Officially. Denise’s death didn’t count.

“I’ll take it.”

His first step would be to talk to Juliet. Not something he relished.

They’d grown so far apart, they felt like strangers.

But oh well, he had a job to do.

Want to see how Griffin and Eve met? Read Dashing Through the Fear !