Epilogue

Over the Next Week…

Several days later, after Doreen had had a chance to really relax, the police had gotten statements from Reggie, and, of course, he would spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murders. She'd gotten copies of the will from the lawyer and a ton of paperwork to deal with, and it would just be the tip of the iceberg.

Thankfully Nick was handling a lot of it for her, and she promised that, this time, she would pay him. He just laughed and noted that, in light of her change in circumstances, he would happily accept payment. Then he looked at her and stated, "Now, just tell me that you'll put poor Mack out of his misery."

She looked at him. "You may find this surprising, but people say that to me all the time. Call me slow, but I've never really understood it."

He chuckled. "Something else you need to figure out."

"What now?" she asked, frustrated.

"Did you ever figure out why you don't like the new detective?"

She glared at him. "Not you too?" she snapped.

But Nick just laughed, and, since he was walking out the door anyway, he just kept on walking.

Mack drove over a little bit later and came inside, greeting all the animals and hugging Doreen. He asked, "How's it going?"

"Crazy," she muttered.

His eyebrows shot up. "Crazy in what way?"

"Just all the paperwork the lawyer sent. Thankfully your brother will handle it for me, and this time I'll pay him," she declared, with a grin.

"I'm sure he would like that," Mack said gently.

"I would have figured out how to pay him anyway. I just didn't quite know how to make that happen since I didn't really have any money," she explained.

"Cookies?"

She burst out laughing. "That would require a lot of cookies."

He chuckled at that. "Yeah, but who doesn't like cookies?" Then he looked at her and asked, "Did you ever figure out why you don't like the detective?"

She glared at him. "Not you too. That seems to be a popular topic of conversation today and even earlier."

"Yeah, it is in some ways."

"I mentioned it to Nan, and she just gave me this mysterious look and said that I would figure it out eventually. I probably will," she admitted. "How about you? Any new cases to tell me about?"

"I don't need any new cases," he declared, glaring at her. "I'm done with cases. So should you be."

"What? Are you retiring and didn't tell me? Shame on you. Besides, one doesn't have to be working to get involved in cases. Plus, just because I have money coming in now, there is still work to be done on the cold case files. Ooh, and Solomon's files when I don't have anything else to work on."

He chuckled, shaking his head. He looked at her and opened his mouth to speak, then frowned and shut up.

"What? Come on. Tell me."

"It's just that you're a very wealthy woman now, and you could do a whole lot better than some country bumpkin cop like me."

She frowned at him, walked over, and pushed him back, so he was sitting on a chair, then plunked herself down in his lap. "Yeah, and who was there for me when I didn't know how to cook or even how to buy the most basic foods and was living off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?" Poking him in the chest, she continued. "Who was there when I didn't know how to work an ATM or turn on the oven?" She sighed happily, as she looked up at the strong features of his face and the lovely expression there.

"It doesn't have anything to do with money. True wealth is all about what's inside," she stated, tapping his heart. "So don't you worry about that. I'm perfectly happy with a country bumpkin cop, exactly like you." She leaned over, kissed him gently, and said, "But that still doesn't mean we're not getting cases."

"I, for one, would very much like for this town to calm down and to not have anything else happen for quite a while."

"Quite a while is fine with me," she replied "We can go like this for days and days. Hey, even weeks or a few months would be great."

First Part of November

Days later Doreenand Mack were sitting outside, having a barbecue, when his phone rang. He checked the Caller ID, then looked down at her.

"A case?" she asked, looking at him.

He got up, glaring at her, and stepped a few feet away, so he could take the call in private. Finally the call ended, and he turned around and shared, "Apparently we've had enough of a break."

"What's up?" she asked, looking at him excitedly.

"A body was just found in a flower garden."

"Where?" she asked.

"Behind the juice processing plant."

She frowned, as she thought about that. "A garden's back there?"

"Yeah, a community garden," he added.

"They're quite popular in town, aren't they?"

"They are, although maybe not so much after this."

"Why? Is it not a natural death?"

He shook his head. "No, he was tased." When she gave him a blank look, he explained, "You know, zapped with a police zapper thingy." He laughed when understanding dawned on her face. "Oh my God, you're making me crazy. Now I'm even coming up with your ridiculous descriptions."

"It worked though, and now I understand completely. So, was it the fault of a cop?"

"No, I don't think so," he replied, looking at her. "At least I hope not. Sounds like the guy was found in a special place that contains the flower garden, among those spikey things."

"Spikey things?" she asked, frowning at him. "You mean, cactus?"

"No, the flowers, the long spikey…"

"Multipetal zinnias?" she asked.

He raised both hands, stupefied. "Yeah, those. How did you figure that out from what I said?"

She shrugged. "I didn't. I just considered what flowers would still be blooming in Canada at this time of year. But a greenhouse in the community garden would be good cover for these flowers come wintertime."

Mack shrugged. "Don't know for sure until I see the crime scene myself. And don't forget we've been enjoying an unseasonably warm fall and so far we haven't had a killing frost. They could be still flowering quite nicely."

Then Doreen's smile on her face grew and grew.

"What?" He looked at her in confusion.

"It's the Zapped in the Zinnias case," she declared, with a chuckle.

"Oh no, no," he argued, "we're not going with that name."

"Yes, we are, and you know it. You can't stop me."

He glared at her. "If you go with that name, I want something from you first."

"What's that?" she asked.

"I want to know why you don't like the new detective."

She flushed, looked at him, and asked, "Are you leaving right now for the crime scene?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Okay, in that case, I'll tell you."

He slowly raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised. "Okay, so tell me then." He slipped his phone in his pocket, grabbed his jacket, and reached for his keys.

"I don't like her because she's too close to you."

He stared at her for a long moment. "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously," she declared. "I don't want anything to come between us. Particularly a determined, good-looking, sexy cop you're around all day," she snapped, glaring at him. When his lips twitched, her glare deepened. But when he burst into laughter, she stomped her foot and crossed her arms, still glaring at him, "It's not funny, Mack."

He stopped laughing and smiled. "No, it's not funny," he agreed. "It's absolutely delightful." He picked her up, gave her a huge hug, then a big kiss on the lips, and stated, "You just made my day." After giving her a second big smacking kiss on the lips, he headed for the front door, whistling. Then he called out, "Zapped in the Zinnias it is."

"That was easier than I expected," she muttered, following him to the door.

"Hey, I'm always happy to compromise, particularly with somebody like you."

"What do you mean, somebody like me?" she asked.

He flashed her a grin and, stepping out the door, said, "Somebody I love."

And, with that, he was gone, leaving her standing in the doorway, staring after him, her mouth gaping.