The next morning, Beth unpacked her hand-painted porcelain birds and finally displayed them on the mantle of her rental cottage’s non-working fireplace. Her new Phoenix was the centerpiece. Shane rose early and scrambled some eggs which were a bit too dry for Beth’s taste, but she didn’t complain.
With considerable hassle, a lot of explaining about certain aspects of his California record, and $165, Shane got his 2000 Road King five-speed out of VPD impound. It carried a new Greene County tag. Still safely inside the locked saddlebags were his treasured revolver and hunting knife.
Despite a strong undercurrent of voyeuristic expectation, no significant dirt was slung publicly by either campaign in the big senate race. But four days before the November eighth election, Dillon was arrested in connection with campaign finance fraud and quickly agreed to spill everything in exchange for partial immunity. Caught completely flat-footed by the sensational headlines from Dillon’s explosive revelations, Candidate Durocher simply froze like an ice sculpture and her campaign sputtered to a pitiful stall. Before she could spring her late October surprise, The Nancy became defensively snarled in the wreckage of her intended offensive.
Senator Fitch returned to his office in the State Legislature to begin his final term before intended retirement.
Partly as a result of Dillon’s exhaustive disclosures, federal authorities were actively grilling Kaser, AKA Juan Milkovich, in connection with at least three murders [one of his hireling thieves, Mr. Barkley, and Mrs. Bier, the attempted murder of Mrs. Ross, and several other criminal incidents. Formerly prepared to flee the country with an enormous amount of cash, Kaser was instead confined in an undisclosed location with extraordinary rendition.
Ricks eventually went to Folsom Prison in California. He was not a happy camper.
After examining the body of the hooded robber, Nashville Police revealed he was a well-known character in South Nashville... where he dived in a regular route of dumpsters as his livelihood. That finally explained his repugnant smell.
The federal agents were so glad to get their hands on Kaser that they lowered their charges about Jeff falsely reporting a bomb and placed the librarian on unsupervised probation. Assuming he had no further improprieties within a specified time, his record would be expunged.
Jeff’s wrist was badly sprained and had to be in a sling for several days, plus a heavy, tight wrap for an additional week. Several regular patrons brought home-baked cookies and candies to the Reference Department and he shared some with his library colleagues. Tanya wondered what had happened to Jeff’s supper appetite and thought she’d noticed a few extra pounds on his normally slim midsection.
Unlike Jeff’s prediction of her reaction to his injury, Tanya characterized his actions in the hotel as “heroic”... which, after all, they were.
Steve Packard’s wife finally tired of him staring at her, so she nagged him into seeing an ophthalmologist. Turned out Steve was so myopic that he could barely see to drive even the short and quite familiar route between office and home. Anything as far away as Beth’s desk would be hardly more than blurry colors and moving shapes.
After Helana Harte Ross fully recovered from Kaser’s attack, she began corresponding with Beth. When everything was photographed and inventoried—with Jeff’s considerable help—Shane shipped Lynette’s belongings to Helana. After five years under his protective custody, the actress’s mementos were finally going home.
Corporal James was credited with much more than he actually did, merely by being first officer on the scene.
Connie was currently dating Arnie the medic. She realized she needed to learn a lot about first aid since her friends sustained so many injuries.