Back at their house, Olivia put on a kettle for tea. Mayor Maguire sniffed at the door. "You want to go out?"
His short bark said, "Yes."
She watched him trot outside into the dark.
Sage appeared wearing red eyes and pajamas. "I feel like a kid who got bullied at school. Are you making tea? Meadow would always do that when I came home crying." She smiled at Olivia.
"I am happy to be your Meadow. What a difficult day, and then to end with being booted out of your job." Shaking her head, Olivia looked into the cupboard. "What will you have? Herbal, I presume?"
Sage pointed to her usual licorice blend, while Olivia opted for chamomile and mint. Sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, they clinked mugs together. "Cheers," Olivia said.
"Back at ya," replied Sage.
"I'm still curious," Olivia began. "Did he act like he could fire you to humiliate you in front of the parents and students…or did the entire board vote to get rid of you?"
Before Sage could answer, a scratch came from the back door.
Olivia's eyes lit up. "He decided to come back." When she opened the door, the mayor trotted into the kitchen, bringing a smiling Michael Bellemare right behind.
"I've been looking for you both. Any of that for me?" He pointed to the tea mugs.
"Help yourself," offered Olivia.
Michael selected Earl Grey. He dropped the bag in his Carpe Diem mug. The pot of hot water had just enough left.
"Caffeine this late?" Olivia commented. "We are in for a long night… Sage got fired, you know."
"I heard. She doesn't deserve to be treated this way, especially with all the pressure of parent weekend." Michael frowned. "That was all anyone could talk about after the reception."
"Yep," answered Sage.
"Not sure Court can summarily decide to fire any academy employee without going through due process with board approval," added Michael.
"That's what I tried to tell her, though I'm not sure she heard me." Olivia nodded at Michael, glancing back at Sage.
"Not sure I care," said Sage. "The parents? They seem to want something I can't deliver."
Michael pulled a third chair from the corner of the room and sat down at the table. "Assuming the academy does terminate your contract, I just want to say that change doesn't have to be bad." He smiled at Olivia over his mug of tea. "I have news about the investigation. Is this a good time?"
Sage brushed tears aside. "That would be therapeutic for me. Enough about my woes, tell us everything."
He cleared his throat. "So I spoke to Janis tonight. She's ready to call in the three main suspects."
"That would be Cookie, Cox, and Court," said Olivia.
"The three C's, that's what I'm calling them."
"Does Janis want us in on the interviews?" asked Sage.
"She wants Olivia but did not mention you. Probably figures you have enough on your plate right now with the students and parents."
"At least until I'm given my termination notice," Sage muttered.
Michael picked up his mug, taking a sip. "I do have a message for you. Janis sent all the parents home after the reception. In fact, if I may quote Officer Jets, 'Tell Sage to tell those overzealous helicopter parents and grandparents to wave goodbye.'"
"That sounds like Janis." Sage yawned.
"You must be so tired," Olivia said, looking at her half-closed eyes.
"I am officially beat. So if you two sleuths don't mind, I'd like to try to get some sleep. Tomorrow will most likely bring a lot of phone calls and questions. I want to be prepared, especially if I have to announce my firing to the student body and staff."
Sage left her mug in the sink, and Mayor Maguire rose to follow her as she walked out of the kitchen.
Michael and Olivia, left alone, stared into each other's eyes.
"I have a lot to tell you," whispered Michael.
"Do we have to talk now?" she murmured back, leaning over to press her lips against his ear. "Can't we, you know, kiss first?"
"Great minds think alike," Michael said, pulling Olivia closer to his chest. "Let's just neck a bit before we talk about suspects and arrests."
She nuzzled his neck, feeling the stubble of beard against her lips. "I'm pretty sure Janis would not encourage any of this, but then who made her the boss of us?" Her lips pressed against the side of his mouth, and he turned his head to kiss her fully on the mouth.
She gasped as his tongue explored her lips.
"Too soon?"
"Don't stop," she said, leaning in closer.
After a while he pulled away, running his finger over her jaw. "Stopping is the last thing on my mind, but we have to get ready for tomorrow."
Olivia sat back in her chair. "On the one hand, I think getting ready for a police interview may be the last thing on my mind."
Michael grinned. "But on the other hand? Since you're no longer playing hard to get, I can wait one more day."
Olivia rose to her feet. "Then let me put the kettle back on for more tea. You can fill me in on what Janis expects. Plus, I have some news for you. Mayor Maguire may have cracked this case wide open."
Olivia refilled the kettle. She felt Michael's eyes watching her from behind. He tapped his fingers on the table, waiting for her to return. "I want to hold your hand," he hummed under his breath. When she sat down he reached across the table.
"Kind of hard to concentrate, but the tea will help. Okay, you go first. What did you learn from the mayor?"
"I have actual evidence," Olivia remarked. "Just give me a minute." She returned with the brown bag containing the worn hiking boot. "The mayor brought me this item during the recital reception. He walked right into the kitchen with the thing in his mouth."
She held the bag open for Michael to look inside. He immediately reached in, coming back with the boot. "Not what I expected," he admitted, surprise written on his face.
Olivia continued to explain. "If I remember correctly, Janis said there were hiking bootprints at the top of the cliff. She distinctly mentioned a size 8½. The mayor's piece of evidence fits her description."
Michael inspected the boot carefully, looking on the inside and closely at the sole. "Will you hand it over to Janis for forensics to have a look?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"And do you know if it belongs to anyone in particular?"
"That's the hard part." Before she could finish explaining, the kettle wailed. "Let me get the water. Do you want another Earl Grey?"
"Don't worry, I'll get the kettle. You stay right there."
Michael freshened both of their mugs with new tea bags, pouring water to the brim. Olivia wrapped her fingers around the handle, waiting for the contents to cool before taking a small sip. Only then did she pick up the conversation.
"I think this boot belongs to Anais. I'm not sure how the mayor got it or where the other one is, but I do know that Anais got new boots a couple of days ago." She explained about the grands and how they took Anais on a shopping trip before parent weekend.
Michael looked inside the boot again. "I don't see blood or anything."
"No one said Dave was bleeding before he went over the cliff."
Michael paused to remember. "But Janis did say there were lots of shoe and bootprints on that bit of dirt."
"Janis mentioned bootprints. I'm more interested in how Mayor Maguire brought me this boot when Anais's grandparents went out of their way to tell me how they bought a new pair for Anais."
"I do find the grands' conversation odd. Along with Mayor Maguire's discovery, it may point to our killer. I put my confidence in the mayor."
Olivia grinned. "Me too, because he's psychic and all."
"I'm a believer," he insisted, as if Olivia might doubt. "So are you thinking what I'm thinking? That Anais may have pushed Dave over the cliff?"
"She's not immune to impulsive behavior. No one is. Plus she told me she talked to Dave right before his death."
"Okay, that's interesting. I'm not sure what their relationship was about other than tutoring."
"It's not that. They weren't, you know, having a fling. At least that's not the vibe I get from her."
He didn't argue. "So they weren't together, but he did tutor her. Could something have come up regarding that relationship?"
Olivia considered in silence. "It may be about the Tone Ranger tutoring. I know Dave was hired by Simon Court." She took her mug to the sink and rinsed it out. Then she sat back down at the table with Michael. "So I showed you mine. What do you have from Janis?"
"She answered a lot of my questions, including why she's dating Rydell Cox. But I told her she'd be the one to give you the details. So let's just say everything about Janis makes more sense now."
"Is that your way of saying we're done here until tomorrow?" asked Olivia.
"Oh, not by a long shot," he insisted, standing up from the table. He reached for her hand to bring her to her feet. "I think we've talked way too much. It's time for a little action. Your place or mine?"
This time Olivia did not question his intention. She felt her cheeks flush. When she raised her chin, she smiled. "My place is closest. Lead the way."
Michael led her through the great room, down the stairs, into her suite. He shoved the door closed behind them before pulling her into his arms.
Olivia's heart beat wildly in her chest as she reached down to pull off her top in one move.
The next morning her eyes opened to sunshine streaming from the window. Stretching her legs, she patted her hand across the bed. Look who's here.
A lazy smile came over her lips.
Michael stirred, rolling over on his back. His arm reached over to pull her closer.
"Last night was not my imagination," he commented.
"So it was good for you?" she asked lightly, crossing her fingers under the covers.
"Well worth the wait." His head moved next to hers as he nuzzled her ear.
"Again?" she asked.
"Why not? Unless you're afraid of being fired."
She rolled to face him and then lightly kissed his lips.
By the time they showered and dressed, Mayor Maguire stood in the kitchen hovering over his food bowl. He looked up at her, tail wagging in anticipation.
She measured two level cups of kibble in his bowl. Then she reached into a metal container, pulling out a cookie shaped like a dog bone. She dropped it on top of his breakfast.
"Dry food this morning, but I promise something more flavorful tonight. Bone appetit."
Michael smiled. "Those look homemade," he commented.
"I bake them myself," admitted Olivia, stooping to pet Mayor Maguire's furry head.
"Of course you do. How about a cup of coffee for the road and then off to the constabulary. Janis pinged me three times."
Olivia picked up a cup. "I forgot to check my phone."
"Obviously you had other concerns on your mind this morning," he said with a sheepish grin.
She faced him, inching the fingers of one hand up his chest. "I've got a bit of baggage from another relationship. I admit that. It's like my emotions are on hold and I don't want to let go. But then you smile and we laugh and I know we're right together."
"It took you a while," Michael eyes brightened, "but just so you know, our first date still needs to happen. Saturday night, dinner for two."
"I think that will work for me." She took a step back to stare into his eyes. "I'm going to call you boyfriend if you don't mind. Now that we know we're compatible, I think it's only reasonable."
"Okay, girlfriend. So why don't we move along and go solve a murder."
They reached the constabulary with one parking place to spare. Michael navigated the truck to the curb. He leaned over to give Olivia a peck on the cheek before removing his car keys and stepping down to the pavement.
She released her seat belt and then opened the passenger door to step down.
"All safe and secure," Michael said as the truck beeped. They walked together toward the entrance of the constabulary.
To Olivia's surprise, Janis Jets sat behind the receptionist's desk. She was too busy staring at the computer to even say hello.
"Hey, boss," Olivia commented. "Get outta my chair."
"Be quiet," mumbled Jets. "I'm reading something important. I'll get to you in a minute. It's Monday morning. You're late."
"My fault," Michael said.
Jets looked up. She stared at Michael and then Olivia and then back at Michael. "I don't believe it. You two have finally sealed the deal. Geez, took you long enough."
"You don't know that for sure," objected Olivia, fluffing the hair on the back of her neck to distract Janis from commenting on her pink cheeks.
"Come on, I'm a detective. Your glow, his swagger. It's obvious to me." Jets hid her smile by turning back to the computer.
"How about we make a pot of coffee and meet you back in your office?" Michael offered.
"Good idea. By the way, stop swaggering. You look ridiculous."
With a deliberate shift of his shoulders, Michael walked through the sliding doors. "How's that?" he asked Olivia. "Do I look like a guy who just got lucky with the love of his life?"
"I don't have to be a detective to see that," laughed Olivia.
On the way down the hall Olivia glanced at the empty cells. "Do you think she'll have an arrest by the end of the day?"
"I think she thinks so," he commented.
By the time Olivia rinsed the glass carafe, Michael had ground fresh beans. She measured twelve spoonfuls into the basket with the paper filter. "I'm adding the water to the reservoir," she called to Michael, who had already taken a seat at a table close by.
Olivia selected two clean mugs, setting them on the counter, and waited for the coffee to finish brewing.
"I wish I still had that key to one of those lockers at the academy," she mused to Michael, who was reading a paper copy of the Lily Rock Gazette.
He dropped his paper. "Someone stole that key for a reason," Michael said. "I wonder how long Janis is going to take to get back here."
"She doesn't seem in any big hurry."
"Are you still her assistant? And if you are, why is she sitting at your desk?"
Olivia's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure if I'm still employed by the constabulary. My job got murky when she moved me into the dorm."
Sputtering its last bit of water, the coffeepot finished brewing. Olivia picked it up and poured hot coffee into two mugs, then brought them to the table.
Whenever I smell coffee I think of Michael.
"I forgot the cream and sugar."
He stood up to pull out her chair. "I'll check the refrigerator, you go ahead."
Janis Jets walked into the room. She looked over Olivia's head toward Michael. "Bring the pot," she ordered. "I need a refill and to catch you two up on our morning activities."
Jets sat at the round table. She reached into her back pocket for her cell phone, laying it on the table in front of her.
"I scheduled three interviews, which will start in twenty minutes. I'm putting the suspects in three different rooms, recording each one, sticking to the details and hoping for a confession."
Olivia's eyes widened. "You've got a plan for the suspects in place already?"
"Notified them last night. If one fails to show, then we know whodunnit. If all three show up, which I think they will, we'll play one off the other. I don't think anyone will miss the opportunity to prove themselves innocent during an interview."
With an extra mug in one hand and the pot in the other, Michael returned to the table. He set the items down and then shoved his hand into his pocket. "Here are the sugar and creamer packets.” He tossed them onto the table. "I'm assuming we're talking about Cookie, Cox, and Court?"
"That's what I told you last night," Janis confirmed. She picked up the carafe to pour more coffee into her mug.
"Who do you think is our killer?" asked Olivia, intrigued by Janis's calm.
"I don't know who the killer is, but I do know who it isn't. One of those men is not like the others."
With that cryptic statement, Jets took a long sip.
Olivia looked at her, curiosity written all over her face.
"I'm only telling you what you need to know. That's our motto, Ms. Amateur Sleuth."
Olivia sighed.
You may think it's one of those men, but I'm not so sure. Anais may be a prime suspect.
Janis looked over at her cell phone. It lit up immediately. She glanced at her texts. "Yep, Simon Court is on his way."
"Is he coming by helicopter?" Michael asked with a sly grin.
"I sure as hell hope not. I don't need any early morning commotion. I got a number of phone calls the last time he landed in the pub parking lot. One guy thought aliens were landing from Mars. He demanded that I arrest everyone."
Olivia's eyebrows shot up. "Aliens, huh? An interesting assumption, not that Court doesn't fit the description. He's not a Lily Rock kind of guy."
"I'm done being professional," Janis said flatly. "I'm just gonna tell it like it is. He's a jerk. That doesn't mean he's a criminal, but we can always hope."
"Comeuppance," muttered Olivia.
"Exactly," agreed Jets. "I love it when a jerk gets his comeuppance. An old-fashioned word for you reap what you sow."
"Do I hear an amen?" asked Michael.
Janis's cell phone buzzed again. "He's here," she said, standing up. "Meet me in interview room three. You," she pointed to Olivia, "at the table beside me, and you," she pointed to Michael, "behind the two-way mirror."
Janis looked at them, one then the other. "Most of the time you two get in my way, but I have to admit you see and hear what I don't. Keep notes, Mike. And Olivia, just sit there and feel stuff. Your intuition may pay off when we get back to talk about the interviews."
"When will that be?" asked Olivia.
"When I say so." Janis's jaw clenched. "You have your assignments."
Feels like old times. The three of us together, using our unique skill sets for good. Olivia felt a brief moment of excitement. But then a sense of foreboding came over her. She nervously rubbed her neck, taking a deep breath.
What if it turns out Simon Court did kill Dave Franco? Abbey will be crushed. She loves her daddy so.