Some days later, they sat in Mac’s office discussing the case. “I guess all the loose ends are tied up now. Patrick’s remains were retrieved by his family and the chief told me to officially close the case file.” Mac offered Brenda a cup of fresh coffee. She accepted. They sat in silence, each thinking about the case. Brenda reached for a box of butter cookies and took one, offering the package to Mac.
“What a waste of lives,” she said. “Patrick, Rick…I wonder what percentage of crimes are committed because of insanity.”
“I have no idea.” Mac stood and looked out the window. “Alexandra probably inherited her mental illness, but I don’t know what possessed Rick Dawson to kill someone. Or himself, in the end. It’s a sad end to the case, for sure.”
“Hatred and resentment clouded Rick’s judgment, I think. What Patrick did was awful, but Rick couldn’t let it go. I guess that same resentment clouded Alexandra’s life. Even Daniel’s, to some extent,” Brenda mused, taking the last bite of her cookie. “In the end, I guess it was Patrick who set everything in motion, though. He stole Daniel’s identity, he pushed Daniel and Alexandra to break up, he went after Rick’s career for no good reason. What drove Patrick to do all of that?”
“Privilege? The same rich jerk attitude he spread over everyone he met? Or maybe he was just immature and looking for power. We’ll never know,” Mac said, staring out at the golden cloud of sunset light spreading across the horizon. “But what I do know is that he can’t do any more harm.”
The light suffused the office through the windows and turned everything a beautiful shade of rosy gold and he turned to see his wife haloed in the light. He smiled at her.
“Speaking of harm, I’ve got to get away from these butter cookies, Mac. What do you say we take a walk down to the waterfront and go for that sailboat ride? I feel the need to breathe some fresh salt air.”
Mac smiled at her warmly and reached over to take her hand. He told her that was a good idea. “Besides, it would be a crime not to take advantage of such a beautiful evening to look at my pretty wife, wouldn’t it?”
Brenda’s heart filled with love and affection for Mac as they strolled down the picturesque streets toward the water and the golden sunset beyond, hand in hand.
Thanks for Reading
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About the Author
Wendy Meadows is the USA Today bestselling author of many novels and novellas, from cozy mysteries to clean, sweet romances. Check out her popular cozy mystery series Sweetfern Harbor, Alaska Cozy and Sweet Peach Bakery, just to name a few.
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Read more by Wendy
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
Copyright © 2019 by Wendy Meadows
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
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