The Full Cup of Murder: Cozy Murder Mystery (Full Cup Mysteries Book 1)

by Ruby Jones

  “John will not say anything to incriminate himself.”

  “I know.” I said.

  “This is not an interview.” Linden added.

  “I just want to know why?” I asked. “At any time at all, did you have any emotions or feelings towards me?” He looked up but did not say anything. It was so quiet in that room. He finally cleared his throat and looked at his lawyer.

  “I owe you nothing!” He spat at me. Jason started to rush towards him but was stopped. We got up and left quickly. We all stopped in the hall.

  “I am sorry.” I apologized a bit shaken up.

  “No apologies needed.” Holbrook said. We all shook hands. I knew I would see them in court but at this time, I really needed just to get away from it all. I grabbed Jason’s hand and he led me to the truck.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Do we really need to have a destination?”

  “Naw” I smiled. He pulled out of the driveway. He drove us out to the camp. We got out and sat on the porch. The lake looked so peaceful. I curled up and cuddled closer to Jason. As I thought about the last few weeks, I realized how much I have changed. How much the people of our small sleepy town will change. I was considering signing the bar over to Lisa and Jim. I asked Jason what he thought.

  “Sell the bar? It has been in your family for so many years.”

  “I know but there are so many frightening memories there for me. My whole family was rather involved with this, you know. What kind of legacy do I want to leave my children? The bar held some great memories for my family and I over the years and for a lot of families in the town but it also reminded me that my family had been in danger for years.”

  “What are you going to do from here?” He asked me as he realized what I was saying was true. It was a chapter in my life that I needed to close. As much as parts of it would really hurt.

  “I am not sure yet but I do have something else I must do.”

  The next day Jason and I drove back to town and headed right to the cemetery. We found Ray’s headstone immediately. His family and Jeff had bought a beautiful headstone shaped like a lighthouse. It was inscribed with his name and birth and death date and “May the light guide you to the peace you have earned” We both looked at each other with tears in our eyes. We also walked over to Shanna’s head stone. We did not go to her funeral. I had heard not many people did. Although I felt like I had to pay my respects because deep down I did not feel that Shanna deserved any of this. I just wanted to remember her as a young girl who just eagerly wanted everyone to accept her.

  “Come on.” Jason coaxed me.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Just come with me.” He smiled. He led me back to the truck and he drove us over to the Full Cup. We went inside and I was surprised to see Jim, Lisa, Jenna, her family and so many other local people I was close with.

  “Jason what have you done?” I turned to him. He was on his knee holding a ring box. I felt the heat go to my face.

  “Well?” Jenna asked after a few minutes of silence. Everyone laughed. I looked at Jason.

  “Yes.” I said. “Yes I will marry you.” Everyone clapped and we kissed. As people came up to talk to us I kind of wandered away from the crowd towards my office. I opened the door. Lisa had cleaned it up and organized it but it was still the same. I picked up the picture of Carl. Poor guy. I walked over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. I saw a car pull up and a familiar person get out of it but I could not place him. Moments later, there was a soft knock at the door. Jason stuck his head in.

  “Alison.” He opened the door wider. Behind him stood Uncle Junior. He looked great compared to the pictures I had seen. He had aged nicely. He was dressed in a nice pair of jeans and casual shirt.

  “Junior.” I said.

  “Hello Alison.” He came in and Jason left and closed the door.

  “You have grown up to be a beautiful lady,” Junior said to me.

  “Thank you.” He just kept looking at me. For some reason I followed my urge and hugged him tightly. It was like years of tension just flowed from both of us. We talked for a while and Jason had to finally come get me as people were asking about me.

  As the day ended and Jason and I had come back to the camp I sat on the porch as he was inside putting together a wonderful dinner. So many life-changing things had happened. I had promised to maintain a relationship with Uncle Junior. Matter of fact I had plan on having him walk me down the aisle when it did come time for Jason and I to set a date. We were not in a rush even though Lisa and Jenna were just dying to plan everything out. I knew I could not choose between my childhood best friend and another friend who had helped me so much during this whole thing. Jim and Lisa nearly looked like they were going to pass out when I had finally announced to them that I was signing the bar over to them. Jim hugged me so tightly I thought he was going to rebreak my ribs. It was meant to be and I knew it. It was certainly time to make changes to improve my quality of life.

  “Are you hungry?” Jason asked me from the doorway. He had been leaning on the doorjamb watching me.

  “How long were you spying on me?”

  “Spying?” He laughed as he came over to me. “I was looking at the most beautiful thing that nature could offer.” We kissed.

  “I have decided what I am going to do.” I told him as we walked into the house.

  “Oh and what is that?”

  “I am going to write a book.” I told him as we started to eat.

  “Really?” He looked around. “About all of this?”

  “Most definitely. Seriously Jason you have to admit everything that has taken place around here is a story no one would ever believe would happen on this side of our country.”

  “I agree.”

  “Besides I think it would be great therapy for me as well.” We talked more about it as we finished our dinner. After as we sat on the couch we talked more about our future. He definitely wanted a family.

  “I think you are right.” He agreed, “Perhaps writing about this will also show the world Maine is a place on the map. Full of mystery and murder.”

  He kissed me gently. We had not attempted to make love or anything since the accident. I had healed pretty well considering. I was still fighting severe pain from nerve damage but I was walking a lot better and actually doing things for myself. I stood up and slowly undressed in front of him. It was something I did not do very often. I was so self-conscious before the accident but with the scars, bruises and weight loss I knew I could hardly be attractive to anyone. Jason swept me up with so much passion I thought I could possibly be wrong. He made gentle love to me and it felt so good to feel like a woman again.

  Over the next couple of weeks, we dealt with courts and the legal closing of the bar that was to be turned over to Lisa and Jim at the end of the month, which was only four days away. I finally put my house on the market. I also finally agreed to a date for the wedding. We had decided to get married after the court case, which was to take place in a couple of months.

  Jason headed to the station and I decided to call Jenna and meet her for lunch. We met at the club. She was so excited about the wedding date she mostly talked about that. It felt good to sit there and listen to her chatter. I wondered if life was ever going to feel the same to me. Sometimes I felt like these last few months were like years. I certainly felt older. More mature. I was dealing with the emotional distress that John caused me, with my counselor so I was kind of feeling strong again. At times, I would see things that would remind me of my horror. Of the town’s horror. As we finished lunch and I walked to my car I saw Jason’s grandfather standing by my car. I kissed Jenna and we went our separate ways.

  “Ali darling.” Dan said as I came closer. We hugged.

  “How are you Dan?”

  “Doing well. I hear you are going to make an honest man out of my grandson.” He laughed.

  “I am not sure. He may make an honest woman out of me.
” I smiled. “You never know.”

  “Aww Ali you are one fine and kind girl.” He dug his foot in the dirt.

  “Dan what is up dear?”

  “I owe you an apology Alison.”

  “Why” He held up his hand asking me to stop and listen.

  “Jason is right. I should have told you a long time ago about the Malanta’s and everything else. In those days’ police the police did all work. Not the FBI or civilians having to do what you did.”

  “I am fine “

  “That is not the point. You are not fine. I was told you were kidnapped, assaulted …” He got teary eyed. “Ray is now dead. He came to me that night telling me to tell you what was going on. He was so angry you were being involved and he was very worried you would be harmed. He was right.” I swallowed and hugged Dan.

  “It is ok. I am upset but Dan you know times change and the way things are done. You did what you felt was right at the time. You have always taken your career seriously. It is not your fault what any of those people did to me.”

  “It is.”

  “I would of never even know there was a hidden love and passion between Jason and I if none of this had happened.” I looked out over the water. “I don’t think the town will ever really recover from this though.”

  “No perhaps you are right. “ We both walked to his car. We hugged. “It is going to be nice to have to in the family Ali.” He hugged me again. “I will love having you as the granddaughter I never had.” He got in and drove away. I stood by my car watching him go. I looked out over the water. He was so right. It was time for the town to heal. For me to heal not just for me but for my family as well. Even though just about everyone was gone, the legacy of my family would always live on. Lisa and Jim were going to make a few changes but had decided to call the bar, Ali’s Full Cup. I was flattered and when I saw the sign go up, I could see Gram and Gramps smiling above. Suddenly I felt a little dizzy and sick. I put my head down a little and did not hear or see Jason pull up next to me.

  “Alison are you ok.” He jumped out of his truck.

  “Ya I think so”

  “Let me drive you to the hospital.” I did not argue. I felt terribly dizzy. About an hour later, Dr. Burns came out to talk to us.

  “Well everything has healed perfectly.” He told us. “Probably a few more weeks of therapy. Then I will see you once a month.” Jason and I looked at each other.

  “Once a month?” I asked.

  “What is going on Dr.?” Jason asked.

  “Well nothing…” as he looked up at us smiling. “Unless having a baby in nine months will be a problem.” A baby! Jason swept me up and we were both laughing and crying. Now I knew my new chapter was officially going to begin.