by Cindy Bell
“I know that.” Ally fought off a little dizziness and panic. She attempted to make something up. “It's just that I didn't think that Brent and Connor were actively fighting. I thought you should know that. But then I realized that my information wasn't very reliable. So, I decided to just leave. It's nothing really.”
Julian's silence spoke louder than anything he could say. Ally suspected that he did not believe her. She tightened her lips and did her best to appear casual.
“Ally, I just want you to know that you can come to me, with anything that you might be concerned about. Okay?” He reached out and took her hand. Ally tried to stop the excitement that rushed through her like a tidal wave. Julian was holding her hand. Julian, who when she was growing up she once thought she would give anything to marry. Ally took a deep breath and smiled.
“I know that, Julian. There's nothing to be concerned about with such a great detective on the case.”
“Now, that's what I like to hear.” Julian laughed and let go of her hand. He started to walk out of the shop, then paused at the door. He looked back at her with interest. “We should get together sometime. To catch up.”
Ally could only nod in return. There was absolutely no reason for them to catch up. They had never really had any history. She had just had a silly childhood crush. After hearing about the time they spent in a kiddie pool together though, maybe they did have some connection. Maybe Julian would be the distraction that she needed to get over her divorce. After the case was solved.
Once Julian left, Ally turned towards her grandmother.
“Ally, what was all of that about?” Charlotte frowned. She walked around the counter towards her. “Is everything okay?”
Ally opened her mouth to tell her grandmother the truth, but again she hesitated. Not because she didn’t want to tell her grandmother, but she worried about her. If Luke really was involved in Connor's murder, how far would he go to cover that up? Charlotte tended to say pretty much whatever she pleased at any given time, which put her at risk of confronting Luke. Ally didn't want to go after Luke just yet. She wanted to gather more evidence against him first. She also wanted to find out if Julian knew about Luke's involvement. Maybe he did and he was just waiting for proof to arrest him.
“Honestly, I decided not to tell them about the old factory. I don't think it really matters. I'm sure they checked the GPS during their investigation. Besides, the place is completely empty.” Ally shook her head. “Connor's funeral is tomorrow, and I just want to focus on that.”
“You're right, Ally. His mother will need our support. Still, I think you should have mentioned the factory to Julian. Maybe next time you see him?”
“Maybe.” Ally nodded. “Do you need any help with anything?”
“Sure, I'm decorating a batch of chocolates to take to the service tomorrow. Would you like to help?” Charlotte studied her with a worried frown. Ally could tell that her grandmother didn't completely believe what she said.
“Absolutely.”
Ally followed her grandmother into the kitchen. She rarely lied to her, but this time, she felt it was for the best.
Chapter Ten
Ally woke up the next morning with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Up until today she had been in denial of Connor's death. But today was the funeral. She wouldn't be able to hide from it anymore. She knew that even though she and Connor had never been terribly close they shared something just by growing up together in the same town. More than that, she had possibly been the last person that Connor had spoken to. She kept replaying in her mind what she had said and whether she had been kind. She knew that it was a losing battle to try to figure it out, but she still tried.
For the funeral she selected a simple black dress. She tied her brown hair back in a tight, straight braid. When she stepped out into the living room her grandmother was already waiting. She also wore a black dress, and had swept back her hair.
“Are you ready for this?”
“I think so.” Ally straightened her dress. “As ready as I can be.”
“True. I don't think any of us are really ready for it.” Charlotte reached out and brushed Ally's hair back from her forehead. “The important thing now is that we are strong for Connor's mother.”
Ally nodded. She could see the immense compassion in her grandmother's deep-green eyes. Charlotte knew what it was like to lose a child. As they walked towards the church they were surrounded by what appeared to be every other person in town, dressed in dark clothing and wearing solemn expressions. No one waved or spoke to one another. It was as if everyone had gotten together and agreed that this was one day they should be silent. When they reached the church, organ music drifted from its windows. Ally shivered at the memory of the melancholic sound.
She found it hard to step into the church. As a young girl she had gone on occasion with friends, but it had always seemed like a somber place to her. She had been to more funerals there than church services. Most of the faces around her were people she had known or was at least familiar with since she was a child. It was surreal to be back in a place where she had said goodbye to her mother. As she waited for the service to begin she lingered near the front door. She could hear snippets of hushed conversation.
“It's just so sad that this happened.”
“I'm not sure if we're ever going to be the same.”
“I don't understand why this town is changing. Murder? Here?”
“Maybe if Connor hadn't caused such a commotion over that bar fight with Brent he would still be alive.”
That comment made Ally look up with surprise. The man who said it was at least forty years her senior. She remembered him as a grouchy man around town. He would sit on his porch and holler at the kids playing in the street if he thought they were being too loud. He looked just as grouchy now. Curious, she listened more closely to his conversation with a man she did not recognize.
“Surely a bar fight didn't lead to this.” The other man shook his head.
“Listen, these are young men. They're both troublemakers really. They do impulsive things. Brent probably wanted to get revenge for the way that he was treated. Connor made a fool of him that night.”
“Was it recent?”
“No, it was at least a year ago.”
The other man huffed. “That's ridiculous, who would hold a grudge that long?”
“The problems between those two families go back generations. I'm sure it wasn't just about one drunken bar fight. That was probably just the icing on the cake.”
“I don't know, it's hard to believe.”
“That's what everyone's saying around town. It was Brent that did it. No one is even thinking about another suspect.” The grumpy man shrugged. “It was bound to happen eventually.”
“William, for God's sake have some respect.” A woman grabbed onto William's arm. “We're here to honor the dead, not gossip.”
“Sorry Mavis, I'm just being honest.” He shrugged again. She led him away in an effort to silence him. Ally shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. She didn't like how quickly the whole town was pinning the murder on Brent. She wasn't certain anymore that he had nothing to do with it. If so many people suspected him, maybe they were right? Was she just blinded by her memories of an innocent boy who had been her first boyfriend and good friend? She obviously didn't have the best judgment when it came to the people she gave her heart to.
“Are you doing okay, Ally?” Charlotte placed her hand lightly on Ally's shoulder. She had just broken away from a crowd of ladies about her age. Ally noticed a misting in her grandmother's eyes. She remembered that she was not the only one who had said goodbye to her mother.
“Yes. It's just a sad day.” She hugged her grandmother.
“That it is. Why don't we sit down?” Charlotte gestured to one of the pews. Ally followed after her. Soon everyone in the church was taking their seats. Ally settled in for the service. As expected many people from the community spoke about Connor'
s influence on them. Members of Connor's family also stood up and said a few words. Connor's mother read a poem that she had read to Connor as part of a bedtime ritual. Ally's eyes were red and swollen by the time the service shifted to the more traditional process. During this shift, the front door of the church swung open. Light spilled into the comparatively dim environment. Framed in that light was Brent Nissle.
A collective gasp silenced the church before avid whispering began. Brent stood awkwardly at the back of the pews. Connor's mother stared at him as he slowly walked towards the casket.
“Oh dear, this isn't going to be good.” Charlotte squeezed Ally's hand.
“Please, I just want to pay my respects,” Brent spoke in a mild tone. He paused a few feet away from the casket as if seeking permission. Connor's mother stood up and glared at him.
“How dare you show your face here, on the day I lay my son to rest. The son that you took from me,” her voice shook with rage.
“I didn't,” Brent stammered. “I didn't do it. Connor and I had our problems, I won't lie, but I would never do this. You have to believe that.”
“I don't have to believe anything.” She shook her head. “I want you to leave. Right now.”
“All right, all right I will. I didn't mean to cause you any more pain. I swear I didn't.” As Brent turned to walk out of the church, the entrance doors swung open. To Ally's surprise, Julian and Luke walked in. From their stern strides and tight expressions she had a feeling they were there for more than just the funeral. They waited until Brent reached the back of the pews. Ally stood up.
“Ally, where are you going?” Charlotte whispered.
“I want to talk to Brent,” Ally whispered back.
“Don't you think this isn't the right time for that?” Charlotte frowned. “It's rather disrespectful.”
Ally heard her grandmother's words, but she pretended that she didn't. She saw Julian step closer to Brent. The two began to exchange words. Ally hurried down the aisle to reach them. She wanted to know what they were talking about. When she got close enough she heard Luke step in and begin speaking as well.
“It's either going to happen here, or outside. If you have any decency you'll come outside without a scene.”
Ally's heart skipped a beat. Brent hung his head. His voice was muffled, “All right. Let's go.”
Luke and Julian flanked Brent. The three men walked out the door. Ally followed after them. As soon as they were outside, Luke grabbed Brent's arm and spun him around so that he could grab the other arm as well.
“What are you doing?” Ally blurted out.
Luke and Julian both turned to look at her. Luke finished handcuffing Brent while Julian walked over to Ally.
“We're arresting Brent. We just got the arrest warrant,” Julian explained.
“Easy!” Brent barked at Luke who tightened the handcuffs.
“Isn't that a little hasty?” Ally frowned. She looked at Luke with disapproval as he ignored Brent's complaints.
Luke smiled at Ally and said in a condescending tone, “Don't worry about it, Ally. We'll do the police work, you make chocolates.”
Ally scowled at him. “I don't see how you can be arresting him without evidence.”
“Who says we don't have evidence?” Luke asked. She was surprised that he still had his attention focused on her. “Is there something you know that we should know, Ally?”
“No,” she muttered. “Nothing at all.”
Brent turned around to look at Ally, though Luke held tightly to his arm. Brent looked into her eyes. Her heart melted as he looked fourteen all over again. She remembered their brief romance and their friendship.
“Ally, I didn't do this. I didn't.”
“She's not the one you have to convince.” Luke steered him passed Ally towards his car. As the two walked passed her Ally caught a whiff of something slightly sweet. She presumed it was one of their aftershaves.
Ally's heart ached as she watched Brent go. Could he have really changed into a murderer? She didn’t want to believe that he could.
“Julian, don't you think you could be wrong?” Ally looked at Julian with concern.
“No Ally. I don't. A murderer will do anything to convince you that he's innocent. Just let us handle it.” Ally took a step back. The look in Julian's eyes was so determined that Ally was stunned by it. She knew then that there was no changing his mind. As far as Julian was concerned, Brent was guilty.
Chapter Eleven
Ally made her way back into the church as quietly as possible. She knew that the people inside were only trying to pay their respects. However, the way most were gossiping about Brent made her uneasy. She knew that justice in small towns could sometimes be more of a popularity contest than the result of a thorough investigation. When she sat back down beside her grandmother, she felt the warmth of her grandmother's hand press lightly on her hand. Ally appreciated the reassurance.
The remainder of the service was uninterrupted and as solemn as expected. By the time the service reached its conclusion Ally had tears in her eyes. She was sad for Connor and his family, but she was also sad for Brent. She couldn’t believe that he could have done this and she believed that he was being accused of a crime that he did not commit. After saying a polite goodbye to Connor's mother, Ally and her grandmother began the walk back to the cottage. Ally was quiet as she listened to the subtle noises of the town.
“What's going on in that head of yours, Ally?” Charlotte asked.
“Do you know they arrested Brent?” Ally grimaced.
“Oh, they did?” Charlotte's eyes widened. “I thought they just took him outside to prevent a commotion. I guess they must have some pretty good evidence against him.”
“That's just the thing. I don't think they do.” Ally narrowed her eyes. “How can they? I mean what evidence is there other than Connor's body being dumped right by Brent's shop?”
“Maybe they have more evidence than we know of and there is their history of conflict.” Charlotte looked over at her grimly. “It is pretty odd that Connor's body was left near Brent's business.”
“It is odd.” Ally sighed. “Because why would anyone murder someone and then dump their body right next to their own shop?”
“Well, maybe he panicked and wanted to get rid of it as quickly as he could. If that's the case then he might have thought leaving it where he did was his only option. I mean, most rational, logical people don't kill people, Ally, so you can't expect them to think with a clear mind.” She paused beside the florist. “I'm going to get some flowers. Do you want to come inside with me?”
“No, I'll stay out here.”
“Okay, I'll just be a minute.”
Once Charlotte had disappeared into the shop, Ally turned to watch the other residents walking back to their homes. She studied each one. If it wasn't Brent that had killed Connor, could it have been someone who attended the funeral? She wished she had paid more attention when Brent walked into the church. The reactions of the other people there might have given her a clue as to who might be involved in Connor's death.
“Ally!”
Ally nearly jumped out of her skin. Her grandmother frowned and handed her some flowers to carry.
“This has really gotten under your skin, hasn't it? Why are you so sure that Brent didn't do it?”
“Because he told me he didn't.” Ally fell into step with her grandmother.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean when he was being arrested, he looked me in the eyes and told me he didn't do it.” Ally pursed her lips.
“Ally, of course he said he didn't do it, that doesn't mean that he didn't.”
“Mee-Maw, I know Brent. He has never been able to lie to me. I've always been able to tell. I could tell that he wasn't lying when he said that to me,” Ally stated confidently. “There is no doubt in my mind.”
“Ally, that was over ten years ago. Just because you could tell back then, doesn't mean that Brent hasn’t changed and did
n't learn to become a better liar. Why would Julian and Luke arrest him if they didn't believe he did it?” She gave Ally a soft hug from the side. “I think you're a little too close to this situation. You're already dealing with so many emotions about your marriage and now you've come home to deal with this.”
“Mee-Maw, I'm not being overly emotional. I know what I know.” Ally crossed her arms stubbornly.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “Now that's a look I recall. Fine, to tell you the truth, I'm not convinced it was Brent either. But that still doesn't explain why Julian and Luke arrested him. They must have something on him.”
“Or they just want to wrap up the case fast enough to be able to go fishing next weekend.” Ally drew her lips into a stern line indicating her displeasure.
“Ally, I don't know much about Luke, but I'd say that Julian has higher standards than that. Just because this is a small town, that doesn't mean that the police detectives don't do their job.” She paused outside the cottage. “I have to take Arnold for a walk. Do you want to join us?”
“No, I think I'll just rest for a while,” Ally replied. “Maybe a nap will clear my head.”
“Try not to get too wrapped up in it, Ally. You have a kind heart, but none of this is yours to get stressed about. You have enough weighing on your mind.”
Charlotte gave Ally's shoulder a light pat. Then she headed off to find Arnold's leash. At her grandmother's words Ally was reminded of the reason she had come to Blue River in the first place. She wanted to recover from the heartbreak of a divorce. Perhaps her grandmother was right and she was using Connor's death as a way to avoid confronting the pain of her separation from her husband. Even if she was right though, Ally couldn't shake the need to find out the truth.
***
When Ally stepped into her room Peaches jumped down from the bed to greet her with a warm nuzzle and purr. Ally felt a sense of relief at the sight of the cat. She scooped her up and carried her over to the bed.