A well-dressed man, his silvery gray hair neatly styled,  entered Ingram’s Antiques and looked around at the various displays of aged collections and artifacts.  As he was pawing through the shelves, he spotted a glass case near the front computer and casually strolled over to check out its contents.  Several old rhinestone pins glittered and sparkled, catching the sun’s rays and casting colorful orbs around the shop.  A small smile appeared on the man’s thin lips.  

“Can I help you?”

The man spun around and found himself staring into the sparkling green eyes of Imogene Ingram.  

“These pins, they are exquisite,” the man said.

Imogene stroked her throat.  “Yes, they are.  I am particularly fond of them myself.”

“As you should be,” continued the customer, “and I’m sure, if you were to wear them,  your face would light up like a sky full of fireworks.  Let me introduce myself. My name is Thomas Englund.” He made a small bow.

Imogene blushed slightly.  “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Imogene Ingram.”

The two shook hands, then Thomas continued.  “Do you own this fine establishment?”

“Why, yes I do.”  

“Then you and I have a lot to talk about.  Why don’t you tell me about these old pins.  Where did you get them?”

Patting her strawberry blond hair, Imogene looked at her display and began describing her fortunate purchase of the jewelry.  As she talked, she led Thomas through her shop, describing the antiques and their histories.   In short time, the two were chatting and laughing as if they had known each other for years.  

“Shall we continue this discussion over dinner?” Thomas asked.

“I’d be delighted,” answered a beaming Imogene.  Taking his arm, she led him to the quaint restaurant that was connected to her shop.  

**********

The next day, Trixie smiled as she noted the five rhinestone pins scattered across Imogene’s plump bosom.

“Morning, Imogene,” she said.

“Oh, my dear.  A glorious good morning to you.”

“You’re certainly in a good mood today.”

“Hmmm…” Imogene placed her large handbag in the drawer of the cluttered desk.  She faced Trixie, a sly smile spreading across her rosy face. “Did you have a nice evening last night?” she asked, fingering one of the pins.

“Yes.  I made dinner for Tad.  I  just love my little apartment.  And I have you to thank for finding it.”

“Oh, dearie, anything for you!”  After a pause, Imogene continued.  “Aren’t you going to ask me about my evening?”

Startled,Trixie hastily apologized, then added, “So, how was your evening last night?’

“It was heavenly!”

“Heavenly?” echoed Trixie.

“Yes, you have your dark and yummy young man but I have found a ‘silver fox’.”

Trixie’s eyes widened.  “A ‘silver fox’? Did you have a date last night?”

“Yes I did and it was wonderful.”

Trixie grabbed Imogene’s arm and led her to the front of the shop so they could continue talking while getting ready for the day

“So, where did you meet this ‘silver fox’?” asked Trixie as she turned on the computer.

“Well,” Imogene clasped her hands together.  “He came in late yesterday afternoon.  You had just left.  He was interested in the rhinestone pins.  Imagine that!”  We chatted for quite awhile,  then we somehow ended up in the restaurant where we shared a delightful meal.  Oh my dear, he was the nicest gentleman.”

“Wait! You met him last night?  And he was a customer?  Do you think that’s a safe thing to do?”

Imogene looked at Trixie.  Placing her hands on her hips, she frowned at her young friend.  “Well, we can’t all be rescued from a car crash now, can we?” she asked, referring to an accident that had brought Trixie and Tad together.

Trixie blushed slightly.  “I just mean you don’t know anything about him.”

“I know plenty about him.  We talked for hours.  He’s the most charming and intelligent man I’ve ever met.”

“Hmmm…”  Trixie studied her friend.  “What else does he do?”  

Imogene waved her hands through the air.  “A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  I  believe he said he’s in some type of procurement business.   He was quite impressed with my shop.”  

“In what way?”

“In a business way, of course.  What other way is there?”

“I think you should be a little cautious, Imogene.”

“Why do you say that?” Imogene asked sharply.

“Oh, you know, ‘stranger danger’ and all that.”

“Trixie, I’m not an old fool who is easily wooed by a dashing man.”

“I didn’t mean that.”  Trixie noticed the hurt look on Imogene’s face.

 “I think we should just get to work.  I’ve got a whole list of tasks that need to get done this  morning.”  Imogene left quickly, ending any further conversation.

“Gleeps!” I didn’t mean to upset her.  I just want her to be a little more careful,”  muttered Trixie as she got to work.  Throughout the day she noticed that Imogene avoided her, opting instead to stay in the back room.  When the young high school student, Amanda, came in at four, Trixie left her in front and sought out her boss.

“Imogene?”

“Yes,” replied Imogene, keeping her attention on the pile of papers on her desk.

“I, uh, didn’t mean to upset you,” stammered Trixie.

Imogene laid down her pencil  and turned around.  “I know that, dear.  And you’re right.  Maybe I was acting like an old fool.”

“No, you weren’t. I just want you to be careful.”  Suddenly, Trixie slapped her hand over her mouth.

“What’s wrong, dear?” asked Imogene, puzzled by Trixie’s gesture.

“I just realized I sound exactly like my brothers.  And I hated it when they told me to be careful. I’m sorry I said that, Imogene.  If you like this ‘silver fox’, as you call him, then go for it.”  Trixie grinned as Imogene relaxed in her chair

“Maybe we could have dinner together sometime.  That is, if the ‘silver fox’ turns out to be the real thing,” suggested Imogene.

“That’d be fun.”  Trixie glanced at the clock.  “I’ve got to go. I hate this late class but it was the only time it was offered.”

“That’s fine, dear.  Go to school.  We’ll talk tomorrow.  Drive safely!”

With a quick wave, Trixie was out the back door and into her car.  Pulling into the traffic, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of Imogene and her ‘silver fox’.  As Trixie drove out of sight, the door of a shiny black Lexus,  parked in front of the antique store, swung open.   Thomas Englund stepped out,  adjusted his sunglasses and picked imaginary lint off his sport coat, then entered the store, wincing  when the little bell over the door announced his arrival.  Imogene looked up and smiled.  “Why, hello there, Thomas.”

Thomas returned her smile.  “Hello, yourself.  I just couldn’t stay away.”  

As the sun reflected off the disco ball that hung in the window, the two found themselves bathed in a sparkling light which reflected off the man’s silver hair.  

“See, you really are a ‘silver fox’,” murmured Imogene.

***************

A few days later, Trixie found Imogene rearranging the rhinestone scatter pins that she kept  in a locked cabinet.

“By the way, I’ve yet to meet your ‘silver fox’, Imogene.  Why is that?”

Imogene stood up.  “You two always seem to miss each other. He popped in yesterday but you were eating your lunch in the park.”  She paused, “And the day before that, he came in but you had already left for school.  I’m definitely going to have to remedy that.”

“Yes, I think you should.  I want to meet the man that has you humming all those disco songs.”

Imogene hesitated.  “Trixie, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you think an older woman should go out with a younger man?”

A smile spread across Trixie’s freckled face.  “Why, Imogene!  Have you become a cougar?”

“A what?”

“A cougar.  You know, a woman who goes after a younger man.”

“Oh, no! Thomas is just a few years younger than me.”

Trixie folded her arms across her chest.  “I can’t see that bothering you.  Does it?”

Imogene fingered the beaded choker around her throat.  “Not really. And we have so much fun together.  Last night we watched ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and afterwards we tried to recreate a few of the scenes.”  She sighed, “It was wonderful.”

“More reason why I need to meet this mystery man.”

“Let me talk to him and set up an evening with you and Tad.”

“Okay.  And it’d better be soon,” grinned Trixie.

“Of course.  Now what do you think about these pins?”  Imogene pointed to the sparkling display.

“They look fine to me.  But why did you move them around?”

“Thomas thought I should rotate the stock a bit, maybe even change out some of the pieces, so that customers would always see a fresh display.”

“Oh.”  Trixie looked at the collection of pins and frowned.  “Maybe.  But I always liked the way you set them up, especially with the big flower piece surrounded by the other pins.”

“That’s what I thought too, dear.  However, Thomas insisted this would be better.”

“I wonder why.”  Trixie stared at the display, noting that the large flower pin was in the back corner, surrounded by all the other pieces. “ I hate to say it but I don’t think Thomas’ plan is a very good one.  I liked them the way they were.”

“But he was so so sure I should change them.  In fact, he said he wanted to bring in a piece of brown velvet and rearrange the whole display.”

“Brown velvet?  That would look horrible,” argued Trixie.

Imogene rubbed her chin thoughtfully.  “That’s what I was thinking.”  She shrugged.  “I’m going to change them back to the way I like it.  After all, it is my shop.”

“I’m with you on that.”  As Trixie walked away, she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.  She was happy to see she had a message from Tad.

“Wanna go to the park and practice soccer after work?”

After sending her reply accepting the offer, Trixie returned to her tasks, eager for her day to end so she could have some fun.  As she and Imogene were closing up shop, Trixie glanced down at the jewelry.

“Hey, Imogene.  Is your friend coming in tonight?”

“Who’s that, dear?”

“The ‘silver fox’.”

“No.  Why?”

“Because the jewelry is unlocked.  I’ll just lock it up since you won’t be needing to get into it again.  Maybe we should make sure to check the lock more often, too.”

Trixie locked the jewelry display case then finished the rest of the closing activities. After setting the security system,  she and Imogene left through the back door, securing it behind them.

“See you tomorrow,” cried Trixie.  She jumped into her car and drove off to the park to meet Tad while Imogene headed to her cozy house to wait for her ‘silver fox’.

***************

“Come on, Trixie,  try to tackle me,” yelled Tad as the two ran around the park's soccer field.

Trixie caught up to Tad and lowered her shoulder into his, trying to move Tad off the ball.  As his balance shifted, Tad fell forward, grabbing Trixie’s hand as he tumbled to the grass.

“Ooofff.”  Landing on top of Tad, Trixie’s air left her lungs.

“Gleeps, Tad.  Are you all right?” she gasped.

“Perfect,” grinned Tad, who lay under her.  Holding the back of  her head, he kissed her.  “That was a perfect tackle.”

“Thanks.  I’ll have to remember to try this on our next opponent,” grinned Trixie.

“Don’t you dare,” whispered Tad.

“And what if I do?” Trixie giggled as Tad nibbled at her ear.

“This!”  Tad found a particularly ticklish spot on her neck.

Shrieking with laughter, Trixie rolled off her boyfriend, scrambled to her feet, then ran the ball across the field and kicked it into the goal.

“That’s a great maneuver, Tad.  Definitely worth repeating.”

Tad rolled onto his stomach and propped his face on his hands.  He laughed as Trixie did a short victory dance then jumped up to join her.  

“Trixie, you can push someone off the ball as much as you want, but save the rest of the moves for me, okay?”

Trixie kissed Tad, then took off running with the ball while Tad raced after her. Halfway down the field, a sudden wave of shivers stopped Trixie in her tracks.  

“Whoa!” shouted Tad, veering sharply to avoid knocking Trixie down.  “Why’d you stop?”

“I don’t know.” Trixie looked around, noting the deepening shadows.

“Is something wrong? Are you cold?” he asked, seeing her shiver.

Trixie shook her head.  “No.  I just got a weird feeling”  She looked around the park, but only saw a few families playing around the climber.  “I don’t know what came over me.”  Trixie continued to study the quaint park with it's bubbling fountain, lit up for the evening, and the brightly colored autumn leaves that dotted the dark ground.

“Come on.  Let’s call it a day and grab a quick burger,” suggested Tad.

“Okay,” answered Trixie.  Walking to their cars, Trixie kept glancing around, unable to shake the uneasy feeling that gripped her.  Trixie and Tad stashed their gear, then got into their cars and drove away, neither one noticing the shiny black Lexus parked in the corner that slowly cruised out of the park once they had left.

***************

Imogene lit a few small lamps that gave her living room a cozy and intimate feel.  She smiled when she heard a soft knock at the door.  Opening it, she shyly greeted Thomas. her voice low and soft.

“Hello there.”  She stepped aside so he could enter her house.

“This is for you, my pet.  And I apologize for being late,” he said, handing her a single red rose.

“Oh, this is so lovely.  And it smells divine.  Thank you.”

While Imogene want to find a vase, Thomas prowled around the living room, noting the beautifully restored antiques and artwork. His hand gently stroked a long rifle that hung on a gun rack beside the fireplace and his fingers traced the etchings of an italian officer’s sword that was placed beneath it.

“Now, dinner will be ready in a few minutes.  Would you like some wine?” asked Imogene, coming back into the room.

“That would be lovely,” answered Thomas.

Imogene poured two glasses of pinot noir and the two settled on the couch, their bodies close.

“Did you get everything taken care of at your little shop?” asked Thomas.

“Taken care of?” questioned Imogene.

“Yes, tucking it in for the night, so to speak.”

“Of course.  It doesn’t take long.”

“And I’m sure you have an adequate security system?”

“More than adequate. It’s top of the line.  Some of those antiques are worth a lot.  Yes, my place is quite secure and well ‘tucked in’, as you said.”  Imogene paused and slowly sipped her wine.  “By the way, I would love to have you meet my assistant.  I thought we could dine with her and her boyfriend some evening.”

Thomas sat his glass on the coffee table.  “Of course, Imogene.  Whatever you want.  What’s your assistant’s name?”

“Trixie.  She’s such a wonderful girl, so full of life.”

Thomas sat back on the couch.  “You set it up. I would love to meet your friend.  Any friend of yours is a friend of mine.  You seem to speak highly of her.  I take it she is an asset to your shop.”

“Oh, she is.  And she’s had the most interesting life and done so much, yet she’s still young.”

“Hmmm..”  Thomas picked up his wine glass and took a long, slow sip. “Like I said, Imogene, just let me know when.”

Imogene smiled up at Thomas, not noticing his tight grip on the stem of the crystal wine glass.

******************

“Hey, Imogene,” Trixie called out the next day.   “Did you tell Thomas that his idea for these pins wasn’t a good one?”

Imogene walked over to the counter.  “Trixie,” she admonished.  “I don’t think you should yell that. It sounds rather rude.”

“Oops, sorry.”  Trixie gulped.  “But did you say anything?”

“He wants to come in and show me how he thinks they should be arranged.”

Trixie stood still, puzzled.  “Why does he want to do that?  Why does he even care so much?”

“I don’t know, but I think it’s sweet.”

“Maybe.  But you’d think he’d be more interested in the other stuff here.”

“Now, Trixie,  we can’t judge him because his favorite items are the rhinestone pins.”

“I guess not.”  Trixie wiped the glass and studied the collection beneath her.  “Where did you say you got all these pins?”

“I found them in an estate sale.  They had belonged to a widow who died rather abruptly. Her family simply handed her house and its contents to a company that, in turn, sold everything off.”

“Hmmm…  The pins are pretty and really catch the light.”

“Yes, they do.  I like to wear them so customers can see them better.  Would you like to wear a few?”

Trixie looked horrified.  “I don’t think they’re my style, Imogene.”

“Suit yourself.”  Imogene walked away, humming softly while Trixie continued to study the jewelry.

“These pins definitely reflect the sunlight,” Trixie murmured. “They remind me of one of Mrs. Wheeler’s big diamond rings.”  Trixie’s eyes widened when she heard her own words.  “What if these pins are made out of real diamonds and it’s believed  they’re only rhinestones? That would explain the ‘silver fox’s’  interest in them. But how would he know that?”   Trixie’s mind whirled,  working through various possibilities regarding the shiny pieces.  As she worked throughout the store, Trixie kept her eye on the display case, noting the constant glinting and shimmering from the contents inside.

**************

The next day Imogene entered the shop, excitedly calling out Trixie’s name.  

“Yes, Imogene,” responded Trixie, joining her friend in the back room.

“I would love to have you and Tad join Thomas and me for dinner tomorrow night.”

“But I don’t get out of class until 7:30.”

“That’s fine, dear.  I’ll have to close up here anyway.”

“Okay,  I’ll check with Tad and get back to you.”

“Perfect! In the meantime, I’ll be in the back room.  There is a long list of items that need to be added to the inventory spreadsheet.”  Imogene stopped and turned back to Trixie.  “Thomas is planning on coming in this afternoon to show me how he thinks the pins should be displayed.”

“Really?  That’s interesting.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Imogene sharply.

“Uh, because he’s been so interested in them but hasn’t come in a lot, at least when I’m here.”

“He’s a busy man.”  Imogene turned and went into the back room.

“Hmmm.  Are those diamonds real or not?  Is that why Thomas so interested in them?”  Trixie stared at the collection.  She unlocked the case and pulled out a few pins and held them up to the light.  Shaking her head,  she replaced them and relocked the cabinet.  “I just can’t tell.”  Dropping the key into the pocket of her apron, Trixie went to assist a customer who had entered the shop.

A short time later, the tinkling bell indicated the arrival of a another visitor.  Pasting a smile on her face, Trixie looked up but, seeing that the visitor was her brother, Mart, the smile disappeared and she returned to her task at hand.

“Aren’t you going to greet me?” demanded Mart.

“Nope.”

“Maybe I need some help.”

“Oh, you definitely need some help.”

Mart made a face at his sister.  “Where’s Imogene?”

“In the back.  Why?”

“I need to talk to her.”

“Why?”  Trixie asked suspiciously.

“None of your business,” answered Mart.  He walked toward the back of the store, leaving an irritated Trixie standing alone.  She started to follow, but the arrival of another customer stopped her.  By the time Trixie was through with the customer, Mart was walking towards the front door.

“Hey, Mart,” Trixie called out.

“What now?”

“Look at these pins.”  Trixie pointed to the display case.

Mart leaned over and studied the glittering array.  “What about them? If you think you should add them to your rather questionable wardrobe, I would say definitely not.”

“Do they look odd to you?”

“No, why?”

Trixie shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I was thinking they might be real diamonds instead of rhinestones.”

Mart hooted.  “Not again!  Next you’ll be hiding this jewelry in a giant strawberry pincushion like you did when you were thirteen.”

Trixie’s face flamed.  “Forget I said anything.”

“I usually do!” Mart resumed his path to the front door, leaving Trixie fuming. “Hey, wait a minute,” she called out.  “What did you see Imogene about?”

Mart stopped.  “Determined to find a mystery today, aren’t you?”

“Well, are you going to answer me?”

“Imogene wanted me to write up a few paragraphs about her shop for a travel magazine.  Of course, she sought out an expert.” Mart bowed his head slightly.

“Then why are you here?”

“And with that, I take my leave.” Seeing the look of anger flash across Trixie’s face, Mart turned and quickly left the shop.

**********

Noting the lengthening shadows later that day, Trixie glanced up at the clock and gasped.  “Gleeps!  I didn't know it was so late. I should have left ten minutes ago.  I’ve gotta get out of here.”

Scurrying around, Trixie finished her task, then headed to the back room.  She stopped when she heard the bell announce the arrival of a customer.

“Rats!.  Now I’m really going to be late.”  She turned toward the front of the shop and called out, “I’ll be right with you.”

As Trixie walked to the front of the store, she heard the bell tinkle again. Puzzled, she looked around the front counter and out the window.  

“Hmmm...I know somebody came in.  Where did he go?”  Craning her neck to look out the window, Trixie checked the sidewalk outside, but found it empty.  

“Oh well,  I’m off now,” she shrugged and again headed to the back room where she tossed her apron on the desk then quickly left, determined to get to class without being too late.

Despite her best efforts, Trixie found her mind straying during her statistics class.  “I’m certain there is something going on with those pins,”  she thought.  “ But what is it?”  Trixie looked up as the teacher scrawled some figures across the chalkboard.  “Oh, woe.  I’ll never understand this and I have more important things to be working on. I wish Honey was here.  She could tell me if those rhinestones were real diamond.”  The instructor continued to drone on while Trixie pondered possibilities for the pins.  When the class was finally dismissed, she hurried to her car and headed back to Sleepyside. Driving along the back country roads, Trixie noticed the slight movements of the dark trees against the darkening sky and shivered.  She quickly floored her compact car and headed toward the safety of her small apartment where she could process the thoughts that were spinning through her mind.

***************

The next day was bright and sunny and the disco ball and pieces of jewelry were bouncing colorful rays around the shop.  Trixie was anxious to get through the day and then to Imogene’s for dinner where she would finally meet Thomas.

“Oh, Trixie,” called out Imogene.  “Thomas stopped by last night to rearrange the pins,  but we couldn’t find the key to the jewelry cabinet.  Do you know where it is?”

Trixie thought for a minute before fumbling through her apron pocket.  Holding up the key, she apologized to Imogene.  “Sorry, Imogene. I was in a hurry when I left.”

“That’s okay, dear.  Thomas was terribly disappointed.”  Imogene walked over to the window and stared out at the quaint street.  “Actually, he seemed to be more angry than disappointed,” she said softly.

Trixie joined Imogene at the window.  “Then what?” she asked.

“He took me out to dinner and apologized about one hundred times.  He said he tends to fixate on things and has to learn to let go.  I’m sure you can identify with that, right?”  Imogene winked  at Trixie.  

Trixie nodded.  

“Thomas wanted to come in this morning and I was really excited about introducing you two, but he had to back out due to another appointment he had.  But he did ask me to wear this flower pin today and said he would think of my glowing face. So I did.”    

Trixie said nothing, but her mind was again swirling.   Seeing Imogene move away from the window to help a group who had just entered the shop,  Trixie pulled up the inventory list on the computer and got to work, but her eyes kept darting back and forth between the computer screen and the cabinet that housed the jewelry.

“I can’t wait to meet this ‘silver fox’.  I  have quite a few questions to ask him,” she vowed. Relieved when her work day was over, Trixie grabbed her bag from the back room and,  after receiving a reminder about the dinner from Imogene,  left and headed to the community college campus.

Upon arriving at school, Trixie parked her car, then scurried to her class. She took her seat but became annoyed when she learned the class would be shortened due to an elementary school choir performance by the instructor’s kids. Twenty minutes later, Trixie found herself back in the parking lot where she heaved her bag into the rear seat of her car and started the return trip to Sleepyside.  

“Gleeps!  Tonight was a complete waste of time.  Hasn’t that professor ever heard of e-mail or texting?”  Trixie grabbed her wind-blown hair and shoved it off her face.  “I wouldn’t have even bothered had I known the class was going to be so short.”  

Trixie was still fuming as she turned out of the parking lot.  “At least I’ll be able to get to Imogene’s earlier.”  As she flew along the two-lane highway that followed a small river, Trixie decided to check in with Tad.  Keeping her eyes  focused on the road in front of her, she groped through her purse in search of her phone. After finding it, she turned it on and pushed the number “1”.

“Shouldn’t you be in class?” asked Tad when he answered her call.  “or did they kick you out for knowing too much?”

“Ha!  Ha!  Very funny, Tad. We got out early because the teacher’s kids are in a school choir performance tonight.  Can you believe I drove all the that way for a class that lasted about twenty minutes?”

“Where are you now?”

“About ten miles from the campus on the Old River Road.  I’m making pretty good time since the traffic is light.”

“Wanna stop by the Community Center before we go to Imogene’s?”  he asked.

“No.  I think I’ll just go to Imogene’s and make myself useful.  You remember where she lives, right?”

“Of course I do.  Do you want me to bring anything?”

Trixie started to remind Tad to bring the bottle of wine, but was distracted by the sight of a familiar car parked under a canopy of heavy tree cover near the side of the road.  “Hey, wait a minute,” she said as she pulled her own car onto the berm.  

“Trixie?” Tad spoke into his phone.

“That’s weird.  What’s going on?” Trixie puzzled aloud.

“What’s weird?  And what are you talking about?”

“Hold on.”  Trixie got out of her car, slid her phone into her pocket and ran ran to the vehicle.  Picking her way through the brush, Trixie came to the late model sedan, immediately spying the miniature disco ball that dangled from the rear view mirror.  

“I knew it! It’s Imogene’s car!” Trixie said.

Trixie tried the door and found it unlocked.  She quickly looked through the car, but found nothing out of place.   “What’s her car doing here?”  

Suddenly, she heard a shriek that came from deep within the trees, followed by a billowing order.

“How dare you put your filthy paws on me!”

Trixie turned and began tearing her way through the tangled briar bushes and undergrowth, panic filling her as she recognized the voice of her friend.

“Imogene,” she called out, “where are you?”

Stumbling along, Trixie found a narrow deer path and followed it until she came to a small clearing that appeared to be empty.   Searching through the bushes, Trixie was interrupted by the sound of a small click.

“Don’t move,” a voice growled behind her.  

Trixie froze momentarily, then spun around. Her eyes widened when she recognized that the man standing in front of her and holding a pistol was Tilney Britten.  

“What are you doing here?” she gasped.  “You’re supposed to be in jail!”

Without answering the young girl, Britten grabbed her wrist and dragged her forward.  Trixie struggled, digging her feet into the ground.  

“Help!  Help!” she called out frantically.  “Somebody help me.”

“Shut up,” yelled Britten.  

“Help,” yelled Trixie again.  

Suddenly, Britten dropped Trixie’s wrist, turned and backhanded her across the face, sending the young woman sprawling to the ground.

“Trixie!”  Imogene’s voice sounded close.  

Dazed, Trixie sat up and looked around.  Standing nearby, her hands clasped together and an angry look on her face, was Imogene.

“How dare you!” Imogene huffed.  “You’ve got the stupid pin, now leave my friend alone.”

Sneering, Tilney Britten kept his gun aimed at Trixie.  

“Imogene, are you okay?” asked Trixie.

Imogene nodded.  “Yes, dear.”

“‘Dear’,” snarled Britten.  “That girl is not dear to anybody.”

Imogene turned.  “Yes, she is.”

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” asked Trixie, astounded at the return of a criminal she had helped catch several years earlier.

“Yes. This is Thomas, my ‘silver fox’.”

“Thomas?” Trixie’s mouth dropped open.  

Britten smiled unpleasantly.  “Yes, Thomas. At least that’s what this beautiful woman believes.”

“I don’t understand,” puzzled Trixie.

Britten laughed.  “Why don’t you explain it, love.”  He looked at Imogene.

Imogene’s hand grasped at her blouse, where the large rhinestone pin had been attached earlier.  Now there was a gaping hole, as if the pin had been torn off.  “Don’t you call me ‘love’,” she hissed.  

Britten shrugged and motioned with his gun for Imogene to speak.

“It seems,” began Imogene,  her voice taking on an icy quality, “that Thomas had designs on that beautiful flower pin, the one he said made my face light up like a sky full of fireworks.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Trixie.  “I knew it.  That pin is made up of real diamonds, not rhinestones.”

“Oh, my!”  Imogene’s voice registered her shock. “Real diamonds?”

“That’s right, Miss Nosy,” interrupted Britten.  “High tech diamonds.”

“High tech or not, a diamond is a diamond!” declared Trixie. “And I bet it’s stolen.”

“You’re right about one thing.  Now get a move on,”  said Britten, nodding his head in the direction he wanted the women to go.

Imogene walked a few steps, then stopped and turned.  “You mean to tell me that my beautiful rhinestone pin is actually a diamond pin?”

Britten shook his head in disgust.  “You ladies need to get with the times.  That pin, that big, obnoxious rhinestone pin, held a technological secret.”   

“Oh yeh?  What’s the big secret?” goaded Trixie.

Britten sighed impatiently.  “A microchip.”

“A microchip?” questioned Trixie.

“Yes, a delightful little bug that provides wealth and power for those who can get their hands on it.”

“A microchip,” repeated Trixie.  “I never thought of that. What makes this microchip so special?”

“Although it’s none of your business, I’ll tell you. It contains social security numbers, birthdates, bank account numbers and other information that will allow me to gain access to unsuspecting citizens’ assets.”

Trixie snorted.  “I can see you’ve upped your game a bit.  Is this what you got out of your prison sentence?”

“Of course.  It’s all about meeting the right people.”  Britten winced when he heard a truck’s horn blaring from the nearby highway.  “Come on, you two.  Let’s move.”  He yanked Trixie forward, then waved his gun at the two women, motioning them to travel deeper into the woods.

“What’s going to happen to us?” Imogene asked as they tramped along a thin path that was covered with dead leaves.

“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.  I just can’t believe that Tilney Britten is back in Sleepyside,”  answered Trixie, her mind reeling.

“Shut up and keep walking!” ordered Britten from behind.

Grabbing Imogene’s hand, Trixie helped her through the tangled brush while trying to assess the situation.  

“Thomas, or whoever you are, I’ll give you all the money I have if you’ll just let us go,”  called Imogene over her shoulder.

Britten laughed.  “You don’t have enough money, Imogene.  As lovely as your shop is, it doesn’t bring in the kind of money that I’m looking for. And forget any attempts at a deal.  If you had let me rearrange those stupid pins, I could have gotten the microchip and been gone.  So see, you only have yourself to blame for your current situation.”

“I don’t understand how you knew that pin held a microchip,” said Imogene.

Britten chuckled roughly.  “Dear woman, you told me you bought those pins at an estate sale.  The woman who died was my partner.  She schemed to get the information, then had it stored in a microchip in that ugly pin.  That old fool jumped at the chance for a little excitement in her life but  I guess she got more than she bargained for.  Lonely women are such easy targets. Too bad about her untimely demise.”  Seeing the shocked look on Imogene’s and Trixie’s  faces,  Britten shrugged.  “Some people need to watch what they eat.  Now get moving!”

Imogene gasped, unable to step forward.   “Are you saying you killed that poor woman so you could get her pin?”

Britten smiled.  “What’s a little plant fertilizer among friends? Besides, she was under the mistaken impression that I was going to share the wealth.”   His eerie laughter filled the darkening woods.

“Where did she get the information in the first place?” demanded Trixie.  “And why are you in such a hurry to get it.  You could have rearranged the pins another time and gotten the microchip then.”

Britten sneered.  “I see you’re as nosy as ever.  I guess I can grant you one last wish.  Well, it seems the woman’s nephew had a very high profile job with a lot of access to secured information.  Unfortunately for him, he favored the casino life and wound up in debt.  He prepared the microchip in exchange for his aunt covering some of his debts. The woman thought she was set for life, but, surprise,  she died unexpectedly.  The family, in their grief, sold everything off at an estate sale.  A few quick queries and I learned who had purchased the jewelry.   I’ve been following the trail ever since. As for the rush,” Britton shrugged, “just like the situation with Diana Lynch, you’ve forced my hand, Trixie.   I have to get out of town as soon as possible since I am hearing my parole officer is looking for me.  You know how the courts frown on my questionable  associations and activities.  Now that we’re  done yakking, I suggest you get a move on and do it now.”  Britten waved the gun in the direction he wanted the two to go.  They cautiously stepped along the narrow path, pushing branches out of their way as they went until they came to its abrupt end.

“Now which way?” asked Trixie, hoping to stall the man.

“Turn right,” Britten ordered.

Trixie and Imogene followed Britten’s directions and began bushwhacking through the undergrowth.  Several hundred yards later, Trixie and Imogene stumbled out of the woods and into another small clearing that surrounded a dilapidated shack, its roof collapsing, its windows broken and its walls sagging outward.  

“We’re here!” announced Britten.

“Where’s here?” demanded Trixie.

“Where you will finally meet your end; something that should have happened years ago.”

Trixie faced Britten, her tangled curls quivering.  “You didn’t get away with it last time.  What makes you think you’ll succeed now.  You’re still a punk robber who will never get it right.”

“You little bitch!” snarled Britten.  Raising the gun, he pointed it directly at Trixie.  “You don’t  talk to me like that.”

Imogene’s face was white and pinched in anger. “You have what you want, now let us go.”

Britten laughed.  “Why?  So you can tell the police all about me?  No way. I already told you I’m not going back to prison.   Since you two are the only ones who know about my plan, I’ll make sure you never talk.  Let’s go into the house, shall we?”  

Pointing the gun at the two women, Britten directed them into the cabin.  

After entering the seedy structure, the women stopped and looked around the filthy room with its  floor covered with rotting trash and feces left by various wild animals.  The stench was overwhelming.  Imogene spun around and faced Britten.

“Your accommodations leave a lot to be desired,” she said, her lip curled.

Britten chuckled.  “Sorry about that, love.”

Studying the room, Trixie noticed  two cans of gasoline that were placed in the corner.  

“Think you can burn the evidence, Britten?” she asked. “Has that been your plan for Imogene all along?”

Britten smiled, his white veneers glowing in the dusky light.  “Maybe. Maybe not. But we’re done talking.” He moved across the dim room.

Trixie laughed.  “Come on, Britten.  You’re not smart enough to plan this.  How did you figure on killing me and Imogene at the same time?”

“I didn’t. But then you showed up so I made a quick adjustment.  Instead of killing Imogene and setting you up for the fall, I decided to get rid both of you.  The best part is the police will still think that you killed your friend, Trixie.”

“What does that mean?” demanded Trixie.

“Easy.  I left a message at the antique shop saying that Trixie had car trouble and wanted Imogene to come help her. So naturally, Imogene raced to the aid of her beloved friend.  But when she got here, she found me instead.” Britten shook his head.  “It didn’t really matter if Imogene handed over the pin or if I grabbed it.  The game was over and Imogene was going to die and Trixie was going to pay for it.  But then, Trixie showed up and everything fell into place.  I couldn’t have planned it better.”

“And what if I hadn’t shown up?” challenged Trixie, still stalling for time.

Britten shrugged.  “Again, It wouldn’t have mattered.  There would still be a request for Imogene to come help you and later, Imogene’s beautiful, but charred body would be found in the burned out shack. You, Trixie, would become the one and only suspect.  I think a prison life would have been a fitting reward for you. Don’t you agree?”

“You think people would believe that I lured Imogene out here and killed her, then burned her body?”  Trixie shook her head.   “Nobody would ever buy that story.”

“I don’t care because now you’ll both be burned.”  Britten’s laughed harshly.   “Maybe those moronic cops will think you got caught in the blaze.  I really don’t care because I’ll be long gone and living far away when the stupid police department finally gets down to investigating your deaths.”  He pointed the gun to a small door that was centered on the floor of the cabin.  “Go on,” he directed Trixie. “Your little journey isn’t over yet.”

Trixie slowly moved across the room.  When she got to the access door, Britten shoved her to floor.  “Open it,” he ordered.

Trixie tugged at the wooden door until it swung up, revealing a dark, cramped, murky space below.

“Come on, Imogene sweetie.   You and Trixie, get in there.”  Britten pointed to the small underground space.

Imogene hesitated.  Britten reached out and grabbed her arm and pulled her across the room.  

With Britten momentarily distracted, Trixie spun away from the opening, grabbed a gasoline can, raised up and swung it hard. The man staggered as the force of the full can hit the back of his knees.   He dropped the gun and fell forward.  Trixie dove for the weapon while screaming for Imogene to run.  As Trixie wrapped her fingers around the gun, Britten saw Trixie and lunged for her. He never saw  Imogene step forward  and aim a sharp kick at his right temple. Landing face down on the dirty floor, Britten was stunned.  Imogene grabbed a scrap of wood and smacked it firmly  across the back of his head.  His movements ceased and silence filled the cabin.

“Come on, Imogene.  We need to get out of here,” said Trixie.

“Trixie, your phone.  Call the cops.”  ordered Imogene.

Pulling out the phone, Trixie noticed that she had not ended her call with Tad.  She put the phone to her ear. “Tad?  Are you there?””

“Oh my god, Trixie.  What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t have time to explain, but I need to to call the cops.”

“I already talked to Spider and  they’re on their way. I have a vague idea where you are, but you need to give me some more specifics.”

“We’re in an old cabin off the River Road, near the fishing access lane.   We’re pretty far back in the woods.”

“Who’s there?”

“Me and Imogene and of course, her ‘silver fox’, also known as Tilney Britten.” responded Trixie breathlessly.

“Who’s Tilney Britten?”

“Somebody from my past who I thought was in jail.”

“Did you guys get away from him?  Are you in a safe place?” asked Tad, urgency registering in his voice.

“Imogene knocked him out.  He’s on the floor.”

“Trixie, I want you and Imogene to get away from him now.  He won’t stay unconscious  forever.”

“We’re leaving.  Imogene, can you make it back to the highway?”

“Of course I can, dear.  But it is getting dark out there.  We better get moving.  What about him?”

Trixie looked around the room, debating whether or not she should try to tie him up.  She could hear Tad’s voice through the phone she held in her hand.

“Don’t worry about him.  Just get out!” yelled Tad.  “And don’t hang up.”

“Okay,” Trixie opened the door and motioned for Imogene to follow.  As Trixie stepped out of the cabin, she heard Imogene gasp.   Trixie grabbed her friend’s hand, but found that Imogene had disappeared back into the dark  interior.  

“Imogene, come on,”  ordered Trixie.

“I can’t,” whispered  the woman.

Trixie looked and saw that Britten, firmly gasping Imogene’s ankle, was slowly struggling to his feet, his gun aimed at Imogene.  

“Tsk, tsk, Trixie,” he mocked, “such a disobedient girl.  Now where were we?”

As he motioned the two women back into the cabin, the group could hear the wailing of approaching sirens.  

“Move, now,” he hissed.

“You won’t get away with this,” said Trixie defiantly.  

“I don’t care.  Just get into that cellar.  No matter what happens, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I brought an end to the reign of terror you have brought down on all malefactors.”

Grabbing Trixie’s arm, Britten dragged her across the small room.  

“Run, Imogene,” yelled Trixie as Britten attempted to force her into the dark space under the cabin.

Imogene turned and stumbled out the door.  “Help!  Help!” Her shrieks echoed through the dark woods, scattering the birds that were nested in the nearby trees.

Struggling with Trixie, Britten didn’t see the slight movement of her free arm as she brought her elbow up and rammed him across his face.  Taking advantage of his momentary pause, she shoved the palm of her hand into his nose, then raked her nails down his cheek.  Britten grabbed his face as blood began spurting out of his nostrils.  Slipping from his grasp, Trixie bolted out the door and into the woods, crashing through the underbrush.  In another part of the woods, Trixie could hear the continued pleas for help as Imogene tried to find her way back to the highway.  Trixie stopped briefly, trying to gauge her location.   Above the treetops, she could see the red and blue lights that pierced the evening sky. Suddenly, she heard muffled footsteps behind her.  Alarmed, Trixie took off, her movements through the tangled brush audible.  

“If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to finish you off,” Britten taunted her before beginning his chase.

Back on the highway, two police cruisers and a deputy’s car pulled off the road.

“What do we have?” asked the deputy, addressing Sergeant Spider Webster.

“Tad just called and told me that Trixie and Imogene are in a cabin somewhere in these woods with a man named Tilney Britten.  According to Tad, he’s armed.”

In response to Spider’s statement, the deputy and other police officer unsnapped their holsters and pulled out their guns.  

“You have to be careful, men,” instructed Spider.  “Not only is Britten roaming these woods, but, Trixie and Imogene are also in there.  Use extreme caution.”

The three officers stepped to the edge of the tree line.  Each officer pulled out a flashlight and began searching the ground.

“Hey, Sarge,” yelled a Sleepyside officer, “there’s a small path here.  Do you think this is where they went in?”

“It seems the most likely.  Let’s go,” ordered Spider.  

As the three men crashed through the woods, a police helicopter appeared and hovered overhead, its bright searchlight illuminating the area.  Inside the helicopter, an officer kept his eyes on the ground below, watching the activity through the dense cover.  A movement beneath the trees caught his attention and the officer immediately radioed back to the men on the ground.  

“I’ve spotted what appears to be a woman, about a half mile west of the road.”

“Can you get more specific?” Spider shouted into a walkie talkie that was attached to his collar.

“Yes.  Unknown person is one half mile west of highway, about fifty yards north of a small service road.  Do you know the area?”

“We’re heading there now.  Keep your eyes open for more persons,” ordered Spider.

With minimal discussion, Spider sent the deputy deeper into the woods to find the woman the chopper crew had spotted.  A few minutes later, the officer guided a weary Imogene through the undergrowth and to the security of the cruiser.

“Ma’am, are you all right?  Do you need an ambulance?” the officer asked.

“Oh, no.  I don’t need an ambulance.  But where’s Trixie?  Did you find her?”  Imogene frantically eyed the area.

“We’re still trying to locate her,” answered the officer, who looked up as another deputy’s cruiser arrived on the scene. The officer and the deputy had a quick discussion, then the officer turned and entered the darkening woods while the deputy stayed with an anxious Imogene.  

The helicopter continued to fly over the area, its spotlight shining on the ground beneath it.  The noise of the motor drowned out the other forest sounds.  Below the spinning blades, Trixie stumbled through the brush, desperately trying to make her way to the road and to safety.  Occasionally, she could hear Britten thrashing through the undergrowth as he followed her.  Running along a small path, Trixie saw that a large tree had fallen across it.  Gathering speed, she leapt over the tree.  But as she took off from the mossy ground, she heard a crack from her left knee  Landing on the other side of the tree, Trixie immediately fell forward, her leg no longer able to support her.  

“No!” cried Trixie.

Behind her, she could hear the cracking and snapping of twigs as Britten made his way toward her.   Struggling to her feet, Trixie tried to continue but found she could no longer run.  She sought refuge behind a large tree with the hope that Britten would pass her by.  Hearing him approach,  she ducked down and covered her head with her arms.

“I know you’re here,” said Britten in a sing-songy voice.

Trixie was startled at how close he was.  Her head near the ground,  she placed her hand over her mouth in an attempt to muffle the loud thumping of her heart and the gasping of her breath.

“Come out, little Trixie.” teased Britten.

Trixie could hear Britten’s stealthy footsteps as he searched the area.  Poking through the tangled bushes, Britten came closer to Trixie’s hiding spot.

“Ah, look what I found,” whispered Britten, his voice unable to hide the glee.

Trixie’s blue eyes looked up into the penetrating, black stare of Britton.

“At last,” he breathed.

Britton pulled his gun out and aimed it directly at Trixie's head, prepared to squeeze the trigger.

“Freeze!”  Spider’s voice pierced through darkening woods.

Surprised, Britten swung around and glimpsed the officer through the trees.

“Drop it, Britten,” ordered Spider.

When Britten didn’t respond, Spider issued his command again. “I said ‘drop it’.”

Instead, Britten turned and began running through the woods towards the highway.  Spider took off after him, running by Trixie who remained on the ground.  She could hear their footsteps as they pounded through the woods and hear Spider yelling.  Holding on to a tree trunk, Trixie pulled herself to her feet, her body trembling. She tried to follow, but found that her left leg made that difficult.  She looked through the brush until she found a fairly stout stick that she used as a crutch.  Slowly, she started toward the highway, following the same path Spider and Britten had traveled.  Through the thinning trees, Trixie could see the bright lights of the  police and sheriff cars parked along the road.  She pushed the branches aside and hobbled out of  the woods.  Suddenly, she stopped, frozen, as she watched Britten run out into the road.  Shots from Spider’s gun whizzed by him. Britten turned and aimed at the Sleepyside officer,  intent on killing him. Out of the corner of her eye, Trixie saw a large RV barreling down the road, apparently oblivious to the police drama that was playing out.  

“No!” shouted Trixie. “No!”  

The squealing of brakes and the smell of rubber filled the night.  Britten flew through the air, his eyes wide open. Trixie hid her face in her hands as Britten’s body landed with a thud on the highway.   Overhead, a flock of crows took off, their wings creating a stir through the trees, the  spent leaves drifting quietly to the ground.  Then an eerie silence settled on the woods as a crumpled Tilney Britten lay on the road, his gun still clutched in his hand.  

Instantly, the police sprang into action, calling for medics and rushing to the injured man. Leaning on the stick, Trixie came out of the woods and hobbled to the clearing by the road.  She watched in horrified silence as the law enforcement attended to Britten.

“Trixie!” yelled Imogene.  The woman ran to her friend and the two collapsed into each other’s arms.

“Are you all right, Imogene?” questioned Trixie.

“Of course, dear.  But I’m not sure I can say the same thing for you.”

“I hurt my knee trying to jump over a tree.  I thought for sure Britten was going to get me after that.”

The two held each other and watched the frantic efforts by the police to administer first aid to Britten, whose body was sprawled across the centerline of the narrow road.  

Imogene gasped and covered her mouth with her hand when she saw the officers shake their heads at each other.  “Do you think he’s dead?” she whispered.

“I don’t know,” answered Trixie. ”But he took an awful hit.”

Keeping their distance, the two women continued to watch the scene.  Several officers shut down the highway, while another one stood guard over the body of Tilney Britten.  Within a few minutes, an emergency squad pulled up.  Two medics jumped out and, after being assured the scene was secure,  ran to Britten.  Soon, their headshakes confirmed the fate of the criminal.

“Trixie!  Trixie!” Trixie turned at the sound of Tad’s voice and saw him sprinting towards her.

“Tad!” she cried in relief, sliding into his arms.

Tad gathered Trixie up and held on to her.  He reached out to Imogene.  “Are you okay, Imogene?”

Imogene held herself erect.  “I most certainly am.  The only thing wounded is my pride.  But I’m afraid Trixie injured her knee.”

Tad led Trixie to an old log and helped her sit down.  “What happened?” he asked, keeping his arm around her.

Trixie took a shaky breath.  “I don’t know all of, but it turns out that Imogene’s ‘silver fox’ is really Tilney Britten.”

“Who?”

Grimacing, Trixie brushed her curls off her face.  “He was a con man who pretended to be Diana Lynch’s uncle.  He was in prison, but apparently got out and was after one of Imogene’s rhinestone pins.”

“One of her pins?”

“Yeh, he said it had a microchip in it.  It was another attempt to live well through ill-gained methods.”

“Okay,” said Tad slowly.  “Maybe you should tell me the whole story.”

Trixie nodded and quickly recounted the events of the evening.  When she was done, she rested her head against Tad’s shoulder.  Tad snuggled Trixie closer, then noticed that Spider was striding across the clearing toward Trixie and Imogene.  

“Are you okay, Trixie?” Spider asked softly.

Trixie nodded.  “I’m all right.  I just messed up my knee when I tried to jump over a tree.”

Spider turned to Imogene.  “Are you all right, Ma’am?”

“Yes, I’m all right.”

He eyed the jagged tear across her shirt.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes.  He didn’t hurt me.”  She pointed to the tear.  “He ripped a lovely pin right off my shirt.  I believe you’ll find the pin in his coat pocket..”

“Can you tell me what happened, Ma’am?”

Imogene nodded, then told Spider all she knew about Tilney Britten and his plan to obtain the microchip through any means possible.  

As Imogene talked to Spider, Trixie relished the few minutes she had with Tad.

“Are you really all right?”  Tad asked.

“Yeh, except for my dumb knee.  I hope it isn’t hurt too bad.”  Trixie looked at the road and bit her lip.  “That was an ugly way to go, but I think justice was served,” she said softly.

Tad hugged her.  “You’re all right and that’s all that matters.”

The two watched Spider questioning Imogene, his face showing his confusion.  “Who’s Thomas?”  They heard Spider ask as he struggled to keep up with the story.

“That’s the name Britten was using.”  Imogene paused and took a deep breath. “Anyway, when I got here, there was no Trixie.  Thomas, I mean Britten lied to me.  He just wanted my beautiful pin.”  Imogene stamped her foot.  “And when I didn’t give it to him, he ripped it off my blouse.”

Spider nodded, encouraging Imogene to continue her tale.

“Then what happened?”

”I yelled at that horrible creature.  That’s when Trixie heard me and came looking.”  

“And...”

Imogene thought for a minute, then explained how Britten had concocted a scheme that would make Trixie the main suspect.  She stopped and looked at her friend.  “What would I have done if you hadn’t shown up.  I’m so glad you got the message.”

Trixie shook her head.  “I never got it. I turn my phone off when I’m in class.  I only turned it back on to call Tad.  I ended up here because I saw your car.   When I got out to check it, I heard you screaming.”  Trixie shrugged.  “ I suppose if class had lasted the entire 70 minutes, you would be gone and I would be the one being questioned by the police.”  She looked up at Imogene and grinned,  “But that’s not how it played out.   I found you and Britten, he tried to shove us into the space under that cabin, but we proved to be too much of a challenge for him.”  

“Yes, we were, dear.”  Imogene walked to Trixie and pulled her chin up.  “I’m afraid you’re going to have an ugly bruise. I should have kicked him where it counts.  That’s the very least he deserved.”

Trixie couldn’t help but giggle. “I really would have liked to have seen that, Imogene.”

Trixie felt Tad’s arm tighten around her.  Before he could say anything, the group heard shouts coming from a cluster of people that had gathered at the side of the road.

“Gawd almighty!”  a tall man with a scraggly mustache shouted.  “I say,’Gawd almighty!  What in tarnation happened?” The man strode across the clearing and approached the group of officers.

“Sir,” began one officer, gesturing for him to stop.  “We need you to stay where you were.  We’re conducting an investigation here.”

“I never saw that darned man.  I couldn’t stop my ‘Stella’,” explained the man.

“Sir, please,” begged the officer.

“I hope my ‘Stella’ isn’t hurt.”

The officer shook his head.  “What?    Who's Stella? Does she need a medic?”

“Nope, she’s my RV.” The man stuck out his hand.  “I’m B. Holden, from the great state of Texas.  And I’m surely offended that  you people up here stand in the middle of the road, right in front of my beautiful ‘Stella’.”

“Sir,” the officer tried a more authoritative tone.  “Please wait across the street.  We’ll be questioning you in a few minutes.”

Imogene suddenly shoved the officer aside and held out her hand.    “Excuse me.  Sir, we certainly thank you for ridding this earth of that horrible excuse of a human being.”

Holden accepted Imogene’s hand.  “Ma’am.  I’m B. Holden.  Sorry to make your acquaintance under such gawd awful circumstances.”

“Oh no,” Imogene protested.  “We’re all beholden to you for your timely arrival.”

Holden looked confused.  “Ma’am?” My timely arrival? How can that be?”

“Easy!  If you hadn’t come down the road when you did, that horrible snake might still be alive.”  Imogene paused.  “I want to personally thank you for your contribution to the community.  In fact, it would be even more helpful if you could back up your lovely RV and run over the man several times.”

“Ma’am, that’s no way to speak of this unfortunate situation.”

“Don’t you dare call the death of that man an unfortunate situation. He is the most evil, despicable, loathsome man ever.”

Holden’s jaw dropped.  “Why, Ma’am, I can’t imagine such unpleasant words ever coming out the mouth of such a lovely woman.”

“Oh, pooh! But that man, who is now lying on the road like a smelly skunk, was a cad, a swindler, a con man, and just plain horrible.”   Imogene stepped away and breathed heavily, worn out by her emotional outburst.

“Excuse me, sir,” interrupted an officer.  “We need you to stay across the highway until we are able to question you. ”

Holden made a slight bow toward Imogene, then returned to his RV that was parked at the edge of a ditch.  

Spider conferred with the medics, then stepped back as Britten was loaded onto a gurney and placed in the back of the squad, which then quietly pulled away. Trixie grimaced when she saw Chief Molinson of the Sleepyside Police Department arrive on the scene.  

“Oh great, just what I need,”she mumbled as Molinson got out of his cruiser and walked over to Trixie and Tad.  

“So, Trixie, what happened this time?”  he asked.

“Tilney Britten was out of jail and in town.  Did you know that?” The surprised look on Molinson’s face answered Trixie’s question.

Molinson sauntered over to Spider and listened while Imogene continued to answer questions and to explain what had happened.  When Spider was done, he joined the other officers and quickly questioned  Holden and several other motorists. Imogene wandered back to Trixie and Tad and the three watched in silence.

“Excuse me, Ma’am,” Molinson approached the small group.

“Yes, officer?” answered Imogene, turning to face the older man.

“Ma’am, I’m not an officer. I’m the Chief of the Sleepyside Police Department.”

“Oh,” Imogene blushed slightly.  

“I just want to make sure you’re all right.  Trixie has a tendency to get mixed up with some pretty crazy critters.”

Imogene started to protest, but Molinson stopped her.  “I just want you to know that I’m quite impressed with how you handled yourself with Britten.  You showed great strength and integrity.”

Imogene stroked her throat and smiled up at the seasoned veteran.  

“Why don’t you rest in my cruiser.  You’ve just gone through a terrible ordeal,” offered Molinson.

Trixie watched in stunned silence as Molinson gently led Imogene away, offering the woman his arm.

“I can’t believe it,” she moaned, smacking her palm against her forehead, “As if this day wasn’t bad enough.  Did you see that?”

“What?” questioned Tad.

“Molinson and Imogene.  I can’t even bear the thought.”  Trixie rested her head against Tad’s shoulder and watched as the officers began motioning the motorists through the area.  “I thought Britten getting hit and killed was bad, but now…”

Tad gave Trixie a gentle kiss.  “Come on,” he said as he stood up and began to walk away, pulling Trixie behind him.  

Trixie started to follow, but stopped. “Hey!  I can barely walk here!

Tad turned and smiled.  Walking back to her side, he scooped her up in his arms.  “Did you really think I’d leave you behind?”  

Trixie laid her head against Tad’s chest.

“No, Trixie,” he continued softly,   “I think I’ll be carrying you for a long time and that suits me just fine.”

Tad carefully placed Trixie in his car, assuring her that he would return for her vehicle later.  Then the two drove to the local hospital to have Trixie’s knee checked out.  

After leaving the hospital with instructions to keep her knee elevated and to take plenty of painkillers, Trixie eased back in her seat. “I’m glad my knee isn’t too injured.  A few days of rest sounds like a pretty good idea right now.”  Trixie stopped talking and stared out the car window, her fingers nervously drumming on her thigh.  “Oh woe, now I have to go explain everything to my parents.  

“Don’t worry about that.  I’ve already talked to them.  We’re having dinner with them tomorrow night.”

“Uh-oh,” grimaced Trixie.

“They just want to make sure you’re okay. Apparently, my word isn’t good enough.”  Tad smiled at Trixie, but noticed her eyes were closed as they started their drive through the quiet, deserted streets.

Later, in Trixie’s small apartment, Tad and Trixie snuggled together on the couch, her injured knee propped on some pillows.  

“So, Belden, what do you want to do tomorrow?  Stop a bank robbery, locate some terrorists, prevent a kidnapping?” teased Tad.

“Hmmm…,” mused Trixie.  “ Maybe. Or maybe I’ll just stay off my feet all day and rest up. Of course, I’ll need someone to wait on me.  Do you know anybody who might want to do that?”

“I’m pretty sure I do,” murmured Tad, stroking her tangled curls.

“This has been quite a day,” sighed Trixie.  “I wonder what tomorrow will bring?”

“More of the same, only different,” quipped Tad.

“You’re really deep, Webster, like a well,” giggled Trixie. She closed her eyes and molded her body into his.  

“And it never runs dry,” whispered Tad, then he snapped off the light..