Chapter Fifty
1498 Words
“Not a very popular pick for a costume that should narrow the list down,” Detective Barton quipped. “Let’s see if we can find any names for POIs. Any luck on finding the weapon?”
Both uniformed officers shook their heads no.
Four days later, Wolfdale City University, Aunt Lila’s official office...
Her small office was located off of the classroom that led out to the greenhouses. Hanging on the classroom walls were the standard sketches of various plants and flowers with their anatomy pointed out. Various plants on growing shelves lined one wall. The door to her office was slightly ajar. Hanna Grimm and Detective Officer Harper knocked on the door. Yes, both Roger and he have passed the appropriate test to receive all the perks that go with the badge.
“Aunt Lila,” Hanna called out to Dr. Montgomery.
“Enter,” she sang out. The sounds of shuffling could be heard from outside. Hanna, knowing her Aunt, is quite aware that she is up to something. Taking a deep breath, George and Hanna entered the dark, mysterious office.
The office, I guess, could be described as a moonlit forest. All the plants and flowers that would bloom at night, she had them in various places. I guess that’s one way of bringing the outdoors in? Anyway, in the center of the artificial moonlit room was placed a small table with four comfy chairs around it. She had a tea set out readied for her visitors.
“Dr. Montgomery, thank you for helping us out again,” George, ever the gentleman, started off by extending his hand to greet her.
“Oh, think nothing of it. I’m glad to help out where I can. I am just as much a citizen of this wonderful city as you,” she stated almost in an annoyed tone. “Now, come in, sit down. I have a nice tea waiting.”
“Aunt Lila, what are you up to?” Hanna couldn’t help but ask as she gave her a hug.
“Me, up to something?” Dr. Montgomery scoffed. She feigned offense. “Never.”
Dr. Montgomery led George and Hanna to the chairs and had them sit. George fumbled for the item in question in his suit jacket pocket before he sat down. He looked nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. After Aunt Lila poured and served the tea, Hanna noticed the oddity of Aunt Lila’s behavior. She had poured four cups of tea, but there are only three of them here.
“Aunt Lila, who’s the fourth cup of tea for?” Hanna asked, confusion plastered on her face. Just then, a rustling was heard from behind a screen made of moonflowers. A mysterious-looking man stepped out from behind it, causing Hanna to gasp.
Wolfdale City University Hospital, Room #526...
I have been successfully weaned off of the ventilator. However, I’m still stuck with an O2 cannula on my face. An IV solution continued to drip into my vein. A mobile heart monitor took the place of the bulky machine. I’m still pale, and I’m still weak. I should be up and moving around by now. It’s hard having to depend on others. I’m starting to act like my same old grumpy self. I guess I’m getting better? Wait, did I just call myself old? Strike that! Tiffeny, my beautiful mate, has been by my side the entire time. I hope the Broken Badger has been doing alright in her absence. Hanna, with George in tow, has been dropping off some clean clothes for her cousin. However, the daily knock at the door isn’t Hanna or George, but my partner Cassidy Peterson with her son Rochester. We all call him Rocky instead.
“Uncle Mike, Uncle Mike,” Rocky yelled as he ran toward my hospital bed. In his arms, he carried a plush animal.
“Careful there Rock, you don’t want to hurt Uncle Mike,” his mother gently corrected him.
“He’s fine, Cass,” I rasped out. “Come here, bud,” I told him. Cass helped him up onto the bed. He gave me the biggest hug that he could give, then he handed me the plush toy.
“What’s this,” I asked him.
“It’s Chase...from Paw Patrol,” he said, sticking it up into my face. “It’s for you to get better.” I found myself nose to nose with it. It’s almost comical, wouldn’t you think?
“Thank you very much,” I told him sincerely.
“Are we ever gonna have a Barbie again?” he asked in all his innocence.
“A what?” Cass, Tiffeny, and I tried to grasp what he was talking about.
“A Barbie. It’s what the down undies have,” Rocky struggled to explain.
“The Australians, Rocky?” my mate jumped in to help.
“Uh-huh,” he nodded. “I learned about them in school.”
Meanwhile, Aunt Lila’s office...
The mysterious man stepped closer into view. Hanna set her teacup down, jumped up from her chair, and ran to the man. You could almost say that he resembled Xenophilius Lovegood from the Harry Potter books, toned down just a smidge. His hair was kept much neater though.
“Uncle Mac!” she yelled, jumping into the man’s outstretched arms.
“Hey, Lil’ Bet,” he spoke into her hair, then kissed her forehead in a fatherly manner.
“What are you doing here?” Lil Bet, ahem, I meant, Hanna asked him with a serious voice. “I don’t understand. You and she couldn’t even be in the same room without...”
“Aunt Lila asked for my assistance with this peculiar project,” he interjected with his fatherly voice. He led Hanna back to her seat and took the other one that was left.
“So, what project do you have for us to work on,” Malcolm Montgomery addressed George. Poor George, he nervously handed over the small box that held my demise within to Uncle Mac who was clearly sizing him up.
“Not you too,” she whispered to herself. “Ahem, Uncle Mac. This is Detective Officer George Harper, not Coach Mitchell Owens,” she explained.
“Who’s Mitchell Owens?” Uncle Mac asked.
“Uh, no one of importance at the moment,” Hanna tried to explain. She shouldn’t have opened up that can of worms. It’s awkward as is.
“Okay, back to the task at hand,” Aunt Lila interjected, annoyed at her ex-husband’s rude demeanor. He’s just looking out for his “niece”. It can’t be helped.
Back at Wolfdale City University Hospital, Room #526...
Lunch came and went. I’m on semi-soft foods. I guess that’s progress? Rocky helped me eat the yucky Jell-O. At least they gave me ground steak today. That’s what I’m saying it was. Don’t correct me please with any “mystery meat” observations. At least it wasn’t a cold greasy sloppy Joe this time. That wasn’t a pleasant experience.
“Guess what we’re gonna be for Halloween, Uncle Mike,” Rocky asked as he struggled to get the last mouthful of Jell-O in his little mouth.
“What bud,” I asked, getting ready to tickle him out of habit. Both Cass and Tiff gave me the stink eye. Needless to say, I immediately ceased and desisted. I’m not crossing those two.
“Musketeers,” he sputtered with the spoon still in his mouth. I gave Cass my arched eyebrow glare.
“Oh, c’mon. There are not too many Halloweens left that Rocky will want to go as a family. The Three Musketeers just seemed like a perfect fit this year,” Cass explained.
Back at Aunt Lila’s Office...
After taking in George’s account of what happened to Sergeant Black before he was shot, Malcolm Montgomery leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin.
“And your observation of this odd behavior, Hanna. What do you see?” Aunt Lila inquired.
“Well, it was just as weird as what George told you, if not weirder,” she started to tell her side of things. Aunt Lila and Uncle Mac both arched their brows. The plot thickens.
“Continue,” Uncle Mac said.
“That’s just it, Uncle Mac, I’m not actually sure of what I saw. Sergeant Black flitted in and out so fast. Because of what time of year it is, Tiffeny and I chalked it up to too much Halloween.”
“Flitted? Were there any unique smells that stood out to you?”
“Just a really rancid smell,” Hanna wrinkled her nose, remembering.
“Can you be more specific about the scent? It’s very important to know what we are dealing with,” Aunt Lila gently pressed.
“Like death,” Hanna shuddered.
“The corpse flower,” both Montgomery’s said in unison.
- Writer
