This is an exciting story so far, if I do say so myself. It will be a masterpiece once it is done! Anyway, I do not own I Love a Mystery. I only own Alicia Evanston. Also like I said before, none of this happened. Some of the locations are real but any other places or persons mentioned in this story is complete coincidence. Enjoy.
A black car traveled at a slow pace as it drove its way to downtown Nerstrand. All eyes were drawn to the car and the strangers inside. It was a small town and cars came plenty of times, but everyone knew everyone else's car and this car was not familiar to them.
"I'm tellin' ya, they made this case sound like the darn most creepy thing I ever heard of on the phone," A man with short, scruffy red hair looked out the window of the car from the backseat. He was dressed in a dark brown suit and fedora, black tie and matching shoes. His Texan drawl gives out a tone of unease at the feeling of tens of eyes on him and his companions.
"I must agree. This 'Eye of the Storm' murderer sounds nearly too farfetched. I mean, a murderer that's been terrorizing this little town for decades? Without ever being caught or even sighted? It's just not possible," the second man said, the Englishman with pitch black hair of the trio sitting in between the three of them. He basically wore the same thing as the first, only his suit was tan in color along with his fedora and shoes, only his tie was red in color.
"Possible or not, the deputy that had called seemed pretty desperate for our help. Mysterious murders have been going on and they want us to get to the bottom of it," the last of the men spoke, he having the American accent of the three. His black suit, shoes, and fedora matched his dark eyes, dark brown hair and dark brown Chevron mustache resting just above his lip. It only enhanced the brightness of his tie, which was also red.
"Here we are, gentlemen. Nerstrand Police Department," The driver informed them as he parks next to the curb.
The police station was nothing too grand to look at. Gray bricks were stacked together to form the short, rectangular shape of the building. A basic sign hung above the wooden double doors that said just about what it was. That's the beauty of a little town: It's incredibly easy to find everything.
"Thank you very much. Have a good day," the man clothed in black nodded to their driver, opening the door from his side as the one dressed in dark brown did the same.
"Not a problem. Anyone out to put an end to that terror is good in my book," and with the last of the car doors slamming shut, the driver tipped his hat to them and pulled away down the road.
"Seems friendly enough, this town," the tan-suited man commented, being the first to open one of the doors of the station for his companions. Though he still felt awfully uncomfortable with all eyes staring at them.
"Not much excitement goin' on, though," the dark brown dressed man added.
"No, not now, anyway," the one in black, the one anyone would assume to be the leader, said.
Even the police department didn't seem to be all too busy. Hardly any policemen are around at all and the only person present to their current knowledge was the secretary at the front desk. Her blonde hair was pulled back tightly in a bun and was dressed in a dark purple dress suit and was currently typing on a typewriter.
Clearing his throat, he greeted, "Good afternoon. We're here to see Deputy Forft, I believe."
Looking up from her work, she gives them a friendly smile and replies, "Yes. You must be Mr. Packard and party. From A-1 Detective Agency?"
The man in black nodded, "Jack Packard. Nice to meet you."
The man dressed in dark brown shoved him gently to the side as he introduced himself in his own way.
"Good ta meet you, honey," said the fiery haired Texan with a grin. "Name's Doc Long."
"And I am Reggie York," added the Englishman with a shy wave.
"Oh, it's so good of you three to finally come!" she exclaimed, then she yelled out, "Daniel! Daniel, those men from the detective agency are here!"
"I'ma comin', Darlene! I'ma comin'!" shouted a man with a true Minnesota accent in reply.
From the hallway to the detective's right side walked in a policeman with a typical uniform on. He was a bit on the husky side, but still pretty sturdy and well built for the job of being a policeman. He wore a blonde crowbar mustache which curled as he smiled at the three men.
"You must be Jack Packard and company. Well, you already know me as Deputy Daniel Forft," the lawman held out a hand for the leader to shake.
"A pleasure," Jack took the deputy's hand in his and gives it a good, hearty shake.
"Now what's all this big talk about 'The Eye of the Storm,' anyway?" Doc asked, his tone a sort of unimpressed one. "Sounds a lot like a spooky fairytale ta me."
Daniel and Darlene both gasped, her hand covering her mouth and his eyebrows shot up in shock. He then said in a more serious, dangerous tone, "I wouldn't talk so lightly about him around these parts if I were you. It's just not something you talk about and not take seriously."
"We'll be sure to keep his mouth shut when he tries to talk about him then. At least around here," Reggie chuckled, ignoring the glare being given to him by the Texan.
"Yeah, you go ahead and try. If he's that darn dangerous, then how's about we stop talkin' about how bad he is and start talkin' about how we can find him," Doc snapped, crossing his arms and waiting for one of the two locals to talk.
"As direct as that was, I agree. Is there anything you can tell us about, well, him?" Jack interrupted, taking a seat in an open waiting room chair. Reggie and Doc followed suite as their leader continues, "Shall we take this to a more private area?"
Daniel sighed and took a seat on a chair right across from them, "Not much I can tell you that I didn't say on the phone."
"So basically we're dealing with a murderer that's been haunting this town for decades and decades, only kills on nights when thunderstorms occur, and has not ever once been seen by anyone?" Reggie asked, raising an eyebrow as he still had doubts about all of this.
"Well, not quite," Daniel replied. The three looked at each other and then back at the deputy. "As a matter of fact, he has been good when it comes to hiding himself when he does what he does and I mean really good. Hasn't been seen by anyone without being killed. At least, until about three nights ago."
"A witness, you mean?" Jack asked, now leaning forward in his chair with interest.
"Just about it. The ol' diner owner was killed not all too long before midnight. Now, she hadn't come to us, but Miss Shaw, she's the town's seamstress, saw our own Alicia Evanston at the scene when the murder happened. Poor thing. Too afraid to leave'er own farm after that night," Daniel sadly shook his head as he ended with that statement. He did brighten a bit, however, as he explained, "I think you three will really like her. Sweet as peaches, she is."
"Evanston, eh? Is the name well known around here?" Reggie inquired, rubbing his chin in thought.
"Well known?" Daniel laughed. "Her seven times great granddaddy, Wesley Evanston, lead the first settlement here! Highly respected is more like it, I'd say."
"You say she's too afraid to leave her farm. Is there any way to get her out here?" Jack asked.
"Considering her farm provides for about half of the food market here, either she'll come with the food or the townsfolk'll go to her home and take it themselves," Daniel explained, giving a shrug of the shoulders.
"Now what're you talkin' about, Forft?" Another policeman interrupts as he was walking by. He looked like he was about to go out on patrol when he overheard the conversation. He had a clean shaved face and brown eyes that was covered a bit by shaggy brown hair. "Alicia Evanston? Afraid? That's a laugh. Lucky she didn't hear you say that or you'd have the misses sewin' up your uniform with all the claw marks."
"Must be a feisty arm o' girl, then, huh? I think I'll like gettin' to know'er," Doc thinks aloud with a grin, causing both Jack and Reggie to roll their eyes.
"I know what you're thinkin' there, stranger, and don't even bother," the policeman replies. "The name's Trent, by the way. Officer Trent."
"Detective Doc Long, and why not?" Doc quirks an eyebrow at him.
"You wouldn't stand a chance against her, for one thing. She's probably tougher than the three of you put together."
"Don't you count on it. I bet yer just jealous that I might steal'er away," the Texan smirked.
Trent's left eye twitched and his teeth clenched as he hissed out, "The girl's only fourteen, you dog! Even if she were your age, she'd knock you off your feet before you could open that cheesy mouth of yours and toss her a pickup line!"
Jack couldn't help the small burst of laughter before he covered his mouth with his hand. Reggie hardly contained his laughing as Doc hunched down, his cheeks completely flushed in embarrassment.
"We're getting off track here! Trent, you've seen it yourself. Alicia hasn't been seen here in days," Daniel argued, narrowing his eyes at the officer.
"What else is new? And what're you talkin' about? I just saw her pull up to the market with all the produce and milk and such," Trent jabbed a thumb at the window he had passed walking over to them.
"Hmm. Then perhaps we'll go over and bring her here. Get this interrogation started," Jack composed himself and stood up, pushing his way past the double doors.
"Jack, wait up!" Doc shouted, rushing out the door with Reggie behind him. Even Daniel and Trent decided to partake in the chase, perhaps feeling eager to see their old friend.
Just as Trent said, about a block down from the station and in front of the market, was a horse-drawn wagon filled to the brim with all sorts of supplies. The crates held things such as apples, cabbages, yarn, a few pumpkins, and even jugs of milk and water. There were even sacks of flour tied together into a large bundle. The horse itself was white in appearance, only its legs and snout being a dark gray. The mane and tail were black and flicked around slightly with the wind. It patiently stood and waits to leave the market place and go wherever it was its rider wanted to go next.
The girl in the no-roof wagon, at the moment, was unloading the crates onto the sidewalk in front of the market. From head to toe, she was somehow covered in dirt. She wore dirt-worn, faded denim pants with a tear along the left calf. The green and white plaid shirt she wore had dust on it yet the red bandana she wore as a neckerchief remained completely clean. Her black hair was pulled into a braid, though it was constantly moving as she went back and forth from the wagon, her face completely neutral as she did so.
"Hey, if it isn't the little delivery girl. How ya been, Alicia?" Trent exclaimed with a grin as he leaned on his elbow, which was supported by the front of the wagon. Alicia frowned, yet continued on with her work as if he had never shown up in the first place.
"Hello, Alicia. It's been quite a while since you've come into town," Daniel greeted as he shoved the officer slightly off to the side. "You been holding up alright?"
Alicia, again, said nothing, but jumped onto the wagon and began gathering the crates that were further in the front. It also seemed that her expression went from annoyed back to neutral as soon as Daniel started talking. The three detectives turned to each other, not entirely sure whether they should step in or not.
"Oh yeah. The guys from the detective agency are here, Alicia. They ain't much, especially the Texas Mutt over here," Trent jabbed a thumb at Doc, who turned to him with a disbelieving look.
"What'd you just call me?" Doc growled, gritting his teeth together while glaring at the officer.
"Doc, let it go," Jack shook his head, though he did notice that Alicia had turned her attention onto them. She had stopped lifting the crates and was now watching them with only slight interest, if not boredom. Her emerald orbs scanned them over once, then twice, and resulted in a stare of one who was truly unimpressed.
"You heard me, dog!" Trent shot back, mockingly taking a step towards the detective. "She'd be smart to stand her distance away from-YOOOW!"
Trent stumbled backwards and back against the wall of the front of the market, bringing up his now sore right foot and rubbing it mercilessly to relieve the pain. Right where he was once standing sat a wooden crate filled to the brim with apples.
"Ha ha ha!" Doc grabbed his gut as he let out a fit of uncontrollable laughter. "That sure showed ya!"
The celebration for Doc was short lived, however, as a crate filled with corn "slipped" from Alicia's grip and onto the Texan man's foot. Doc yowled in pain and reared back, grasping his foot as if a boulder dropped on it. She smiled innocently and bent down to grab another crate, this being one of the last six.
"I say, Doc. It doesn't look as if you've made a good first impression on her," Reggie chuckled uncontrollably, now thankful that he was the furthest away from the girl.
"Aw, shut up!" Doc hissed.
"Alicia, that wasn't very nice," Daniel crossed his arms, shaking his head with a small scowl etched across his face. "They're here to help with him, ya know."
All Alicia responded with was an amused scoff. She jumped down from the wagon and carried the crate into the market's entrance.
"What was that all about now?" Reggie asked, gesturing to Doc and Trent along their possibly broken toes.
Daniel shrugged, "Could be for a number of reasons. You're gonna have ta ask her yourself."
"If she'll even talk! She ain't said one word since we came over here!" Doc winced, his foot now bearable enough to stand on.
"Just give her a chance. She'll open up," the deputy assured them.
"Well one thing's for sure: She's got quite a bit of a temper. Whatever happened to being as sweet as peaches?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow at Daniel.
Again, Daniel shrugged and answered, "She really is. I guess she's still a bit shook up."
Alicia exited the marketplace and grabbed the next crate. It was strange that no others were giving her any aid. No workers from the market, not even any of the walking bystanders.
"Goin' back and forth like that's gonna take forever! I say let's give'er a helpin' hand," Doc bent down and gripped onto a crate of, ironically, peaches.
"Don't!" Doc's eyebrows shot up, but his hands let go of the crate at the shout of Daniel and Trent. They both breathed a sigh of relief and Daniel said, "Thank goodness. That's something you really don't want to do."
"Oh? And why not?" Jack asked, his Texan companion standing up.
"Our lil' delivery girl's got a temper, all right, especially when it comes to her pride. Each and every time she brings in her load from the farm, she takes each and every load all over town and doesn't stop until each one is delivered with help from nobody."
"A little modern Sacagawea of the town, eh?" Reggie questioned.
"Only without the company of a Louis, Clark, and a screaming infant," Jack summed up just as Alicia stepped outside of the market. She arched an eyebrow at them all, then shrugged and went back to lifting the crates, only to be stopped by a firm hand going onto her shoulder.
"Why don't you take a bit of a break there. In case you didn't hear before, we're here to work on the 'Eye of the Storm' case and to work with you," Jack said to her, her muscles tensing as his hand left her shoulder. Daniel and Trent gave the leader disbelieving looks, silently warning and screaming to stop where he was. He ignored them both and continued, "Do you mind answering a few questions? Maybe first starting with why you nearly broke Officer Trent and Doc's feet."
Stiffly, Alicia turned to Jack with what looked to be a cold, venomous stare. Her green eyes roamed over him as she did just a few minutes before. They went up to his eyes and she responded, for the first time, "I don't like or trust anyone that pathetic excuse of a sheriff brings here."
With that, she turned away abruptly and continued on with her work of transporting the crates into the market.
Doc whistled, "That wasn't very nice of her. What'd we do, anyway?"
"I suppose us being here to take this case is a blessing to some and a burden to others," Reggie inputted.
"How the heck are we a burden ta her?" Doc asked indignantly. "We're on her side! We're just tryin' ta help!"
Jack held up a hand to interrupt, "Wait a minute. She said that she didn't trust anyone the sheriff calls into this town."
"But…but I thought that it was Daniel that called us in," Reggie stated.
"Exactly," Jack looked to the two policemen and asked, "Does Ms. Evanston have any sort of dislike for the sheriff? Any sort of grudge that sparked between the two?"
Trent laughed and answered, "Like you wouldn't believe! I think the happiest day in Old Man Croom's will be if he ever finds a way to get Alicia behind bars. Don't know why, but it sure is fun to watch Alicia win every argument."
"So, we just go to her and tell her it was Forft that sent us and not the sheriff and…and then she'll practically be on our laps purrin' like a kitty cat," Doc concluded, smiling to himself in triumph.
"More or less, but it's worth a try," Daniel shrugged his shoulders. "Never had anyone besides the sheriff call in the law from the outside."
Alicia exited the building once again and went to grab for another crate, this being one of the only six left. Just as she heaved the crate against her chest, Reggie decided to be the next to chance his luck and make himself known.
"Hello, Alicia. I'm Reggie York. Daniel called us here to rid your town of, well, you know who. It's going to be a pleasure working with you," he introduced himself, being the English gentleman that he was and holding his hand out to her as he did.
Alicia paused, her eyes now giving Reggie an individual scan as she did Jack. This time, however, her gaze seemed to be much softer for some reason. Perhaps maybe since Reggie had come forward in a way she obviously was looking for in detectives she would have to work with.
Her eyes then turned to Daniel, her black eyebrows arching in a way of asking, "Is this true?"
The deputy shrugged his shoulders but nodded, "I decided to take charge of it this time. They really are the best of their field, Alicia. Cross my heart."
She turned her attention back onto the three detectives. Finally, she shifted the crate to hold it in one arm and against her side for support, "Why in God's name didn't you say so in the first place? Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Reggie."
Alicia grabbed his hand and shook it with a small smile. A small smile, but a sincere one, nonetheless. Still with her hand clasping Reggie's, she turned and looked at Doc blankly before saying, "Sorry about your foot. I thought you were another mediocre gorilla with a magnifying glass for show."
Doc blinked his brown eyes at her in an even blanker stare than Alicia's was at him, "Uh…Thanks, I guess."
"Hey!" Trent yelled out. "Don't I-"
"No," Alicia answered bluntly, letting go of Reggie's hand and gripping her hands onto the crate she held.
"You didn't even know what I was gonna say!" Trent complained.
"All right, what were you going to say?" Alicia asked, tapping her foot impatiently with the crate of coiled up yarn in her arms.
"Well don't I get an apology for my foot?" The officer asked, gesturing down to his injured foot.
"No," Alicia responded, sounding just as blunt and cold as she did the first time.
"Why not?"
"You insulted my intelligence. Only I get to say what I'm smart enough to know what or what not to do."
Jack arched his eye brows and casted a strange look at Deputy Forft. Daniel merely shrugged his shoulders and nodded. As confused as the two looked, Doc and Reggie seemed to be getting some entertainment out of their murder witness.
Trent put up his hands in resignation, "Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Now will you apologize to my foot?"
Alicia seemed to scrunch her face up in thought, then it turned neutral and she shook her head, "No."
"What?! Why not?" Trent asked incredulously.
"Because you're an idiot, idiot. Not only that, you interfered with my judgment," she answered, sharply turning her head away and her braid flipping as she walked off to the store just next to the market, which they only had to assume was a sort of tailor shop.
"Interfere with her judgment? What on Earth is she talking about?" Reggie asked, looking to his two companions for perhaps a little bit of help shedding some light in the situation.
Daniel and Trent shrugged, the officer being the one to say, "How the hell should we know? She's got so many of'er damn philosophies we can't keep of them all."
"Philosophies, you say?" Jack inquired, looking at them both. "Care to elaborate?"
"No problem," Daniel responded. "Her daddy always showered her with all sorts of rules of life to live by."
"And tries to force feed it to the rest of us," Trent finished.
"Oh, now that's just pushing it a little, isn't it?" Daniel shook his head at the officer.
"Of course he thinks so," Alicia answered for Trent, returning from her trip and now leaning back against the wagon. "It's like I said, he's an idiot."
Trent threw his hands up, "All right! Which one of the almighty rules of life did I break this time?"
"Only the most important rule when it comes to introductions and first impressions," she said.
Daniel raised an eyebrow at her, "You mean 'Names are only a mask of a person's true nature'?"
"Hmm," Reggie hummed. "Quite a poetic philosophy."
Alicia shook her head, "Nope. The other one."
"How about 'Never let a stranger recover your personal belongings'?" Trent asked. The three detectives looked at the officer in complete and utter confusion. Alicia's reaction wasn't much better.
"What part of 'introductions and first impressions' do you two bozos not understand?" she snapped at them.
Daniel rubbed his chin for a moment before snapping his fingers, "I got it! It's 'If you're gonna introduce one person to another, don't say anything. Let them make the bad first impression on their own' isn't it?"
Alicia rolled her eyes skyward, but just the same responded with, "Thank you! And telling me about people before I meet them will only interfere with my judgment. You made me believe that these three were incompetent morons that were all talk that would just die like the last bunch Hank brought in."
"Huh? What'cha mean by that?" Doc asked her.
Alicia arched an eyebrow at him and then at Daniel, "You never told'em what happened to the last detectives that came here, did you?"