Michonne takes Noah for a walk around Blue Ridge Lake and some major discoveries are made...


The week passed quite serenely as I made myself at home. I scrubbed each room from top to bottom, arranged and rearranged furniture, reorganized Pa-Pa's book collection and even made a dozen snickerdoodle muffins. I used lots of cinnamon and butter, just the way Gram showed me.

Noah made himself right at home, hanging out by the living room fire and watching me move about the cabin. I just adore his sweet and calming nature. I'd always guessed that's why Daryl picked his specific breed. It was certainly not for his guard dog abilities, that for damn sure.

The next morning, and a full seven days at the cabin, I had stepped out to the woodshed to retrieve another armload of heavy logs for the fire. My usual quiet was interrupted by the sounds of wood chopping. I tried guessing which direction the noise was coming from as I made my way from the back to the front of the house, It was at that point that I was able to estimate the sound to be closer to the road. It didn't have the distinguishable stop and start cadence that came from splitting firewood, this was someone hacking down a tree.

"C'mon Noah," I whispered after dropping the logs in the basket by the fireplace. "It's time to meet our neighbor." I zipped my navy blue parka up to my neck, covered my head with the downed fur hood and slipped on a pair of matching gloves.

Noah pulled as far ahead as the leash would go, those long ears of his just flopping along with excitement. It was still too early to let him off the leash, I figured another week or so of exploring the area and he'd be good to go without it. Or so I hoped... But any longer with him tugging at my arm and he and he might dislocate my shoulder.

As we turned the corner, the sounds of chopping became louder, much louder and I was greeted by the sight of a man standing on a stepladder, armed with a hatchet and going to town on a sycamore tree.

A sycamore tree on my side of the property line!

"Hey!" I gasped in surprise while jogging up towards the man. I don't think he heard me through his loud grunts because he continued chopping hard like his life depended on it. He was completely oblivious with his back to me.

"Hey!" I called again, louder this time.

What on earth was he doing? That's my tree, on my property! There was no fence line between the driveways, but that tree is clearly on my side of the driveway.

As the limb cracked and fell to the ground with a loud thud sound, he finally turned, only then noticing my presence. He was dressed in a brown suede jacket, the jacket had that classic style fur trimmed collar, his jeans are form fitting and jet black, and he wore classic style work boots.

"Oh, hey there," he said, stepping down off the ladder and running a hand through his dark, thick unruly curls. He had a distinct British accent and his light blue eyes appraised me, neither pleasant nor hostile. And although the man before me is very attractive, he desperately needed a shave.

"'Hey there?'" I said, miffed at how nonchalant he was. "What do you mean 'hey there'? What hell are you doing," I gestured disbelievingly to the pile of limbs littered around the base of the tree... Noah finally came to my side, the leash slackened in my hand. "A blind man could see that you are clearly on my property."

His eyes slowly followed the path of my pointed arm towards the limbs. The tree was nearly half gone.

"I don't see any fences here and the tree was scraping along the roof of my truck." He shrugged. "I was planning on removing all of the chopped branches."

"And you're well within your rights to remove any tree limbs that are on your side of the boundary - hell, the law even says you can put the limbs back onto my side, but you can't just hack my damn tree down!"

His eyes narrowed as he made a display of signing over dramatically. The hatchet made a loud thud as it hit the ground next to the folding ladder.

"And you would be…?" he asked cynically, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Michonne," I spat, mirroring his pompous stance and disapproving expression.

"Well then, Michonne," he said my name as if it were a curse word, "I take it you're the new neighbor." He looked me up and down in a frigid manner. Please forgive me for not being knowledgeable in the local laws - clearly I'm not a local." It was probably the most unapologetic apology I'd ever heard. "Although, since we're talking about laws, I think it is worth mentioning that I never called and complained about the noise the entire time your crew of jack-hammer, chainsaw-giddy construction workers banged away all hours of the night. That ruckus kept me from a proper sleep for months."

"That has nothing to do with me, I live out of state..." I quickly retorted, "So is this…" I added, motioning to the mauled tree, "is this your way of getting back at me? Because if you didn't let the local authorities, or even the foreman, know that they weren't meet the terms of the county noise ordinances, then that's your problem, not mine."

"County noise ordinances..." He scoffed, "What are you, a lawyer?" He let off a harsh laugh.

"As a matter of fact, I am," I snapped.

"Ah. Now it all makes sense," he said, letting his eyes roll upwards. "The hypocrisy of it all." He threw his hands in the air while letting out an exasperated puff.

"Excuse me? There's no need to be a jackass."

"Jackass...I'm just being honest, I'm sure you wouldn't understand being a lawyer and all," he countered, his gaze snapping back to mine. "I'm really doing you a favor. All these trees are overgrown and need trimming back." His gaze returned to the disarray of fresh cut tree limbs around us. "Although, I admit I may have been a little overzealous with this one."

"A little overzealous... how about a lot. You've nearly lopped off the whole damn tree. You know, my grandpa planted these trees over 30 years ago. If you had a problem with them then you should have let me know, I've been here a week now."

He had no answer to that, so I tugged on Noah's leash pulling him away. "You just make sure you get rid of those damn branches and then get the hell off my property."

"Nice meeting you!" He called out to me as I hauled ass.

"Whatever!" I yelled back. What a jerk.

Back in the cabin, Noah and I settled by the fire, his tail thumping sporadically on the shag area rug. I looked at the clock, it was only noon, still, I said the hell with it and poured me a cool glass of Chardonnay, I chugged it down and then I sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have straightaway gone on the offensive with Lumberjack. Not exactly my best first impression with my neighbor. Gram would have been ashamed of the way I cursed. Still, he was clearly in the wrong, he murdered that tree, he should have talked to me first and he didn't need to be so goddamn rude about it.

All the contemplating made me hungry, so I made me a turkey club sandwich and some sweet potato chips for lunch. After Noah ate some kibbles, I took him for a walk. After that, I changed clothes and headed out for the day. As I pulled up the driveway, I slowed down past the mutilated tree and saw the pile of mangled branches stacked neatly – on my side of the driveway. Fucking jerk! I growled and threw my truck into reverse; I parked by the woodpile and threw each and every damn branch one by one haphazardly back onto his side of the driveway.


"Working on something big- Sheriff Rhee?" I asked while strolling into Maggie's office at the Blue Ridge Sheriff's Department.

"If so I think we can make a trade," I quipped while holding up my Tupperware dish of baked goods in one hand and the cardboard tray carrying our Mocha Lattes in the other.

She looked up from her paperwork. Her face broke into a wide grin. "Michonne Olivia Jones, surely they taught you in law school that bribing a sheriff is illegal." She let out a mock gasp.

I laughed and placed the goodies on her desk as she walked around to embrace me. I felt a strange joy at hearing my maiden name spoken out loud.

So good to see you, Mags," I said, squeezing my childhood friend in a tender embrace.

"Right back at ya, girl. I've been wondering when you were planning on coming downtown."

"How are you?" I asked her while passing her the large Mocha Latte drink from Sasha's Cafe.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" she said, making her way back to the desk.

"Maybe, but I asked first," I said and she chuckled, playfully rolling her eyes.

"Well, I'm good. This place is keeping me busy." She answered, but I knew there was more so I probed a little.

"So just busy, huh?" I said, giving her my signature innocent yet highly inquisitive glare as I took another sip of my Mocha, licking the warm sugary froth from my upper lip, it was close to scalding but so sweet and creamy.

"Well, being a sheriff pays good, but it could be better. Honestly, a little more income would do wonders…" She sighed and stared down at the paperwork. "Glen is now completely done with medical school and has his doctorates degree, but now comes the repayment of the loans - good God, the cost- more than double of our mortgage payment. - I just hope his business picks up..." She shrugged finally, leaning back in her chair.

"I'm so sorry to hear, Maggie" I reached over and squeezed her hand. "You'll be due for a raise next quarter and I'm sure his business will be successful, everyone needs a doctor and there's a lot of truck drivers in town who need DOT physicals and elderly people who need...well everything..."

"Yeah, you're right," she said, as a slight smile graced her lips. "My work has been really stressing me out lately too. I've been taking it home and sometimes Glen and I fight about it."

"Busy and stressful...around here?" I asked when I lived here nothing ever happened besides a few vandalism, some minor shoplifting, and the occasional domestic incidents.

"Yeah around here of all places. We have Mayor Phillips to thank for that." She said wincing with irritation.

"The new Mayor, how so," I asked.

"Phillips was elected on the promised to re-open Blue Ridge's one and only cold-case. Remember the two missing teens back in the 90's?"

"I remember," I said, raising a brow. "Since reopening, have you made any discoveries?"

"I went through the evidence storage and sent what we have to Quantico for modern forensic testing. My deputies have been re-examining what little evidence we have, re-interviewed everyone, but the depredations of time on a person's memory and the reopening of old wounds for those family are members..." She shook her head and huffed, "So I guess if you want to call that making discoveries you can."

"You'll solve this Maggie, you're persistent, and I've always believed Stokey gave up. If there's anything that can be found I know you and your deputies will find it."

"Maybe," she said staring downhearted at her coffee cup. "I'm going to work my ass off finding out what I can, that family needs closure… Okay…enough about my mess of a life," She picked up her cardboard coffee cup and pointed it in my direction, "now it's your turn to spill the tea."

I groaned and sank back into my seat.

"Attorney Michonne Dixon, are you finally going to tell me what happened that forced you to go on an unpaid leave of absence from work?"

"Oh hell! Please don't make me tell you… Hey...wait, how did you know it was forced?"

She smirked in a knowing way, Geese, she looks just like Hershel when she makes that face.

"Morgan," I concluded with a grumble. Maggie laughed hard. "That good for nothin' brother of mine is a straight up snitch!"

"He called with the big brother routine after you left Atlanta. Wanted me to keep an eye on you while you were here. Now c'mon, Chonne, it's tea time."

"Well, 'leave of absence' is the nice way of putting it. Shane actually staged an intervention with my therapist. I have to take a break from work or find myself without a job. How humiliating."

"That barely counts as an answer," Maggie groused, leaning forward across the table...Spill it…"

"Remind me to never become a suspect to any crime in this county." I threw my balled up napkin at her very scrutinizing face and she caught it without flinching.

"Okay – fine…damn, just stop looking at me like that." I sucked in a deep breath, "Let's just say after… after Daryl's death, I basically worked myself into a mental breakdown. I was coming into the firm at the ass-crack of dawn and greeting the cleaning crew every night. When I ran out of my own work I started doing the paralegals work, filing motions, writing their reports, doing their research. I just couldn't bear to go home. Then, a few months later, I suppose the lack of sleep caught up with me. I just lost it halfway through a civil deposition." I lowered my head in embarrassment at the memory. "I mean really lost my shit Mags...I was throwing legal pads and files while yelling like a psycho at the opposing counsel. I might have even kicked over my chair as I stormed out. Not that the opposing counsel didn't deserve it, she was a scandalous bitch! No morals or scruples whatsoever! Walsh contacted Dr. Monroe and here I am..."

Maggie's tightened her lips, her eyes watered and then she doubled over in a gut-busting cackle. My cheeks burned and I grimaced at her for a second before finally joining in. It was pretty funny … now there was some time and distance between me and the humiliating incident.

After a moment, her face softened and her laughter died down, she took a deep breath and said, "Well, you're here now. You are due for a change of pace and deserve some time away from all of that. And you are in luck…there's hardly enough going on up here to spark that hot temper of yours."

"Well, I'm not so sure about that…" I let out a deep respire. "What do you know about the guy who lives in the newly built cabin to the north of me?"

"Sexy and British?"

"Well, if you add major jackass to that description then I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same guy." I went on and explained the incident with the tree from earlier in the morning.

"Damn, Chonne." That's not very neighborly."

"I know." I grumbled, "It wasn't unprovoked though, Lumberjack is a sarcastic asshole."

"Well, his name is Rick and he seems nice enough, friendly and respectful. I've seen him at Abe's bar having a beer a few times, so a few months back, I drove over and introduced myself. He's been here a little over three months now, keeps to himself from what I can tell..."

"Yeah, but you're the sheriff his 'Mr. Friendly' persona could all be a ruse..."

"True." She chuckled, "But Abe said the same thing about the hot Lumberjack and he's had several conversations with him."

"So do you think I should apologize?"

"I probably would just for the sake of keeping the peace," Maggie said after a long moment. "But it's up to you though, just keep in mind you'll be neighbors for a while if you plan on staying.

She's right. Magdalene Bethany Green is wise beyond her years.

A brisk wind swept in caused dark clouds to roll and making the temperature drop by the time I arrived back home…Home… I liked the sound of that. The feeling of arriving back without any of the painful memories that haunted our house back in Atlanta made everything worth it.

"Whoa, Noah, calm down buddy." Noah was whining at the kitchen entrance as I let myself in through the garage and he practically hopped into my arms. I crouched down and gave his head a good petting. He nuzzled down into my shoulder, his hind legs trembling. He is behaving strange, poor boy is downright scared... I'd only been gone a few hours at best, hardly long enough to elicit such an abnormal response. He was generally very accepting of new environments and never minded being left alone once he'd had the chance to give the place a good sniff or two. Maybe he needs to go…

I didn't bother to take off my coat, instead, I pulled his leash off the coat hook at the front door. We walked out to the front of my house and he went to do his business out against the tree line. He didn't waste any time before he made a beeline towards me, quickly pulling me back to the house, his tail pulled tight against his bottom.

Quickly, almost frantically he led me along, while that peculiar, uncomfortable feeling of being watched came over me...again.