Disc: I have done research on the legalities, and have attempted to stay accurate. Please allow some creative license, however. This story is fantasy-based, and the legal stuff bores me. ;)
A/N: OK, here's the scoop on this chapter… what originally was supposed to be chapter 9 was growing HUGE, so I split it into two. Therefore, they're not super-long, and I can go into the detail I need to without fear of putting y'all to sleep. So here is 9, and 10 will follow shortly.


Chapter 9 – Unfinished Business

Allison Byers hopped out of her sleek black BMW, and caught Lindsay in a hug. Allison was two years older than Lindsay, and about five inches taller. As they pulled apart, Allison noticed Sophie dancing excitedly around them.

"What a gorgeous dog! Did you bring her all the way from New York?" Then, noticing Danny, she whispered in Lindsay's ear, "And what a gorgeous guy!"

Lindsay laughed, unable to argue. "The dog's name is Sophie – we found her at a North Dakota auto shop." She paused to smile reflectively. "Actually, she found us, I like to think."

She introduced Allison and Danny, and then suggested they go in the farmhouse to discuss the case. Danny, however, had other plans.

"I have an errand to run," he told her benignly as he began walking towards the car. "I'll be back later."

A look of concern crept across Lindsay's face. "Where are you going?" she called.

He turned, gave her a cryptic wink and responded, "You'll see… it's a surprise".

Frowning, Lindsay tried to think of what Danny could possibly have up his sleeve.

"Please be careful," she cautioned.

He smiled sweetly at her. "I'm a big boy… I drove across the country with you, I can handle a quick trip to town."


Lindsay and Allison settled on the spacious, glass-enclosed porch behind the dining room for their meeting. It looked out over the creek and into the dark woods. Given the topic at hand, Lindsay found the view comforting. Allison was pulling folders and papers out of her briefcase. She gave Lindsay a curious look, then spoke.

"I heard you ran into Paul last night."

"Word travels fast," Lindsay responded evasively, picking at fuzz on her sweater.

Allison shook her head. "You grew up here just like I did. You know how gossip spreads, especially since he's the mayor". She frowned. "You shouldn't let him get to you like that. It's exactly what he wanted – to get a reaction out of you."

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it." Lindsay shrugged and bit her lip like a scolded child.

Allison smiled in spite of herself. "It's okay. Me, I probably would have tried to strangle him, so you handled yourself well." The two friends laughed at the idea.

"Steve Marks from the Daily Record left another voice message for me," Lindsay mentioned. "I'm starting to like the idea of giving an interview. If nothing else, it will just make me feel better to vent. Do you think it would be a bad idea?"

"No, not if you work that Monroe charm," Allison teased. "If you want to do it, I'll arrange it. I'd like to be present while they interview you, though."

Lindsay nodded. "Let's do it," she affirmed without hesitation.

"I'll call Marks this afternoon and set it up. Anyway, time for business," said Allison, looking over the papers in front of her. "They're contesting the will by claiming 'undue influence' – meaning you somehow manipulated your grandparents to leave you such a large share of the estate. That can mean anything from outright blackmail, to more subtle things."

Lindsay didn't comment, but just stared at the floor while absentmindedly stroking Sophie. She tried to steel herself against the familiar pain that was washing over her once again. She wished Danny was there next to her.

"The vast majority of contested wills are upheld," Allison continued to explain. "It takes a lot to overturn a will. So in a normal case, I'd say you don't have anything to worry about."

Lindsay sighed, nudging a crack in the floor with her shoe. "But this isn't normal, is it?"

Allison shook her head sadly. "No. I'm not going to lie to you, Linds. It's going to be an uphill battle. Rachel has enormous pull, so does her husband and so does her father."

"Which judge is on the case?"

"Well, that's one good thing," Allison admitted. "It's Judge Loper. He's probably the most impartial judge in the city. Still, none of them want to tick off the mayor. Even though he'll probably be defeated in the next election."

Lindsay nibbled her fingernail. "What's going to happen on Monday?"

"You're going to have to answer some questions under oath. They have bank records showing money that your grandparents gave you. Your job is to explain what the money was used for – tuition, necessities, and so on. You need to say that you were never involved in their will planning, and you never manipulated."

"You mean like when Uncle Dale convinced my grandmother to sell him the farm three years ago, just so he wouldn't have to pay inheritance tax?" Lindsay growled, fighting the lump that was quickly forming in her throat.

Allison shook her head. "Breathe, Lindsay. Listen to me; it's going to be very important that you keep your cool when you answer these questions. Don't show your temper. You need to go in there with a confident air."

Lindsay wiped at her eyes, as if she could prevent the tears from forming. "I'm just so angry."

Allison reached over and squeezed her arm. "Hey hon, I'm going to do my absolute best. We're not going down without a fight. Now, I think we've touched on everything we need to." She paused, a glint in her eyes. "Come on outside with me, I have a present for you."


Meanwhile, Danny drove into Bozeman, looking for the hardware store. He was amazed to see that every single person he passed waved to him. He wondered if it was some sort of "country folk" greeting thing.

Danny knew it was going to be a rough afternoon for Lindsay, and he wanted to do something to cheer her up. She had brought an infinite amount of joy to his life; he constantly felt like he needed to do things for her in return. Though sometimes he still doubted he could give her as much as she gave him.

Buck's General Store was located in town, not far from the supermarket he and Lindsay had been to the previous night. Danny opened the door and was startled when a miniature cowboy dangling from the doorjamb chirped "Yeeeeee haw!" Stepping inside the little store, he saw several people freeze and stare at him.

The shopkeeper grinned from under his cowboy hat, and waved his hand. "Don't mind us nosy townspeople," he chuckled. "We're just curious about foreigners."

"I'm from New York." Danny corrected, burning uncomfortably under the gazes.

"Exactly." The man winked. "That accent gives you away."

Danny shrugged and looked over his list. Battery-operated candles, batteries, tablecloth.

He was amazed at some of the items he found while wandering the aisles… an endless variety of fishing lures, bottles labeled "Buck Lure" (of which he did not care to know the contents), and the very same door chime which had announced his entrance. He snatched one up, imaging Mac's reaction if he hung it in the lab. That was too good to pass up!

"Yeeee haw!" the obnoxious door chime in the front of the store sounded again. Danny heard the shopkeeper murmur a "Ma'am", and the clip-clop of high heels approaching. Intense perfume wafted over him before he realized someone was standing next to him.

Danny turned to face a woman who was a dead ringer for Lindsay, only with a prickly edge. Same height, same hair, same features. Her eyes lacked the light sparkle of Lindsay's; instead they were steely and harsh. Her jaw was set, and her face was tense. Her very presence was caustic. She smiled at him with all the warmth of the Arctic tundra.

"Wow," she purred. "My cousin sure knows how to pick 'em." She extended her manicured hand towards Danny. "Rachel Monroe."

Danny snubbed her gesture. "I know who you are," he responded, looking her straight in the eye. The fury inside him was growing – this was the woman who had caused Lindsay so much pain, so much heartbreak. He had no interest in exchanging formalities.

Rachel smiled and tossed her head back. "Of course you know who I am – everyone does. And you must be the handsome Detective Messer." She studied him approvingly; licking her lips subtly like a predator stalking its prey.

"Such a shame, really. I bet you'd like to know what a real woman is like." She clucked her tongue.

Danny snickered snidely. Is she for real? He wondered. He could not hide his disdain for this creature who had hurt Lindsay.

"Sorry, you're not my type," he retorted. "I prefer my women warm-blooded and without scales."

Rachel's eyes flashed dangerously. "You can't talk to me like that," she warned. "In case you've forgotten, my husband is the mayor of this town-"

Danny cut her off. "Up for reelection in May. And it doesn't look promising, from what I hear around town." He waved his hand to indicate the local gossips.

She glowered at him. "You're probably only here because you see your dear Lindsay as your meal ticket for life. We'll see if you're still so crazy about her come Monday, when she leaves here penniless and shamed."

Danny, never intimidated, stared at Rachel and moved within a few inches of her face.

"You can count on it".

He walked around her, just barely brushing against her shoulder, leaving her gaping.


A/N – Up next – find out what Danny's surprise is. Review, review! Feed my pathetic need for validation! LOL