AN: Sorry for the very long delay. This isn't very much, but I think it moves ahead with the plot-line I had in mind when I started this. Reviews appreciated as always.
A weak, gray light crept into the room as Alex lay sandwiched between Sadie and Olivia. Overheated, she had awakened just before dawn to find herself wrapped around the brunette's side, the dog tucked up behind her legs. Although feeble, the light gave her a chance to study Olivia. There was no question that she was one of the most attractive women Alex had seen. But as she examined Olivia's features she decided that she preferred her with the ready grin and suggestively raised eyebrow that felt like they were only for her.
Sighing, Alex rolled away from Olivia, negotiating her legs around Sadie so she could put some distance between them. Sadie wriggled her way over and rested her muzzle on Alex's thigh, looking up at her expectantly. Reaching out, Alex scratched behind the dog's ears as she began to organize her day mentally.
Yesterday was basically a wash. She had accomplished nothing toward her project. Maybe she was just being foolish, thinking that just because she could write a decent mystery novel, she could tackle a real life mystery. But when she had found the trunk full of her great-grandmother Ellerton's diaries, she had gotten lost in them. She was finally able to understand some of the seemingly random bits and pieces her great-grandmother's dementia-riddled mind would string together in an attempt at conversation when, as a child, Alex and her father would visit Catherine.
Sadie pawed at Alex's leg and thumped her tail against the bed. Refocusing on the dog, Alex smiled and slid out of bed so she could let Sadie out and start some coffee. She would let Olivia sleep and make another run through the Boston City Guard notebooks she had collected. Olivia had mentioned that Old Ned had been pretty upset when she asked him about Moose Creek Falls. Maybe she could find something if she was able to isolate records relating to City Guard outings in the area Olivia had indicated on the map as a likely spot for the Falls. Especially since that seems to have been the area she and Ned had been talking about when he blew up.
Alex opened the front door to let Sadie out. The snow was still falling heavily, but the wind had died down over night. Alex went to the kitchen to start some coffee, then stirred up the fire and added another log to it. She went to check on Sadie and found her sniffing her way around the clearing that served as the cabin's front yard and parking lot. Shivering, Alex watched as the dog flipped snow up into the air with her snout. Alex could remember loving to play in the snow as a kid, but now the thought just made her cold. Turning away from the window, Alex went to get a cup of coffee and then went to her desk to get started, again, on the notebooks. She let Sadie in before she sat down.
After the dog had got a drink and eaten the left-over hamburger that Alex had put out for her, she went and laid down beside Alex. This is where Olivia found her as she came down the stairs a couple hours later. Neither Alex nor Sadie seemed to have heard her get up. Alex was sitting back in her chair, feet propped up on her desk. She was reading through a notebook, held on her lap, tracing her finger under each line as she progressed. Her other arm dangled over the arm of the chair, her fingers idly rubbing Sadie's head.