"Floyd what have you got?"
"Well Sheriff, shooter is one Amy Duncan, left handed, brown hair, green eyes, light complexion, works as a paramedic,-"
"Floyd." Sheriff Metzger cut him off. "I know what she looked like. I want to know if there's anything pointing to whether or not she was a possible hired killer?" Mort asked, slightly annoyed with his eyebrows raised.
"Well we found this in her back pocket,"
Floyd pulled a very worn and wrinkled piece of paper from a bag and handed it to Mort.
"698 Candlewood Lane. Don't miss again."
Mort read aloud. "Yeah I'd say that's evidence towards a hired kill. Now we just gotta figure out who."
Just then the door to the sheriff's office flew open. Andy ran through the door.
"Sheriff! I just got a call. Someone just broke into Mrs Fletcher's house!"
"There's someone here to see you Jessica."
Lily said quietly, opening the door to the large room. Jessica looked up and saw Eve Simpson standing there with her purse.
"Oh hello Eve," Jessica greeted her. She had to admit it was nice to see someone who wasn't law enforcement or a doctor. Someone who wasn't there to try and solve her case.
"Oh Jessica. What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Well honestly Eve it's a long story."
"Yes, I would imagine so. But never mind that. How do you feel, Jessica?"
"Confused, exhausted, incredibly upset. Worried, angry. You know, bad?"
Eve sighed before holding up her finger.
"You know I think there is one good feeling in there that you are having difficulty accepting."
"What would that be Eve?" Jessica asked almost sarcastically. Eve simply smiled at her before answering,
"Love."
That word. That one word which could have so many different meanings and be conveyed in so many different ways made her blush and look away.
"Where might you get an idea like that Eve?" Jessica asked.
"Jessica you know better than to challenge the town gossip in matters of the heart. You also know as well as I do where I got an idea like that. The thing about this is that it's not merely an idea."
Jessica smiled slightly and looked over at Seth. As annoying as Eve could be, this was one of the times Jessica appreciated her as a friend.
"I just…I'm afraid of having a relationship again. Especially with the man who has been my best friend for years. He was there for me when I lost Frank."
"But you have to realize that you kind of do have a relationship with him, Jessica. I mean you go out on fancy dinner dates together, you stay in and watch movies while cuddling on the couch, y'all cook together, solve murders in your kitchen, he's so sweet with you. He changes his entire demeanor just for you. He cares about you enough to where he made you sort out your priorities. The way y'all walk arm in arm, kissing each other's cheek. Going fishing together, playing chess and going on walks. He even stepped in front of the gun that was about to kill you. I mean y'all are doing everything a couple does with each other you just aren't making love."
Jessica nervously chuckled. She knew that this was Eve's way of being affectionate and trying to make a point. She had no filter and sort of just said what was on her mind.
"Eve I-"
"Call me slightly inappropriate but it's the truth. Y'all act so romantic but just can't see it. And I know secretly that each one of you loves the other. You're just too scared to admit it."
"I suppose you're right Eve, in more ways than one. However I may have lost my shot at telling him." She looked over at Seth who was still hooked up to a bunch of machinery. She felt her eyes starting to well up again as she gazed at him.
"I know it feels that way but maybe you didn't. You'll see. He'll wake up. He's still in there and you know it. Hell he can probably hear us right now which means he knows that you love him, he knows that you're hurt and he's going to do everything he can to get back to you to tell you that he loves you too."
Jessica smiled through some tears. She couldn't remember the last time Eve had been this caring. Jessica knew she was deep down, she just didn't show it that often.
"As wonderful as that sounds Eve, for some reason, I find it highly unlikely."
"May that very well be Jessica, it's only highly unlikely. Not impossible."
Across the room, hearing and understanding every word was Seth, who was beginning to become very restless in not only his own discomfort but hearing of Jessica's discomfort.