Chapter 15:

Bill took a deep breath before beginning to explain what had happened.

"From the start I didn't trust Mr. Richardson. Something was bothering me, but I didn't know what it was. I asked him questions at the saloon, one on one. He told me his story and I found it totally possible. He seemed a little uncomfortable but at the same time sincere."

"Then, on the last night at the saloon, Henry came to see me. He seemed worried about something and that alone was already strange. He explained to me that he had seen a picture of the city in Richardson's wallet when they had played cards together." Bill saw Abigail's face change in surprise when he told her about Henry's role in this story.

"I told Henry I won't investigate because that same night you asked me not to meddle in Theodore's business anymore. Still, I couldn't resist going to ask Lucas to let me search Richardson's room in the saloon. At first, he refused, then I told him I was asking him as sheriff and judge, and he let me through." Bill paused in his story, before continuing.

"While searching his room, I found the photo Henry had told me about. It was a photo of our city that had been taken for a newspaper when we entered this contest to be the best Christmas city. You remember? All the inhabitants were on it." Bill asked.

He received nods from his friends and Carson said:

"Yeah, that was a few years ago. We didn't win it, but the reporters were taking pictures of every city to put in the paper?" asked the doctor.

"Exactly. I turned over the photo and there was a list of all the merchants in the city with their first and last names, as well as their order of importance in the decisions that are made for the city. Seeing this, I inquired about the last city where Theodore said he lived. And, unsurprisingly, no one had ever heard of him or his exhibits."

"Thus, I tried to find out about the existence of a certain Theodore Richardson somewhere in France and more precisely in the eighth arrondissement of Paris, as he told me he had lived there for a long time."

"There was a Theodore Richardson who had lived there, so I tracked him down." Bill saw Abigail's face growing more and more anxious as she listened intently.

"I found out the last time we heard of him was in Nebraska. So, I called there but no one remembered him. It was too long ago and most of the locals were not still living here when he passed 23 years ago."

"But eventually, I looked through the archives of who does the printing of newspapers for several cities and found articles that talked about a certain Richardson and his accomplice James Smith. They had defrauded the city by abusing their trust and making them believe in a certain exhibition that could bring big money to the city if they financed it."

"Of course, I understood immediately that these were indeed the two men who had just arrived in town, but James Smith had changed his identity and was posing as Michael Vance.

I think Theodore couldn't change his first name when he got to town because you already knew him, Abigail."

Abigail nodded and opened her mouth in realization. Eventually, she pulled out a chair and sat down hearing everything Theodore had been up to since they parted 25 years ago.

"In the end, I had no proof that it was them." Bill continued, looking at his friends who were still listening intently. "But I discovered that similar thefts had been recorded over 23 years in more than a dozen different cities. Always with two men under different names. So, I had the Hamilton police do composite portraits. Then, I went to the last cities they had scammed, and which were not very far from Hope Valley after all. I showed them the portraits and they immediately recognized them. They explained to me how Theodore gained the trust of the city, which ended up investing in it because he liked him. Then James Smith would come to town to give Theodore more credibility and to talk to the mayor of the town in question. Then, once the amount was obtained, they would leave the city in the middle of the night with the money."

Abigail was starting to have tears automatically rolling down her cheeks and she could not stop them. Rosemary, seeing her friend's distress, walked towards her and gently grabbed her shoulders to support her in silence.

"Then I reported my findings to Hamilton justice, explaining to them that I had countless witnesses who could come to trial. Unfortunately, Theodore and Michael. I mean James." Bill grimaced. "They won't charge for all the cities they scammed. They did their business in some years ago. People don't remember their faces, or they are no longer the same people who live there."

"But, as justice had enough evidence and testimony, they ordered me to return to Hope Valley to arrest them. Richardson and Smith will be taken to a penitentiary tomorrow." Bill finished his story, with a touch of pain in his voice seeing Abigail's reaction, though he was pleased with his investigation and having cornered these crooks before they could get away.

"But I don't understand. Why didn't they leave when Abigail gave them the money last week?" Jesse then suddenly asked.

"I do not know." resumed Bill. "But I suspect Mr. Richardson felt immense guilt about stealing the one he loves. He must have managed to convince James to stay a few more days. I caught them quarreling before going on mission."

Abigail still did not say anything, she was staring at the floor, thinking about everything Theo had told her about his life. To all the lies he had told her. Had he ever loved her?

"Thank you, Bill, for what you have done." The town mayor said looking at his friend. "Without you, we would have ended up ruined by my fault. Because I'm way too naive."

"Abigail, it wouldn't have been your fault." Lee replied to Abigail's statement.

"Yes, you trusted him. And he played on that." continued Faith in her turn.

"Thank you all for staying with me. It feels good to know that I can still count on my friends." Abigail looked up at her loved ones. She so wished Henry was here, but she knew he was waiting for everyone to leave to come see her.

"I'm going to bed, I'm sorry."

"No, of course, rest Abigail." Carson said.

Abigail's friends all made their way to the cafe door one by one, greeting the cafe owner with kind gestures.

Bill left last, not without a last look at his dear friend.

Note: Wow! Lots of dialogue! I hope you still like the story and that you didn't find Theo's story ridiculous! What's going to happen next, huh?