Chapter 17

'Tom loved his job.'

Fred and Daphne stayed in town to be present for the funeral of Tom Ridgeman. He saved Daphne's life, they couldn't leave without paying their respects to him and his family.

His wife, Clara Ridgeman gave her husband's eulogy.

Daphne and Fred felt awful for her, she was 5 months pregnant with Tom's 4th child.

The church was full. Fischer was there with her husband, Wheeler with his wife and the other officers at SPD, some of them with their partners. Among them were Tom's friends and family and his former classmates from college. Some of the victim's families had attended also.

'Tom…Tom loved his job. As long as I have known him he has been so invested in technology. How it works, what one can do with it. He was keen to learn anything new. When he started working for SPD he told me that he was excited because now he could legally hack into someone's computer.'

People laughed lightly at this.

Clara Ridgeman took a breath before she continued. Anyone could tell that she was trying her hardest not to breakdown and cry in front of everyone. Anyone could tell that she was staying together for her husband.

'Tom loved his job, but there was one thing he loved more. And that was his family, especially his children, Joan, Ely, Maddie, and our 4th who we have not picked a name for yet.'

Daphne grabbed Fred's hand and she had to stop herself crying.

'He would do anything for his kids. He took them to the park when it was warm out, and when it was raining he played games with them inside. He wasn't the best at imaginative games, but he could build the greatest pillow fort and he played Snakes and Ladders with them and hide and seek. For their birthdays, he would always make sure they had a cake and balloons and presents, and at Christmas, he would help them lay out cookies and milk for Santa, and a carrot for the reindeer.'

Clara Ridgeman wiped her eyes and began to finish up her speech, 'When Tom and I first met he used to sing this song to me, and I will always remember it as his favourite song. Whenever it came on the radio, he always tried to get me to dance to it. Thank you all for coming here for Tom.'

She looked at the coffin next to her, and she stepped off the alter and as she sat down, a song came on. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship.

The next day, Daphne and Fred arrived at the police station to return the car and the house keys to Fischer.

'Thank you both so much for all of your help.' She said shaking both of their hands.

Wheeler was there too to say his goodbyes to them.

Fred handed Fischer the keys to the car and house and a cab pulled up outside the station to take them to the airport.

They were glad to leave Sandpoint. Luca Pablo would soon be on trial and they may have to come back to testify against him, but until then they were heading home to New York City.

Daphne still had a bad leg but she was walking better than she had when she first left the hospital.

It was late when they arrived in New York City and chose to get a cab back to Daphne's apartment.

It was decided that Fred would stay with her for the night as they were both tired, and weren't ready to be apart from each other yet.

They climbed into Daphne's bed and were relieved to be in a familiar bed. Not that the beds in the home in Sandpoint weren't comfortable, but they were just happy to be home.

Fred pulled Daphne close to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her, she snaked her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.

'Good night my love.' Fred whispered, pressing his lips to her forehead.

'Night Freddie, I love you.'

'I love you, Daph.'

They found sleep easy that night, they had had a long day, but they were happy to be home and to finally, have some peace.

A Little Thank You

I am completely overwhelmed by the positive comments that I have received from Small Town Murders.

As some of you know this will be the first story in a 4-part series. I was planning on writing a thank you at the end of the last story (and I still will), but I just had to thank you guys now!

The idea for Small Town Murders came to me whilst I was out walking with my parents on a snowy day. Long story short, we walked past a drain – which smelt awful – and that's how I got the idea for the discovery of the body in chapter 6.

But I can't explain where the idea came from for a 4-part series, I guess it just came to me.

I had so many worries whilst I was writing this story, due to its dark theme and some of the scenes I was worried that nobody would like it and I'd end up taking it down.

But as the chapters went on, you guys gave me the most positive feedback!

I was so happy to read that you all had theories regarding the murderer – I actually surprised myself with this one!

It took a lot of self-control to not upload all the chapters at once or just tell you guys what happens and who the killer is!

So, this story is about Scooby Apocalypse Fred and Daphne, in a universe with no apocalypse. And instead of being journalists, they are detectives and I'm really please with how this worked out for them.

I am debating whether to mention the other characters in the other stories, but I'll see how that goes.

I am so excited to share the rest of the stories with you – thought I am having a little bit of writer's block with the 3rd and at the moment I have no story in mind for the 4th – but the next story is done and waiting to be uploaded.

And I can give you a name and a date for the next story:

The Magic Man – July 5th 2021

Once again, thank you guys so much for your amazing support!

~ thequeenxofhearts