Chapter 20

Not only had Seth's car been destroyed in a car bomb, but it was also proven that the Reynolds' boys were not responsible for the murder of Bert Bradlely and the attempted murder of Seth.

It took another day for Seth's hearing to slightly return. Yet his mood didn't change as he and Jessica sat in the coffee shop for lunch.

"Dang hearing!" he complained as he rubbed his ear vigorously, "it's ruined the opportunity for our romantic first date this weekend!"

"Oh, Seth, do we really need to set a specific time and place for it to be considered a date?" Jessica questioned.

"Ayuh, it makes all the difference in the world!" Seth said, "otherwise, how else will all the gossipers be able to keep track of us as a couple on their calendars?"

Jessica laughed, "Seth, I've been telling you along I don't need an official date with you! Just spending time together with you is enough! And after all that you've been through, what with the poison, and then the shooting, and now a bomb, you've lived a lifetime these last two weeks!"

The ridiculousness of everything that had occurred to him recently made him crack a small smile.

"You're right, Jess. Poison? Bullets? A bomb? You don't have that much action, even in your books!"

Jessica laughed and placed her hand over his, "No, indeed," she said, "if I wrote about all these misfortunes happening to one person in one of my books, my publisher would mail it back and tell me to do a reality rewrite!"

The way he was smiling at her caused her heart to beat faster.

"Do you realize, Woman," he stated, "that all I want to do now is grab your lovely face and kiss it until there's no tomorrow?"

Jessica looked down, as a blush rose to her cheeks. Finally she looked up at him, sending a delicious thrill throughout his backside.

"You can borrow a kiss from me later, in private," she said quietly, "and I promise I'll give it right back to you!"

Seth couldn't have looked happier.

"Jess, oh, Jess," he stated, his voice cracking a bit at the end, "how I yearn for you!"

As they continued smiling at each other, they heard a male's high pitched voice behind them.

"Well, well," stated Sam Booth, as he walked up and took a seat next to them without being invited, "if it isn't Cabot Cove's favorite couple!"

Seth grunted as Jessica put on her diplomatic face.

"Sorry. My hearings gone, can barely hear a thing!" Seth folded his arms, looking miserable.

"Good afternoon, Sam!"she greeted him, purposely not inviting him to join them.

"Is there no such thing as a table for three anymore?" Sam complained, as he borrowed a chair from the next table. He next signaled the waitress, " Millie! Ohhhh, Millie! Some coffee over here!" and just before she walked away to get it, he added, "and maybe a tiny taste of your freshest baked goods, too!" he smiled at her before she disappeared.

"Well, now that I've settled a bit," Sam stated as he first looked at Seth, then Jessica, "care to update me as to your dating status?"

"What, no talk of the number of squirrels circling the trees to discuss first?" Seth sarcastically asked.

"Not today!" Sam took the question seriously, "today, I'm all ears to hear about your first date together!"

"It does seem gossip travels quickly around here," Jessica noted.

"Now, Jessica," the mayor corrected her, "you know I'd be the FIRST person to tell another person not to gossip."

"Then maybe you should look in a mirror!" Seth suggested.

Sam looked indignant, "I assure you, Seth, that as a public official of high standing, I did not come here to gossip! However, I HAVE been known to share opinions of other people's lifestyles before...so what's yours?"

The waitress had returned with a mug of steaming coffee and a fresh cinnamon roll.

"Actually, Sam, we've been busy working on this case regarding the murder of Seth's dear friend," Jessica informed him.

"Yes, I heard about that," Sam nodded, as he took another bite of the cinnamon roll and momentarily closed his eyes in total bliss. When he opened them again, he stated, "as you were saying..." he lost his train of thought.

"...about the murder?" Jessica helped to complete the Mayor's thought.

"Yes, indeed!" the mayor responded as he took another heavenly bite of his food.

"Let's just say, we don't have a motive or a killer just yet!" Seth stated.

"If you ask me, I say let the authorities handle it!" Sam suggested, after he swallowed the sugary confection, "I know Bert may have been your friend, but you and Jessica here have other things to consider besides a murder, wouldn't you say?"

"Actually, neither one of us can move forward until this case is solved," Jessica explained, "we believe Bert's murder may have to do with a case that he and Seth had worked on a few years back."

"You don't say?" the mayor absent-mindedly stated as he took a sip of his coffee, "Welll, knowing you two, I'm sure you'll have that matter solved in no time!"

"Actually, we've hit a roadblock," Seth told him, "we don't think any of the people on those cases are guilty of murderin' Bert."

"And also of attempted murder on you, Seth," Jessica worriedly reminded him, "not once, but three times."

"Three times? Oh myyy Doc! Someone really wants you dead!" the mayor callously stated, "and since it's not the people you suspect, then maybe it's the people you don't!"

"Do you hear what you are sayin'?" Seth looked totally confused by Sam's wording.

"You know, Seth..." Jess began as her thoughts came slowly to her, "Sam may actually have a point. Maybe the attempted and actual murder had nothing to do with an old case at all! Maybe the killer was after you and Bert for a different reason!"

Sam looked surprised, "I said all that?"

"Didn't you?" blinked Jessica innocently.

"Whyyyy, I suppose I DID..." Sam looking proud, as he sat up straighter.

"What are you sayin', Jess?" Seth asked, "what 'others' could you be talkin' about?"

"Just think about it, Seth," she stated, "you've had another connection to Bert besides just working police cases together. You two go way back...even before you were a doctor!"

Seth looked hesitant, "You mean... the fraternity?"

"Exactly!" Jessica nodded.

"You were in a fraternity, Doc Hazlitt?" Sam wondered, "They had one of those back then?"

"Even dinosaurs liked to join clubss!" Seth snapped, giving him an aggravated look, "besides, I'm not as old as I look..." he claimed, "I'll have you know, Mayor Booth, that old age is always 15 years older than I am!"

Jessica hid her smile.

But Sam was distracted. He paused mid-gulp and stared at the drink before gesturing to the waitress in a distressed tone.

"Millie, oh, Millie!"

She came over, putting her hands on her hips, "What is it now, Mayor?"

"This coffee here is rather weak," he complained, pointing to it with a distasteful expression, "it's as if this coffee is using its powers for evil, not good today! Do you think I might get a different cup instead?"

Millie sighed, "I suppose I can get you a new one."

"Goood, and this time, make the coffee stronger," Sam insisted, "after all, I DO have a town to run."

"Alright, sure, Mayor," Millie couldn't get away fast enough, "and I'll be sure to put in extra grounds when I brew a new pot. It'll be so strong that you'll think it's beer!"

"That's my girl!" Sam smiled, looking pleased.

While Millie left to fill the Mayor's request, Seth looked over and noticed a very quiet Jessica. She had a strange look in her eyes.

"Jess, is everythin' alright?" he asked.

She turned slowly towards him.

"Beer," she stated reverently, repeating what the Mayor had ordered, "that's it! Beer!"

Sam's face looked confused, "Beer?" he turned to Seth, "What is she talking about?"

"Uh-oh," Seth stated, "she has that look on her face again!"

"What look?" the Mayor asked.

Jessica's eyes were bright with intelligence, "Seth, I think I know who killed Bert Bradley and attempted to kill you, too! And I also know the reason why!"

.

.

Please review