It was little more than a month since the sheriff had received the results of the mayor's autopsy from the Millbrook coroner. Shepherd and Deputy Kepner had interviewed and re-interviewed the guests, trying to create a timeline how everything went down that night. It was more than likely that Mayor Jennings had been poisoned through his food. He had not been drinking, having only one drink during the toast and everyone else from the head table were clearly seen drinking from the same bottle and were not affected. The bottle had been tested and proven to be clean of poisonous substances.
It had been a buffet dinner and everyone at the reception had eaten from the same dishes. He was poisoned after he got his buffet meal, which he had eaten fairly late, since he wanted to ensure that all the guests had dined before he did. And according to the coroner, if had been a fairly fast-acting poison, meaning that whoever poisoned him was there during the last hour of the party. That meant someone had to be close enough to his table to place the poison into his meal. He and his deputy had spent many hours, viewing the video footage and photographs of the wedding reception.
Shepherd was under pressure because the townsfolk were starting to doubt whether he would be able to crack the case. He did work once in Des Moines but he found the fast pace of the city was not to his liking. He was a small town boy through and through. He seriously wished people would stop believing that murder cases were solved within an hour like they were on television shows. Real life did not work like that.
No one stood out as a candidate for the main suspect. He had started eliminating people from his suspect pool. The first people he ruled out were Meredith and Cristina. Since they didn't even know who the mayor was and the photographs showed they were never near the mayor's table at any point in time. It was just as well, given that Meredith was now officially his girlfriend. They had recently slept together at his house for the first time and she was starting to spend more and more time at his place. It was just as well because Hunt was now like a fixture at the girls' cottage. Speaking of Hunt, he was also taken out from the suspect pool because the video footage showed that he, too, was nowhere near the Mayor's table all night. He was so engrossed in his new girlfriend that he was not concerned about anything else going on around him. There were lots of pictures of Hunt and Cristina smooching on the dance floor. It was like he was glued on to the girl for the entire night.
Hunt's mother too had to be eliminated since she did not get up from her table, all night, since Dr. Webber had been paying her special attention and catered to her every need. He suspected that Dr. Webber had more than a soft spot for Mrs. Hunt. It was just as well because it seemed that they were both seeking companionship. In that case, he also had to eliminate Dr. Webber from the suspect list, since he too was pre-occupied for the night. He knew a medical doctor like Webber had the means and the knowledge to poison the mayor but he had been nowhere near the mayor until he and O'Malley tried to save him. He eliminated several other people, too, because none was seen around the mayor during that last hour before the mayor's death.
Still, there were quite a number of people who were at that table during that time period. Even the mayor's family could not be eliminated. Also, someone had slipped him an anonymous note under his office door that the mayor had been juggling another woman, other than his wife and his secretary. He already knew of the affair that mayor had with his secretary, Reed Adamson and the affair with Teddy Altman that went on for years before the mayor got married. Both of these women had been seen around the mayor's table.
The sheriff did not know the identity of this third woman who had been having an affair with the mayor and maybe, she could be the key in determining who killed the mayor. He was putting out feelers to find out if anyone had any idea who this third woman could be. After all, it has been often said that poison is a woman's weapon. But that didn't preclude that it could also be a man, who did the deed.
In the meantime, the business of the town still had to go on. The town council voted Arizona Robbins as Interim Mayor before another election was scheduled to determine the new Mayor of Huntsville. Robbins was considered the safest choice since she had not even been at the wedding, since she was out of town visiting her sister in Chicago. Other members of the council had been at the wedding and were still considered persons of interest in the Mayor's murder.
Cristina was now a month on the job at the Mercantile. She really liked the job. She had a fair amount of independence and was able to travel to Des Moines on a regular basis to meet with suppliers. She also did quite a bit of ordering online. She brought in all of the latest trends for the younger folk, while still catering to the classic needs of their older customers. She had established a new jewelry department and a well-stocked cosmetics department. Business was booming with Cristina in the clothing/cosmetics/jewelry department. Sales had doubled already and was continuing to grow.
Jackson and his grandpa were very pleased at how much business she was bringing in to the mercantile. It also helped that they didn't have to worry about the superstore coming into the town and taking away their business. Now that the mayor was dead, that plan had gone bust.
He watched her, helping a customer in the clothing department. She didn't have to, but she often helped out in the store. He liked that about her, always willing to lend a hand. He also didn't mind because he loved to watch her – the way her curls bounced as she walked was so endearing. He also knew that she was Hunt's girlfriend, a fact that he wished was not so. Hunt made his presence known because he came everyday to meet Cristina for lunch. So, there he was again, coming to pick her up for lunch. Avery gritted his teeth when he saw the tall blonde man. Cristina finished up with her customer, who finally decided on a top and a skirt, before leaving with Owen. She waved at Jackson, as she left. Owen and Cristina walked to the diner, where they got their favorite corner table.
Teddy came over to take their order. "Good day, Owen, Cristina. How are you today? What will you be having?"
Cristina piped up, "A club sandwich and the soup of the day, Teddy. Thank you."
Owen said, "I will have the roasted chicken quarter with vegetables and mashed potatoes."
"Good," Teddy said. She had a smile on her face but Owen could see that it did not reach her eyes. She looked worried.
"What's that matter, Teddy?" Owen asked. He had known her long enough to know when something was bothering her.
"It's the mayor's murder. I have been questioned again for the third time by the sheriff," Teddy said.
"He thinks you could do this?" Owen said, with an incredulous expression.
"Well, it is no secret that the mayor and I had a long-standing relationship before he married Gloria and then I did cater the dessert," Teddy said. "Fortunately for me, I am not the only one being questioned. Reed Adamson has been through the wringer and so have Gloria Jennings and Alex Karev. Plus some other people who were at or near the head table."
She walked away with a slight slump to her shoulders, as if the weight of the world was upon her.
"Wow, she looks worried," Cristina said. "I know you have history with her. Do you think it is possible?"
"Well, my history with her was when we were both teenagers. Things may have changed since then but the Teddy I knew back in high school, it just doesn't seem possible," Owen said.
"Well, at least, we haven't been called in for re-questioning," Cristina said.
"I think that's because we have been eliminated from the suspect pool. I am sure the sheriff could see that I only had eyes for you that night," Owen said, chuckling.
"Yup, that was the night you got lucky," Cristina said. They both laughed, when they remember how he sneaked her into his room. "Do you think the sheriff is making fast enough progress on this case?" she asked.
"Well, it is only him and Kepner and this is a small town. We haven't had a murder here, if I could recall," Owen said. "I know people are impatient for some progress but they have to give them a chance."
Teddy brought them their orders and walked away. They both started on their meals. They both ate quietly as neither of them liked to bother with small talk while they were eating. As Cristina drained the last of her orange juice from her glass, she asked, "By the way, are you coming over tonight?"
Owen wiped his mouth. "I have to take a raincheck tonight. I have to catch up on some of the farm paperwork that I have been neglecting. Mom says I have to get it done. I am sorry but I will come by tomorrow."
"That's okay," she said. "Then I will go to the movies in Brewster with Meredith."
"Alright, that's fine," he said. He got up to the cash register and paid the bill. As they left, he took Cristina's hand into his and walked back to the Mercantile. He gave her a kiss and got into his truck and started his drive back to the farm.
Cristina spotted Jackson manning the cash register, while his grandfather had gone to lunch. "Hey, J," Cristina said. "When you're going on lunch?"
"As soon as Grandpa comes back," Jackson said. "I trust you had a good lunch."
"Yes, I did," she said. "By the way, have you seen that new Denzel Washington movie?"
"No, I was planning to go to Brewster to see it," Jackson said.
"Really? Meredith and I are going tonight. Interested in coming with us?" Cristina asked. The young man's beautiful green eyes lit up.
"Yeah, sure, I will come and pick you guys up," Jackson said. Around 6.30 p.m. so we can make it in time for the 7.15 show."
"Yes," Cristina said. "That will be fine."
"Hey, how were you girls going to get to Brewster? You don't have a vehicle," Jackson said.
"Well, we do now," she said, laughing as she headed back to her office.
"Oh, so I see what you did there," Jackson yelled after her. "I am the one providing the transportation. I don't mind, though, I will be out with two beautiful girls."
"Jackson, stop shouting across the store," Mr. Avery was back from lunch.
"Sorry, Grandpa. Can I leave a little early today? Taking Cristina and Meredith to the movies in Brewster," Jackson asked. "Gotta go home and take a shower."
"That's fine, Jackson. You're young, you go have a good time," Mr. Avery said. Jackson went off to lunch with a song in his heart.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Shepherd was returning to his office. He was just returning from grabbing a sandwich at the diner. Deputy Kepner had just gone to the Mercantile to grab a few household items. As he opened the door, he could not miss the note on the floor – another note that had been slipped under the door. This time, he got the latex gloves from his desk. He pulled on the gloves, picked up the note and read it. There was only one short sentence. "She knows everything."
A/N: Please leave your comments. Thank you. They help in the thinking process.