Cid’s brown eyes held on to Mia’s as he retrieved the memory. “It’s still sad, yet beautiful. Thank you, Mia.”
“I wouldn’t mention it to Ted. I don’t think he’d understand.”
“Don’t worry. Although, he may have been the first to be kissed - which he’s already brought up four times this morning - I now know that I slept with you first,” Cid teased.
Mia punched his arm.
“Hero!” Varden squawked.
“She is, Varden, she really is,” Cid said.
Mike gave up his seat so Brian could settle in front of one of the computer terminals. He watched as Ted patiently dealt with both Jake and Brian. Mike didn’t want to like Ted, but he did. He walked over to where Burt was typing up his notes on what he could remember of his part of the adventure. He had the two pieces of the innocuous looking candle in front of him. Burt had lifted three sets of prints off the candle: his, Orion’s, and Cid’s. When Jake was running the match, they could see that Cid’s didn’t have the diagonal scar he received in a recent food-chopping incident. This supported the theory that Cid had only handled the candle prior to the accident.
Burt stopped typing. He looked over at Ted and saw he was occupied with Brian. He tapped his screen. Mike leaned in.
Burt typed, “I wish we could get Mia to put her experience on camera or at least record it in print.”
Mike leaned in and typed, “I would like to know a few things myself. It’s too bad you three are the only ones who can remember the experience.”
Burt responded. “How about we go and see if we can get Murphy to talk?”
Mike nodded. He tapped Ted on the shoulder and said, “Where could I find Murphy this time of day?”
“Probably in his new barn. It’s over the hill north of here.”
“Thanks. Brian, don’t let Jake push you around,” Mike said before he left.
Burt saved his work. He got up to leave, and Ted’s eyes shifted his way. Burt smiled but offered no excuse for leaving the room. He just nodded, grabbed his coat, and left.
Mike was waiting for him on the path to the aerie. The two investigators walked for a while in silence. Spring had settled in and the land bore the fruit of Murphy’s attentions. The tree line was neat, and the raspberry brambles were contained.
“It’s really nice out here,” Mike said.
“Considering Mia and Ted aren’t attentive tenants, it’s amazing,” Burt said.
“Give Mia kudos for hiring Lazar. He’s turned out to be quite a manager,” Mike pointed out.
“I think she got lucky. Mia does everything with her heart first,” Burt said. “Which is good because I’m years behind in my rent.”
“I don’t know how you can live off your ex-girlfriend?”
“With grace but little dignity,” Burt joked.
The two stopped and surveyed the meadow before them. The wildflowers were just starting to come into their own. The little red barn’s doors were open.
“Murphy!” Mike called.
Murphy looked up and was surprised to see not only Mike there but Burt. He set down the rake and moved quickly up the hill.
“What’s the emergency?” he asked.
“There’s no emergency. Do we have to have an emergency to speak with you?” Mike asked.
“No, but you two rarely speak to me unless it’s PEEPs business,” Murphy said.
Mike and Burt looked at each other.
“Is that true?” Burt asked Mike.
“He’s right,” Mike said. “I’m sorry, Stephen. I guess I usually think you’d rather not be disturbed.”
“I’m working so…”
“Okay, we’ll come to the point,” Burt said and waited for Mike to speak. Mike left him hanging, so he cleared his voice and said, “We were wondering if you’d like to go on the record about what you experienced in the other timeline.”
“No.”
Mike looked annoyed. “Mind telling us why?”
“I think we have more to do in the present. Why hash over what happened in the past?” Murphy asked. “Plus, I’m sure you may not want to know some things.”
“Like…” Burt asked.
“How you looked dead with mushrooms planted in your gut,” Murphy said.
“Fair enough,” Burt said and turned to leave.
“There’s more. What aren’t you telling us?” Mike pressed.
“Things that Mia may not want you guys to know. I’ll speak with her, and if she okays it, I will be happy to sit down and tell you from my perspective what happened. I can’t tell you everything because I wasn’t everywhere. I can tell you that you, Mike, were every much the hero as was Ted. You followed Mia’s orders, and in doing so, you didn’t get yourself blown up,” Murphy said.
“Is that how Ted died?” Mike confirmed. “He blew himself up. Does he know this?”
“Maybe. Mia should have told him.”
“Gee, I called that one. I got his death right but the wrong timeline, imagine that.”
“I think you need to leave that alone,” Burt advised. “From me, Murphy, I would like to thank you for saving me.”
“You’re welcome,” Murphy said stiffly. “Can I go now?”
“Yes, sorry to disturb you,” Burt said.
Murphy disappeared.
“I don’t have any memory of what I did. Maybe that’s best,” Mike said. “I can’t imagine dealing with Mia as a twelve-year-old.”
“She was amazing,” Burt said. “But she couldn’t have survived without Murphy. I’m convinced of that.”
“I guess no matter what happens, it comes down to their awkward friendship, doesn’t it?” Mike said, smacking the dust off his jeans.
“This is why we have to give Ted a break. He’s got a lot on his plate,” Burt said.
“Still, I’d like a shot at being in his shoes,” Mike said.
“Nope, never going to happen. Not even if Ted blows himself up,” Burt said and added, “again.”
