Meanwhile, Bradley poked at his steak. “I think this whole thing is made of mushroom,” he decided sadly, having apparently not realized that this restaurant was also entirely vegetarian. “I can’t wait to get back to the city.”
What’s keeping you? Vera wanted to ask. After all, his tour event was done, and he showed remarkably little interest in solving the case. He only followed Vera around…maybe for research on his next book?
Vera sadly skipped dessert, mostly to be able to get home sooner. Sun Li slipped her a few almond cookies wrapped in a bright red rice paper envelope, telling her good luck with the investigation.
As she walked through the serene patch of bamboo that hid the restaurant from the main street, Bradley asked where they were going next, taking it for granted that they were going together.
“I want to stop by the police station to see if Orville—I mean Deputy Braun—is working. If he’s not there, I’ll go to the campaign office. I need to talk to him about what I found in Highbank.”
“So you’re a reporter, a private detective, and a cop? Sounds like you’re doing everyone’s job for them. You don’t need to rush off to find that dumb bear.” Unexpectedly, Bradley leaned in close and said, “Come away with me, to the city! There’s so much more there.” He looked like he was about to kiss her.
Vera ducked and stepped out of kissing range. “Are you dense? Orville and I are dating. I’m not spending time with him to solve a crime; I’m spending time with him because I like him.”
“That rotting stump? You can’t possibly be attracted to him. My word, Vera, I just offered you a ticket out of this backwater. You can live in the big city, go to parties, have fun. You’ll love being my assistant!”
“About as much as I’d love being covered in wasps,” she retorted. “If you listened to anyone besides yourself, you’d remember that I’m from the big city. I came here for the change. And the day I give up my career to type press releases for an idiot is the day you’ll know I’ve been replaced with an imposter! Now go back to the inn, pack your bags, and walk to the dock because if you’re not on the next boat downriver, I’ll tell Orville to arrest you for being an idiot in public, which against the law in Shady Hollow!”
“It is not,” Bradley countered, by instinct.
“Town Ordinance 142, drafted by the first sitting council after the founding,” she recited. “Now get moving!”
Her lips had curled back into a snarl, and she’d bared her very sharp teeth. Despite being larger and likely tougher, Bradley Marvel slunk backward, cowed by her fury.
“All right, all right,” he muttered, his yellow eyes darting left and right, as if checking to see if they’d been overheard by anyone. But they were still alone. He began talking under his breath. “Didn’t want to stay anyway. Got places to be. This dump is boring. Can’t believe my publicist wanted me to work on a small-town thriller story. So stupid, nothing ever happens here. Yeah, that’s what I’ll tell him. Got to go where the action is…” He walked off, still revising his story to better suit his vanity.
Vera let him go, too tired to bother correcting his version of events. Nothing ever happens here? Ha! Marvel didn’t have the chops to deal with small town life…or death.
Chapter 15
Vera watched the wolf stalk off to the bed-and-breakfast, presumably to fume until he could scamper onto the next boat heading for the city. Then she went directly to the police station, hoping to find Orville and talk over what she learned in Highbank. However, only Chief Meade was there, so Vera merely asked where the deputy was.
“His campaign headquarters, probably,” Meade responded. “He seems to live there when he’s not working.”
“You still hoping to have a debate with him before the election?” she asked politely.
“Huh, after a fresh body was discovered and the crime remains unsolved? No chance! I don’t want the whole town to show up with pitchforks.”
“I’m sure you’ll solve it soon,” Vera said. “Any more clues so far?”
He shook his head. “Hardly anything, except that Brodhead found a knife wound in the chest. So we know how the poor bugger died, but not who he was.”
After saying good night to the chief, Vera proceeded to Orville’s headquarters. She didn’t particularly care for the building it was in (she had some bad memories of her time there), but she knocked anyway. In the small office on the first floor, a ferret greeted her.
“Evening, Miss Vixen. If you’re looking for Deputy Braun, he left for the Riverside Pub an hour ago. We set up a little event where folks can ask him questions in a casual setting. Good, huh?”
“Brilliant,” Vera agreed.
“I’m just locking up the office now, but if you hurry, you can make the last part of the event.”
“I’ll just find him tomorrow, thanks.” Vera wanted to talk with Orville, but she hated the thought of interrupting his campaigning to do so. The news she discovered would keep overnight. Besides, she’d just realized how tired she was. The old tradition of hibernation made perfect sense—she wanted to sleep until spring!
At her house, she dropped her bag inside the door and crawled into her bed. It might not be as fancy as the one in Highbank Hideaway, but there was a special joy in returning to one’s own cozy, rumpled nest.
Vera fell asleep instantly.
A pounding at the door woke her. She blinked groggily, confused by how dark it was outside. It took her a long while to realize that she hadn’t slept through the night. It was still the same night, and some creature was hammering on her front door as if the world were ending.
“Hold on, hold on,” she mumbled, pulling on her plush green velvet robe. “This had better be good.”
Vera lit
