Fred walked out of the jail with a huge smile plastered on his face – a free man.
What a beautiful Wednesday morning
, he thought to himself, even though the ground was covered in snow and the wind almost sliced him in two.
Today, I begin my life again as a free man, and this time I will not take it for granted. God certainly has his own ideas about happy endings.
Fred had been given his freedom after the District Attorney dropped the charges against him for the murder of Garret Brown. The video confession of Bob Dempsey, AKA: "Barf Bag Bob" was quite the revelation. In it, Bob confessed to having set up the entire murder, framing and kidnapping fiasco that had plagued the town for the last few weeks.
Apparently, Bob had become jealous after finding out that his girlfriend had been secretly dating his co-worker Garret Brown. Bob used the plot of a favorite mystery novel to concoct the scheme to murder Garret, frame Fred, and later kidnap Alexa for figuring out the mystery. Throughout the entire video, Bob's moods varied from relatively sane and lucid to off the deep end.
Bob had actually laughed with glee when he related how he had lured Garret out to his car, chloroformed him, tied him up, taken him to the kill site, then hanged him from the back of Fred's truck. Because he had been watching Fred for weeks, Bob had known exactly where Fred's truck would be and how long he would be gone to find bait. He went into almost gory detail about Garret's suffering with the slow death of asphyxiation due to hanging. Of course, Bob couldn't resist explaining to Garret the reasons for his death.
Bob then explained that he had left the body laying in the back of the truck while he drove to a nearby creek where he tied Garret's body underneath the axle of the boat trailer and drove the truck into the creek. Since it was a fairly large creek, the current soon caught the truck and dragged it downstream to the place where Alexa had discovered it that same night. Bob thought that was the funniest part of the whole episode.
He had planned for weeks about how to kill Garret and frame Fred, but for Alexa to discover the body was just icing on the cake for Bob. He had been delighted when she had noticed the truck near her friend's house. He knew that she had the bad luck of happening upon dead bodies only to beat the police to the punch when she solved the mysteries before they did. Bob had practically crowed on the video about sticking it to the police, especially that arrogant Chief of Police, Chris Nettle.
Apparently, Bob hadn't heard the scripture, "For whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap."
CC was rather relieved when he received a call from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department about how they had recently discovered a half-burnt corpse that resembled Bob. The Sheriff's unit had been patrolling a highway that led to the Mexican border when they happened upon the burnt wreckage of a stolen vehicle. To one side of the wreckage was the corpse that they believed to be Bob Dempsey. The Sheriff knew that this kill bore the signature characteristics of a well-known local drug cartel, and he wondered what Bob had done to the cartel to result in this type of retribution.
CC thanked the Sheriff for the information and marked the case "closed". He could finally put Alexa's mind to rest about this.
-----ooOOoo-----
Since Alexa had been released from the hospital, her emotions were scattered and random. She didn't know how else to explain it to herself except in these terms. She was very relieved to be free from Bob and out of the hospital, but she also felt something akin to guilt that she had put herself in such a dangerous situation at all.
On that same note, the emotions that had been stirred within her right before she regained consciousness – those about dying and going to heaven, and then waking up to find CC holding her hand – well, they disturbed her. She felt like she was leaving something unresolved in her life, and she couldn't figure out what it was.
She had been talking to Missy one day and she finally realized what she needed to do.
"MOF, how can I explain to CC that I need to visit Max's grave? It is not like CC has asked me to marry him or anything, but I almost feel like I'm cheating on him by wanting to visit Max. Although, truthfully, I'll never forget Max, he was my first great love, and he'll always have a special place in my heart. Since I went through that ordeal with BBBob, I have had this longing to visit Max and tell him about it. I don't really need to ask Max's permission to be with CC, but I still feel like talking to him about it."
Missy just let her vent. She knew that AIG would work it out in her heart.
"Does that seem wrong? I'm kind of confused right now, and I don't want my feelings about this to drive a wedge between CC and me."
"AGI, how long has it been since you visited Max's grave? Three, four years? You're due a visit. Besides, I think visiting him will help bring you peace about this traumatic time you've been through lately. We both know Max can't hear you, but it is a quiet place of reflection that you seem to need right now."
"You don't think it will hurt CC's feelings?"
"Why don't you ask CC and Tara to accompany you down there? That way, Tara can not only act as a buffer, but she'll get to say her peace to Max also."
"That may work. I'll check with Tara about when her Christmas holiday begins and try to work my schedule around hers. Maybe that will give CC enough time to find coverage for his shifts. Thanks MOF. You really are my bestest, best friend." Of course, there was the customary tearing up and hugging involved…
-----ooOOoo-----
That is how Alexa found herself in McAllen, Texas, at Max's grave a week before Christmas. Tara had gone earlier that day, but Alexa wanted to go alone so that she could speak to Max without reservation. She asked CC and Tara to drop her off and then pick her up in about an hour. They had decided to go on to the mall.
The weather was summer-like compared to Missouri, actually it was in the 50s, but the sun was shining and a small breeze blew the scent of citrus trees past Alexa as she knelt in front of Max's headstone. This was one of the few things that Alexa liked about her former place of residence – the fact that during the winter, the weather was relatively balmy and comfortable – almost like Spring in Neosho.
So after her initial bout of tears at seeing her former husband's name etched in stone, Alexa began to really talk to Max and pour out all her fears. She had been there some time when she heard a car pull up behind her. She knew it was time to break off the conversation because CC and Tara had arrived, so she kissed her fingers, pressed them to Max's name, and stood to leave.
As she turned around to hug CC, she came face to face with the barrel of a gun. She froze in shock, as she looked into the cold eyes of Bob Dempsey – the man she thought was out of her life for good. He stood there smirking at her as if he were about to have the last laugh at her expense.
"Merry Christmas Alexandra," he sneered before cocking his gun.
At the mall, Tara and CC decided that since they didn't have much time to shop, they would just grab something to eat and head back to the cemetery to pick up Alexa. CC found a table in the food court and left Tara there while he went to pick up the food from the pizza and BBQ vendors. On the way to the food court, Tara had pointed out the place where she had been snatched by the kidnapper and later the place where her mom had pummeled the guy.
As she sat there, Tara was still thinking about the last time her mom had recounted the story. Tara smiled to herself.
"What a beautiful smile for a beautiful young woman," Tara heard from a mysterious source on her right. As she turned to see who was speaking, she felt a shock run through her when she looked into the most gorgeous blue eyes she had ever seen. She detected a hint of a Scottish brogue in his accent.
He was sitting at the table next to hers and was staring intensely at her, as if trying to memorize her features. Strangely enough, she didn't feel uncomfortable under his gaze. Tara had no idea what to say, so she merely smiled again and said, "Thank you. Do I know you?"
"I don't think we've met before," he replied, "but I hope to remedy that today. Name's Liam MacGreggor. And what is your name lovely lady, if I may be so bold as to inquire?"
Tara blushed but parried, "You are bold alright, but because you asked so politely, my name is Tara Graham."
"Ah, Tara. I believe it fits you well. You are as beautiful as the hill itself."
"Excuse me?" Tara asked confusedly, "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well, simply put, your name is the English derivation of a beautiful hill in Ireland, better known as a seat of power in ancient times. I've actually been to the location, and I must say that you are much more lovely than anything God placed there at creation."
Tara didn't know how to respond, so she simply stared for a moment and then caught herself as CC approached balancing a tray with their food and drinks.
"Here is your pizza, Tara. You said cheese, right? Uh, Tara? You ok?"
"Oh yes, thank you CC," Tara looked toward Liam to introduce him to CC, but the table was empty where Liam had been sitting. Tara wondered afterward if she had imagined the whole odd episode. At that thought, she felt a little sad because Liam was certainly handsome.
Dark brows hooded his blue eyes; and his handsome face was fringed by dark brown hair that came to his shoulders. He had a small loop earring on his right ear. He looked to be about 17 or 18 years old, but seemed to be very confident, intelligent, and well traveled. She thought it strange that he had spoken to her and even stranger was her reaction to him. She felt like Destiny had just paid her a visit.
-----ooOOoo-----
CC almost lost it when he drove through the cemetery gates and saw Alexa being held at gunpoint by some man. He strangely resembled Bob, but that couldn't be right. CC quickly stopped the vehicle and grabbed his gun out of the glove compartment, thanking God that he had thought to bring it with them on this trip.
God, guide my steps and keep Lex safe,
he prayed.
He quickly hid behind a tree to disguise his presence and slowly crept toward the pair. He could see the confusion and fear on Alexa's face and was doubly glad that he had thought to drop off Tara at the hotel before coming over here. As he began to close in, he heard Alexa say that she would rather die than go with him.
It IS Bob!
Then to his horror, Bob said, "I would be happy to oblige, m'lady."
At that moment, Alexa backed up and lost her footing, falling to the ground. Apparently whatever tripped her also tripped Bob as he lunged for her, and he fell to the ground a few feet away from her. Alexa rolled away from him and jumped up and began to run. CC could tell when she spotted him because she quickly changed direction and began running full out toward him.
CC saw Bob begin chasing her. When Bob recognized why Alexa had changed directions, he stopped his pursuit and took aim.
CC yelled, "Lex, DOWN!!" surprisingly she obeyed and dived to the ground. CC had a clear shot and he took it. He winged Bob and his gun fell to the ground. CC ran up to Bob and knocked him away from the gun. CC then proceeded to pummel Bob to within an inch of his life so that he could not escape or hurt Alexa again.
Alexa had to pull CC off Bob's unconscious form. She had called the police on her cell phone and could hear the sirens closing in on their location. Alexa jumped into CC's arms and showered him with kisses, and he returned the favor just as enthusiastically.
"Woman, what am I going to do with you? You scare me to death in one heartbeat, and make me happier than any man alive in the next."
Alexa looked up into his beautiful brown eyes and gave him a teary grin, "I don't know Chief Chris, that's something you'll have to figure out on your own. I will tell you this though, if you ever yell a dog command at me again, even if it is to save my life, I will have to smack you."
CC threw back his head and laughed, "You never cease to amaze me. I thought I had lost you! I love you, angel. My sweet Lex, I love you!!"
Between kisses, Alexa said, "I love you, CC, with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. I love you!!"
CC hugged her tight and bent to whisper into her ear, "'Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove. O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark, that looks on tempests and is never shaken;'". With that, CC tilted her chin and gave her a gentle kiss filled with tomorrow's promises.