The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 80 Enigma Joy | woke up to a rainy Monday morning. | quickly grabbed my phone from my nightstand and checked my messages. As expected, a message from Liam was waiting for me, informingCynthia McDowell's funeral had been postponed to this afternoon, but he would no longer be attending. His father was in the hospital and he had to attend to his needs first.

Sh it! Pete survived the fire.

| put my phone down and stretched. No problem. If a fire couldn't kill him, I would.

Last night, before the firemen and the rest of the first responders arrived at the scene, the boys decided it was better if we left and met up with Leo and Benny instead, before they left. New Salem. It was such a huge relief to see them alive and well, laughing with a drink in their hands. After giving Leo and Benny each a hug, | gave Sam a kiss on the cheek as my way of thanking him. Xavier looked on, proud of his protégé. Sam was proving himself indispensable.

| was already up, brushing my teeth and recalling the deal Liam made with Pete last night, when the doorbell rang. Wondering who it was, quickly put on my robe and rushed downstairs.

It was Noah. He was wearing a long sleeved plaid shirt, jeans and his trusty work boots, while holding up an umbrella to shelter him from the rain. He smiled brightly at me, appearing to be in a good mood despite the bad weather.

“Good morning, Virtue! | dropped by to check up on you. | don’t know if you've heard, but there was a fire at the funeral hlast night,” he said.

| invited him inside so he could get out of the rain and ushered him into the kitchen for scoffee.

“Yes, | know there was a fire at Chimes last night. | was there when it happened,” | replied, filling the reservoir of my coffee machine with water. After placing scoffee grounds in the filter, | turned my coffee maker on.

“I thought you weren't going to Cynthia McDowell's viewing,” he said, taking a seat in one of my kitchen stools and leaning his elbows on the kitchen island. “Tell me, what happened?” “Well, | changed my mind at the last minute, thinking it would be better if | did go... to show 1/6 CHARTER Pete during this very emotional tfor them. Chip and | were about. this explosion. Smoke suddenly started coming out from the viewing people were running and screaming. Liam told Chip to getout of there inside to look for his father. It was a frightening experience,” | said, narrating short version of last night. “Anyway, | received a message from him this morning. rently, he and his father are fine, although his father is currently in the hospital.” | gged in my toaster, then | asked him, “Do you know if there were any any casualties?” Yeah, several, according to reports. The police are still identifying the remains,” he answered. “After your, uhm, horrifying ordeal last night, | have sgood news for you. My team and | will be finishing up your boutique today instead of tomorrow. I, uh, I've been. hired to clean up the debris at the funeral hand see what can be salvaged. Once Linda Jacobs’ insurance pays up, she wantsto start construction.” “That's really nice to hear. Thank you, Noah,” | said gratefully, grinning at him. | actually waited for you to chyesterday to ask you if you wanted to cwithto Cynthia McDowell's visitation, but | guess you were busy,” | opened my refrigerator and took out a bag of bagels and sbananas.

“Aw, you should have called me. Seems like | missed a lot last night. | was over at the Hughes’ residence installing new flooring, slight fixtures and putting up up new shelves,” Noah explained.

Sure you did, Noah. Sarah Hughes and Nicole had that slook when they looked at Noah. They were in love with him..

| glanced at him from tto twhile | prepared a simple breakfast for the both us. | had. to make sure his hands were where | could see them. After finding bugs and cameras in inconspicuous places in my boutique, | didn’t want him doing the sin my house.

“Are you going to the funeral later this afternoon? Liam messagedit was postponed to this afternoon,” | mentioned while placing a cup of coffee in front of him, including scream and sugar.

“Ah, no,” he answered, shaking his head while he poured scream into his coffee. “I'll be at your boutique remember? Plus, there's stalk going around town that the McDowells are, uhm... cursed.” | stared at him with a bewildered expression on my face, but in reality, | was fighting the urge to laugh.

If you guys only knew....

2/6 CHAPTER 80 Enigma ursed? Why do the people think that?” | asked, placing a plate of bagels, a plate of sliced ananas, a jar of cre amy peanut butter and a block of cream cheese on the island counter. “Do people here still believe in witchcraft?” “Well, North Dakota has a rich Native American history and that includes certain beliefs about spirits and curses,” he explained while putting scream cheese on his warm bagel. He took a bite and moaned in satisfaction. “As a precaution, Virtue, | think it’s best if you stay away from Pete, just for the tbeing.” “Noah, | doubt if a curse caused the fire last night,” | said, putting speanut butter and slices of bananas on top of my bagel. “I was there. The air in that place was moldy, the lights were flickering and the hallway was so dark, | thought the boogeyman was going to jump out and grab me. That funeral hwas in dire need of repairs. | suspect the fire was caused by something that short circuited.” | took a bite of my bagel and savored its sweet taste.

“Well, they're still investigating,” Noah said, looking at me. “Are you considering going to the funeral?” “Of course. Pete needs our support,” | answered before chomping down on my bagel. | was hungry.

“Is Liam going with you?” He asked, finishing his bagel.

“Ah, no. His father’s in the hospital,” | said. “I'm going to call Chip and ask if we can go together.” “That's right. Theodore Cohen is in the hospital, Noah said, sipping his coffee. He sighed. and placed a hand on mine, squeezing it. “I know Liam's ssort of hero for saving Norma Martin from the fire, but he’s dangerous, Virtue. | don’t know if you've heard, but Liam Cohen has been in the middle of two, uhm, cases.” “Dangerous? Liam's dangerous? What do you mean, Noah?” | asked, pretending to be concerned for my safety. | finished my bagel and began licking my fingers. | saw Noah swallow hard as he watchedplace my fingers in my mouth.

Naughty... Naughty....

“We were in high school when he, Jack, Cris and Dan were accused of raping Joy Taylor, al friend of ours. S-she’s the girl | was talking about... my bestfriend. | don’t know what happened to her after. She and her family left New Salem in the middle of the night. | haven't heard from her ever since,” he said, practicing sself-restraint.

Good boy.

3/6 CHAPTER 80 Enigma “Accused? Did Joy Taylor ever file charges?” | asked.

“No, but her father wanted to. Unfortunately, no one would talk,” Noah said candidly.

“So, there weren't any witnesses to corroborate her story. | see,” | said. “Do you suspect a cover up? | heard Theodore Cohen was mayor before Liam.” “That's what the town suspects,” Noah admitted, “Poor Joy. She was raped and no one believed her. So how about the other case?” “I'm sorry?” “You said Liam was in the middle of two. The first, he’s an alleged rapist. How about the second?” “Ah... The Joan Summers rape-slay case. Her body was found in the middle of the lake last spring,” Noah said.

“Yeah, | recall Sheriff Combs talking about her. How does he figure in her case?” | asked, removing my hand from his grasp and picking up the used dishes and utensils, placing them.

in the sink.

“He was seen following her, stalking her before she went missing,” Noah answered.

“Noah, if Liam killed her, don’t you think he would dispose of her body properly where no on would find it?” | asked. “It just looks too obvious. Plus, if | remember correctly, they found the person who killed Joan Summers or was that a cover up too?” | read the coroner's file on Joan Summers. Liam said Joan was his friend who played chess with him at his office from tto time. Unfortunately, after Old Man Eugene found out about Joan's after school get-togethers with him, he began telling the townsfolk Cynthia McDowell and the Cohens were land grabbers. Liam stated he had no part in her abduction or rape, but he was ordered by Peter McDowell to get rid of her. Since he couldn't kill her himself, he instructed his men to do it for him and to bury her body. However, his men threw the body in the lake instead of burying her.

Noah leaned back on his stool with a sombre expression on his face.

“I know he’s your friend, but Virtue, you don’t know him like | do,” Noah said. | was playing the devil's advocate and it was working.

4/6 CHAPTER 80 Enigma “Uhm, isn’t he your friend too? I'm not defending him. I just want the facts. You were the one who said he was dangerous. Is there more to these cases... maybe certain details you may know?” | asked.

| watched him squirm uncomfortably in his seat He knew more than what he was letting on, but he was sworn to silence..

“I only hear what the townsfolk have to say,” he mumbled, finishing his coffee.

| just have one last question, Noah.

“You said you were bestfriends with one of his victims. Did you ever feel the need to avenge Joy Taylor? Because if she were my bestfriend, | would.” He looked outside through the windows before answering my question. | was surprised to see the regret in his eyes.

“No. Because she left, so | moved on,” he answered, glancing at his watch. “I best be going. Thanks for breakfast.” He stood up and quickly went to the door.

No balls Noah...

“My pleasure. Since you'll be busy, | hope you'll have tto drop by when | have my grand opening,” | said, following him.

“For you, | will,” he said, suddenly turning around to face me. He placed his arms on my shoulders and gazed down atwith his chocolate brown eyes. “Virtue, | care for you. | don’t want to see you get hurt. So please, avoid Pete... temporarily, until | say it’s okay, and when you need to be with Liam, make sure you aren't alone.” | nodded my head. “Okay.” “You promise?” He gazed atwith puppy dog eyes.

“I promise, after | go to the funeral.” He rolled his eyes at my answer.

“Fine. Just as long as you're with Chip,” he said, accepting my proposal. “I better get going. Take care, Virtue.” He quickly kissedon my cheek and left.

| waved goodbye as he walked through the rain underneath his umbrella.

Noah was an enigma. From what | remembered of him in high school, he was usually easy to read. Now, | couldn't read him at all.

5/6 TER Pama thing | was sure of, he was up to something.

glanced at Joy's shed as | walked away. The lens of the camera | had placed on the door had something blocking it. I've been meaning to cover and take a look at it, but Old Man Tucket was always watching. Plus, | had stuff to deal with it.

After climbing into my truck, | fixed my hair and checked if | had something in my teeth through my rearview mirror. | frowned as | gazed at my reflection, frustrated my boyish good looks weren't enough to charm Virtue.

She needed a respectable man with money, a nice house, a nice car... Someone she could be proud of.

| backed out of my driveway and drove out of the cul-de-sac, slowing down as | passed her house.

Soon Virtue.

Soon.

Chapter Comments Luna-Mom oh well karma what goes around comes around y VIEW T COMMENT: