Page 96 of Dead & Breakfast
“How did you know where to find me?” Arthur asked finally.
“Nora texted me that Brody might wake up after all. I realized if whoever attacked him was still at large, they might come back to finish the job.”
“You have impeccable timing.” Arthur tried not to think of Trip Young kneeling over him, inching that stake toward his chest. He’d come very close to a second and more final death tonight.
“I would’ve been here a lot sooner, but I was waylaid by no fewer than three Coexist bumper stickers in the parking lot. I basically had to crawl past them.”
“That explains the pine needles.” Arthur laughed and plucked a few stray twigs from Sal’s hair. “I’m sorry about what I said at the falls. You’re not a coward. You saved me. Thank you, sincerely.”
“Please, you think I’d dare miss anything as dramatic as this? Stopping a murderer in the act has got to make the top ten of my most daring adventures over the years.”
“Top ten, huh?”
“It would be higher, but I daresay this was reallyyouradventure, not mine. You’re quite the detective, as it turns out. You could start a business!”
“We already have a business, Sal.” Arthur felt abashed, suddenly. “Besides, it’s not as if solving the murder of a dead man in our back garden makes me an expert. And you can’t just declare yourself a private detective. You have to get a license.”
“Well, you’ve made an awfully impressive start.”
“This doesn’t change anything!” Trip shouted from the hall. “The people of this town—of this country—won’t stand for you deviants living out in the open—”
“Oh, shut up!” Sal banged his fist on the wall.
The sound had the desired effect of quieting Trip, but it also seemed to startle their slumbering companion into consciousness.
“What’s going on?” McMartin sat up quickly, raising his hand to his head in a combination of confusion and pain. Then he spotted Arthur and Sal above him. “You two. You’re both under arrest!”
Before Arthur could stop him, Salvatore punched McMartin square in the nose, dropping him again.
“Sal, that’s really bad for people, why did you do that? We need to tell him what happened!”
“Well, his negative energy is terrible for a healing environment like this,” Salvatore said, lifting his chin. “Also, he’s had that coming for days now.”
“Where am I?” came a soft, cracked voice from the bed. Brody Young was awake.
They both rushed to either side of the bed. Even Rumble hopped up to check on the patient, sticking her nose directly in Brody’s ear and pawing at his face before circling twice and settling down in his lap, a protective little loaf.
“You’re in the Trident Falls Hospital,” Arthur said. “You’re safe.”
Brody stared at them for a moment, then nodded and closed his eyes. “You got my dad?”
Arthur nodded. “He’s the one shouting out in the hallway.”
“Handcuffed,” Salvatore added.
“Good.” Brody’s eyes fluttered. “I wanna see that for myself.”
“We’ll do you one better,” Sal said. “When you’re up and about, you can see him behind bars.”
Brody smiled, then closed his eyes and returned to slumber.
Arthur and Salvatore watched him for a moment as flashing lights approached outside. About time. This particular adventure was coming to a close, and Arthur couldn’t say he wasn’t glad for it. Being suspected of murder twice over was quite enough excitement to last him a century or two. Of course, with Sal as his husband, he’d be lucky to get a reprieve longer than two months. Still, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
As shouts and the thunderous sound of boots on stairs filled the air, Arthur reached for Salvatore’s hand, and Sal reached back.
Chapter 26
A week later,the Iris Inn was no more.
