Chapter 21
It had taken weeks before Madison was strong enough to leave the hospital, but that gave her time to go over all the details of Winter’s story on the missing women. By the time Madison was ready to leave the hospital, the entire story had made the front page of the Orlando Sentinel. With the help of Madison and Josh, Winter presented an award-winning article.
Madison was gaining strength each day and finally came home from the hospital. Josh opened the door of her once command center for the investigation. She stood looking at the board and all the hard work she and Josh had done to find and catch the killer of these innocent women. Tears streamed down her cheeks for the first time since Josh had met Madison. She quickly tried to cover it. “I guess the dust in this place is getting to me.”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“She turned toward him, reached up and held his shoulders. “Josh, I could not have done this without you.”
“I know. We do make a good team, don’t we.”
She turned away without replying to him and walked over to the board. She stood a moment and then started carefully taking down the photos and erasing the board. She placed all the evidence they had gathered into the box sitting on the table. “I think this belongs to the Maitland Police Department.”
Josh got a strange feeling she wasn’t telling him everything. “Maddy, what’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?” He sat down at the table and looked up at her.
“You know why I took this assignment, right?”
“You were helping out your sister.”
She couldn’t face him and remained packing the box. “Yes, and she is well now, and the investigation is over. It’s time for me to return to the FBI.”
Josh stood up, walked over to her and put his arms around her. “I guess I was hoping you would stay. But I understand, and I won’t make this any harder on you. It is your life, and I get it.”
“Thank you. I’m going to pack all this up and visit my sister until after her big party. I hope you’ll come. I need you to be with me for that.”
“I’ll be there. Just let me know when. Do you want me to help you pack up?”
“No. Jessie is coming by to close the place down and help, but thank you. And besides, it would only make it harder for both of us.”
She kissed him and hugged him, and then watched him walk out the door one last time. He backed out of the parking lot like she’d seen him do a hundred times. He was the only man that understood her, and she let him leave.
Jessie arrived with empty boxes. “I doubt I’m going to need all those boxes, Jess. Remember I came here with only the things that would fit on the plane, and I don’t want to haul back more than that.”
They filled Madison’s car to the brim, and she and Jessie made one last look around. “You know Jess, I’m going to miss this old place, but I’ll be glad to get back to a bathtub,” she said, laughing. “I can’t thank you enough for letting me stay here.”
“We’re going to miss you around here. I know Winter is excited you’ll be staying with her some before you head back.”
“I’m looking forward to it. To tell you the truth, Jess, I’m going to miss being here too. One of the reasons I agreed to take this assignment, other than helping Win, was I was thinking of leaving the agency. Now I’m not sure what I want to do.”
Winter and Cole had finally finished with all the remolding and renovations on the old Dupree’ home in Cassadaga. They were ready to present the place to the town as it was in its former glory, as promised. They couldn’t wait to throw a gala that would rock the town; one that would honor the sisters who so bravely protected the treasures of the Jews from the Nazis during WWII, and how Clair Dupree’ lost her life saving them.
Winter lavishly decorated the entire house. Cole hired a band to play the old songs of the forties. It seemed the whole town, and then some, were there. Madison was happy to see Jim Tucker and Jessie again and the many friends Winter had made since moving to Cassadaga. Almost everyone there was dressed in the 40s era. As Madison was mingling among Winter’s guests, she caught sight of Josh coming through the massive front doors. He looked around like he had stepped through a portal in time. “Josh,” he heard, from the distance.
His face lit up with a huge smile. Not only someone he knew, but it was Madison.
She threw her arms around him and planted a big kiss on him. “I’m so glad to see you. I thought you might not come.”
“And miss all this?”
The night was a success, and one by one the crowd dwindled until the only ones left were Winter and Cole, Jim and Jessie, and Madison and Josh. Winter invited them all out on the covered porch for one last drink.
Everyone was enjoying the evening when Jim got a call. He excused himself, and when he returned, he stood there looking at them sipping their wine. “Well, something has come up, and I’m in desperate need of a top-notch investigator. Any takers?”
The End
For now…
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Coming June 12, 2017
The Woman Behind The Glass Wall
More to come in 2107
Silent Secrets, Cry Murder (Another Madison Hart Mystery)
Invisible Jane Doe
More Madison Hart Mysteries
Beneath Secrets
The Dark Side of Secrets
Behind Secrets, Murder in Maitland
Veil of Secrets, Murder Unearthed
In the Shadow of Secrets, Murder Hides
Other Books by DB Jones
Mystery: Seasons of Passion Mystery Series
Summer Heat
Nights of Autumn
Storms of Winter
Young Adult Fantasy: The Willow Trilogy
Willow of Endless Waters
Willow and Rise of The Serpent
Willow and The Gift
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About the Author
DB Jones is a best-selling author of Mystery and Crime Drama, including the Madison Hart Mystery Series and the Seasons of Passion Mysteries. She also writes YA/Fantasy, which includes The Willow Trilogy.
Before writing, DB along with her husband composed melodic flute music for over thirty years. She began writing at the age of 68 after her husband passed away. DB lives in the hills of Virginia where she overlooks the BlueRidge Mountains as she hammers away at her keyboard bringing her characters to life.
DB writes in two genres, Young Adult/Fantasy and Mystery/Crime Drama with an occasional twist of the paranormal spun through some of her books.
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