All Chapters of The Saddle Creek Series: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

After reading it three or four times, she still had no idea what the hell Aunt Sally was talking about, let alone what she'd done illegally. Ronnie put the letter in the waistband of her pants for her eyes only to read at another time. She could at least given me the user ID and password to the bank account. That would have been a bigger help right now than the stupid letter I found by accident. What clandestine activity or crimes could she have committed? And where is the cell she mentioned?A remaining stack of unopened mail sat to her right on the desk. May as well get started on that while I try and figure out what the letter really said, she thought. She turned the stack of envelopes over and ran a letter opener across each one then turned the pile back over. The first few she opened were bills; she put them aside to pay; some advertising media, a thank you from a recent visitor, and a letter from the attorney in Miami. What? She checked the return address twice. Yes, the same a

Marie soon joined her. "Saying goodbye is always the hardest," Marie said. Janelle seems very nice and Carter is enamored with her. I want what's best for them both.""Yes, they seem like a very nice couple."Marie chuckled. "I'm going to see what's on TV. There're a couple of shows I like that I think are on tonight. Want to join me? It's only for an hour or so. Might take your mind off whatever is troubling you."Ronnie, not ready to be alone in her room to ponder her aunt's possibly illegal actions, nodded. "Sure. I'll take you up on that. Actually, I don't have much time for TV, so this will be a treat.""Oh, and by the way, when's your day off?" Ronnie asked."I don't need a specific day off. I live here and take care of this place. This is my life, and I love it. I take naps when I want to or need to, I get groceries, I shop. I have everything I need.""Do you have a special man? Do you date?" Ronnie asked.Marie's eyes about popped out of her head. "No, no, no. I d

Mitch drove to the jail while the driver in th5 back seat pleaded for leniency the entire ride. Mitch parked, pulled the babbling prisoner out of the car, and dragged him inside. Ronnie followed close behind.A few hours later, they headed out for a bite to eat and then made a couple of welfare checks. They stopped to give a push to a car stuck on the ice.Back at the office, Mitch listened to non-emergency phone messages and checked his emails. The roads were treacherous and fender benders abundant.On the drive home, Mitch evaluated the first day on the job with his new deputy and first female. He liked how she took control and handled herself, unafraid to get in the suspect's face, if necessary. The day had been cold and gloomy, with light snow on and off. But somehow, Mitch hadn't felt the chill in the air, or the usual aggravation."It was a great first day, wasn't it, Sheriff?" Ronnie asked, looking him directly in the eye."Yes, the first of many yet to come, I'm sure.

Mitch leaned forward in his chair and saw Ronnie leave in her own car. He had a suspicious mind and didn't like the fact that she was out driving around, going wherever she wanted to go. He liked it better when he drove her to and from work in the police car. She was hiding something, he knew it, and he had to find out what it was, make sure she wasn't in any kind of trouble. So much like her aunt Sally.He snatched his hat from his desk and his coat from the hook by the door and headed out. Ronnie would not be alone "running errands" tonight. She'd have company following right behind her.****Ronnie shivered in the cold car, the heat turned up as far as possible. The slippery back roads slowed her speed as she followed the directions from her GPS to the address she'd found for Parker Cavendish. Rounding a sharp turn in the road, she saw a house on the right side at the top of a hill stuck out like a lighthouse. She slowed, drifting forward. The deep-rutted dirt road looked too

Sirens wailed in the distance, and Ronnie sighed in relief. Dot needed care right away.EMS arrived and hurried to Dot's side. They checked her vitals, cleaned the cut on her cheek, and bandaged her head. Dot groaned as they lifted her onto the gurney but then lapsed back into unconsciousness. They pushed her out and into the ambulance and headed for the hospital.Ronnie retrieved her spool of yellow crime scene tape and began threading it around the diner, using poles and trees in between until the building was completely off-limits."I sure hope we'll be able to talk to Dottie soon. Otherwise, we have nothing to go on, here," Ronnie said once they were back inside in the office. She inspected the bookshelf. "We're going to need a warrant to do any further investigation of the records."Mitch pulled out his cell and called someone. "We can pick it up in an hour. I'll have Adam get it from Judge Matthews and bring it here.""We need to put a closed sign out. Also, we need to