Epilogue

We were sitting at my dining table, going over the blueprints for Ruthie's new bookstore and apartment. The "we" in question were Ruthie, Penny Sue, me, Kevin, and Rich. Although the DAFFODILS reunion began on a down note, it turned out okay. Kevin was chosen for the History Department Chair of Deland University, and was staying with Ruthie in my master suite until her apartment was finished. I'd moved into one of my guestrooms, which was all I needed. Penny Sue and Rich were staying next door. Alice had gone home. (Praise the Lord!) Guthrie still dropped in from time to time, lonely without his partner, Timothy.

At nine a.m. the phone rang. It was Woody. "We finally have the fingerprint results," Woody said. "The prints on both the nicotine patch and strip container match O'Brien. He killed Abby and tried to implicate Kevin by slipping the container in the box when I gave it to Penny Sue. That was a stroke of luck. He'd planned to put the container in another box, but when I gave Abby's materials to Penny Sue, it provided the perfect opportunity. Stupidity on my part."

Woody was growing up. At least he acknowledged a mistake.

"After intensive interrogation, O'Brien admitted that Willows was hired to trump up a reason for the government to sell part of the Canaveral Seashore Park. Willows was regarded as one of their most convincing experts because of his book on Central Florida. When Abby came forward threatening Willows' credentials, O'Brien told him to take care of Abby, or he would do it himself. Millions were at stake! Willows knew Abby was trying to quit smoking and told O'Brien that a second patch would kill her, but Willows couldn't bring himself to do it. So, O'Brien arranged to meet Willows in the library parking lot before the debate, and he slapped the patch on Abby's arm as they struggled through the crowd at the front door."

"Heavens! Does Willows get off scot-free?"

"Hardly," Woody replied. "He's being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, as well as your burglaries."

"Does this clear up all of the beachfront break-ins?" I asked.

"No, but we're making real progress with some of the new information."

"Does that mean we don't have to hold our breath each time there's a knock on the front door?" I quipped.

I could almost see Woody smile. "Maybe, for a while."