Lich, Montana

  Needlemeyer Hotel, Bed and Breakfast

  Dave exits his room and uses the old-fashioned key to lock the door. He stretches noisily, getting the kinks out of his back. It's been quite a few years since he's slept on a mattress that uncomfortable. That sorry excuse for a bed must be what passes for fine living in Dustbowl, Montana.

  Detective Mackey peeks his head out of the room next door. He whistles loudly and offers Dave an enthusiastic thumbs up.

  "Looking good, Dave," Mackey says.

  The detective studies Newsome from head to toe, admiring the deputy's black cashmere suit and shiny black patent leather shoes. Dave has also taken care to dye his hair, mustache and eyebrows. Leaving only a small section of gray hair near his temples. James supposes the remaining grays are meant to make the deputy look more distinguished. Or perhaps to remind Mackey, and others, of his age and seniority.

  "Who would have guessed you clean up so nicely, Dave?" Mackey says.

  Adjusting his bowtie, Dave fully turns to thank Detective Mackey and receives a shock. Mackey's suit is very similar to his own. And the detective now sports a fake black mustache. Dave's face crinkles and he places a hand on his wide hip.

  "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, Mackey? What's with the damn mustache? And where did you get that suit? You been stalking me again? Watching me?" Dave hollers.

  Detective Mackey fully exits his hotel room and locks the door. Down the hall, a woman with bright red hair opens her room door and glances in the two dapper men's direction. Liking what she sees, she smiles and offers James and Dave a tiny wave. James nods politely and Dave returns the woman's kind smile with a chin cant. The woman pulls her head back into the room without uttering a single word. Once the door shuts, Dave rounds on Detective Mackey again.

  "What's with the getup, James? You look ridiculous!"

  "I look ridiculous? We look almost identical!" Mackey responds.

  "I know!" Dave hisses. "That's why you look so ridiculous! Why? Is something wrong with you, Mackey? Everything you do is so over the top! It's not natural!"

  "We're in the wild west, Dave. A lot of people dress like this all the time. And besides, it's supposed to be a night of music, games, and dancing. Why not go a little over the top? Whoever said that work and play don't mix...Never met me. Remember what I said about honey, Dave? That's what tonight is. We're not just here to party. But almost no one here knows that. With this getup...As you call it...Who's gonna take me seriously? But tonight's fact-finding mission is as serious as a heart attack."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Okay. I hear ya," Dave says, appraising Mackey. "But take off the damn mustache. You look like a rat crawled on your face and died there."

  "Oh, Dave. Why doth thou insult thyself?" Mackey sighs, strolling away from Dave and toward the hotel exit.

  "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Dave roars, staring at James' retreating back.

  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  Later...

  Parker-Grant Gymnasium and Sports Arena

  Detective Mackey and Deputy Newsome arrive at the main entrance to the gymnasium with more than twenty minutes to spare. Dave studies the layout with less than marked enthusiasm. The gym's bleachers have been folded up like an accordion and pushed against the walls. Golden streamers hang from the ceiling and are draped across the entire room.

  Somehow, Dave gets the feeling that they are severely overdressed for the occasion. Despite the fancy trimmings, this place is nothing more than a dust bowl. A beautifully decorated dust bowl, but a dust bowl all the same. Dave can already feel the dust and dirt trying to invade the sanctity of his underwear. He shakes his head wearily at the thought. What kind of person purposely moves to a place like Lich, Montana? A serial killer maybe.

  A tall woman wearing a beige dress, which is entirely too tight, ambles uncomfortably toward the double doors. She extends a white-gloved hand to Dave and Detective Mackey in turn. The woman's voice is low in pitch and deeply accented, reminding Dave of Ms. Kitty from Gunsmoke.

  "Howdy, gentlemen," the woman says with a wide grin. "You must be Deputy Newsome and Detective Mackey? Detective Bennett said you'd be coming by."

  Dave smiles warmly at the slightly younger woman, enjoying the abashed look on Detective Mackey's face. How dare someone greet him first! Well, it's about damn time.

  "If you're looking for Ms. Northrop...You can find her in the main dining hall," the woman continues. "That's where we'll be hosting the dinner. The gym is where we will all congregate at the end."

  Dave's face immediately straightens and he gives the woman in beige a stern look. He tilts his head to one side as if he is severely hard of hearing.

  "Excuse me? Did you say Miss Northrop?" Dave inquires, eyes wide from his growing unease. "Are you sure you don't mean, Mr. Northrop? As in Sheriff Jeffrey Northrop? I had no idea he was coming down...I mean, up here."

  Detective Mackey pats Dave gently on the right shoulder. The detective is now grinning from ear to ear.

  "Nope. She means...Miss," James says. "You didn't think you were my plus one, did you?"

  "Well, no. But why Hazel?" Dave stammers. "You know she and I are--"

  "Because she's the daughter of a fine upstanding sheriff. She understands the need for discretion and diplomacy. And besides, she's cute as hell!"

  The woman in beige laughs at James' statement, startling the two law officers and reminding them that she is still there.

  "She is a cute one," the woman chuckles loudly. "You should have seen all the boys when Hazel first arrived. And I do mean all of the boys. Old, young, it didn't matter. Haha. Even little Timothy Rand was following her around like a puppy for a bit. Probably trying to look up that skirt of hers. Sheriff Taylor had to escort the poor little fella back to his mother. It was so funny."

  Dave's face darkens and he glances around the room. The main dining hall, the woman had said?

  "Well, I won't hold you two up any longer," the woman in beige says between another loud chuckle. "Main dining hall is through the door on the right. Straight down the hallway...You can't miss it. Follow the laughter."

  The woman in beige strolls past Dave and James, a sly grin plastered on her face. Mackey glances over one shoulder.

  "She's kind of cute too!"

  "Shut up, James!" Dave growls under his breath. "The main hall is that way, you ass. Why did I ever agree to come to this godforsaken dust bowl?"

  is a black-tie party, I was happy with the classical cop mystery feel this picture gave off. It's closer to my original concept from almost twenty years ago.}