Powdered Murder

"I've seen it," Lila accused him. "I've seen the book!"

"Do you have any idea what I've given up because of you?" Franco finally broke down. Lila attempted to wipe her face, but settled for accepting Patrick's comforting embrace. "I have no social life. No hobbies. Family and friends I haven't seen in years. And I work non-stop for you. All so you can remind me on a daily basis what an incompetent assistant I am?"

"Calm down, Sir." Murray waved a hand, but the gesture only made Franco more upset.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" Franco shouted. "Writing a book isn't a crime. You can't arrest me for that."

"But I can bring you in as a murder suspect." The sheriff stepped forward, making his intentions known. He flashed his handcuffs in front of Franco. "I think you better come with me before you do something else you might regret."

"I may be guilty of a lot of things, but I would never hurt poor Do

"You had no problem spying on her though," I accused him. "And texting her to meet you at the spa early."

"Or trying to kill Essie for figuring out your little secret," Murray added. He winked at me, taking my advice to stand up for himself to heart.

"I didn't do it," Franco firmly stated. "I will never admit to anything, because there's nothing for me to admit to."

"So you didn't place that cupcake order using the name C. Darnay?" I asked. Franco's eyes widened when I mentioned his fake code name. He kept his mouth shut and instead turned his head as if the lot of us disgusted him.

The sheriff reached for his arm, but Franco went from being completely still to flailing his limbs all over the place in a matter of seconds. He looked like a deranged octopus as he fell to the floor and kicked his legs to avoid being handcuffed. For the first time in probably years, Sheriff Williams had no choice but to use full force. He squatted to the floor and gripped Franco's arms like they were his infant children. His grasp was so tight and so strong that all of us were amazed at the strength harbored inside the old man. The sheriff pulled Franco to his feet like he was a weightless piece of notebook paper.

Franco turned his head away from us, avoiding eye contact with his accusers. Lila sniffled and pulled herself out of Patrick's arms. She took a good look at Franco and briskly slapped him across the face. Bebe let out a yelp and Murray covered his mouth to keep himself from laughing out loud.

"You did do it, didn't you?" Lila looked nervously at Patrick. "You broke my heart when you signed that book deal, when you told me you thought Patrick and Do

Franco looked her in the eyes and kept a straight face. The sheriff and Murray pulled him towards the elevators, and this time he followed them willingly.

Lila sobbed into Patrick's arms. Her hysterical crying made us all keep our mouths shut. I knew I wasn't the only person wondering now if the wedding was still on.

"Please," Lila pleaded. She pushed Patrick away and ran towards the elevator. It opened and the sheriff, Murray, and Franco stepped inside. "Just tell me why. Why did you kill her?"

Franco looked at her directly without so much as a sorrowful expression. In fact, it seemed as though he was frustrated. He cleared his throat and continued watching Lila as the elevator doors closed. He said nothing in response to her accusation and his silence drove Lila mad.

The elevator doors closed and Lila dropped to her knees, wailing. I was stu

"Do

"I know," Lila answered.

"Do

"About what?" Lila whispered.

"About … the wedding," he admitted. Patrick looked back at me, Bebe, and Joy. "Do

A wave of relief passed over me as his motives with Do

"What?" Lila commented. "Why would she think that?"

"I…" Patrick shrugged rather than go into details. "That's not important. What's important is what we do now."

Lila slowly stood up, and faced us all with puffy eyes and perfect hair that contrasted with the makeup smeared all over her face. She hung her head for a minute like she was clearing her thoughts.

"I know this weekend has been crazy," she stated. "But, Patrick, I still love you. I still want to marry you … if you still want to marry me?"

This was Patrick's last chance to tell Lila how he really felt. It was his last chance to hang on to what the two of us had and make us his future instead. It was the final moment where he had to choose, once and for all, Lila over a normal life amongst the townfolk of Bison Creek. To choose the fame of L.A. or the simplicity of living in a snowy mountain town.

Patrick didn't look at me which told me everything I needed to know. He'd chosen Lila, and I didn’t blame him. He wanted to do all he could to make his mother happy before she passed away. He was doing what he thought was best for the fragile women in his life – his mother and Lila.

"I do," Patrick said quietly.

Lila's frown turned to a hopeful smile. She took Patrick by the arm and nodded.

"Not even a psycho killer can keep us apart," she commented. "Finish getting ready, girls. I'm getting married."

CHAPTER TWENTY

My stomach rumbled from skipping breakfast and I didn't have enough of an appetite to run and grab something from Aggie's kitchen. Even though Franco was safely locked away at the sheriff’s office, I still felt uneasy. I was relieved I no longer had to look over my shoulder every five minutes or make sure I didn't linger underneath railings or high hotel windows for very long. I had cleared the Pinecliffe Mountain Resort's name before the big ceremony, but I wasn't as elated about it as I should have been.

The upstairs hall was decorated and ready for the wedding. I heard Patrick's parents talking to Pastor Tad down the hall. My parents had shown up again along with Mayor Millbreck and a couple of Patrick's neighbors. Bebe and I were waiting down the hall in a guest room that had been designated as a bridesmaids’ changing area. Lila had her own suite – a makeshift bridal room with a spectacular view and a private balcony leading to the slopes.

Patrick and I didn't have a chance to talk after Franco was taken away. There wasn't much time left until the ceremony was scheduled to begin and Lila had decided she wanted Patrick by her side the rest of the morning in case anything else happened. Joy was making her usual rounds consisting of repositioning floral arrangements, taste-testing Aggie's brunch menu, and keeping Eli and the press in line. None of the photographers had escaped up the stairway so far, and I had no idea if Lila and Patrick decided to accept the lucrative photo-op offer from Starstruck Magazine.

There was a light knock on the door and Bebe jumped up to answer it. The two of us had been sitting in silence listening to the clamoring of the staff as they scrambled to set tables for small reception after the ceremony. It was comical to listen to Eli asking over and over again how to efficiently polish silver. Eventually one of his co-workers took over for him. Bebe and I were so invested in listening we'd barely touched our morning muffin basket and fresh brewed coffee. I thought about breaking my no-caffeine goal and downing a cup as soon as my eyes passed over the steaming pot waiting on the coffee table.