Page 15 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Oh, be quiet. Youwere convincedhewas a serial killer atfirsttoo.” Griffin rubbed her back before returning his attention to the officers. “Okay, now for the big news,” he continued as she found her seat. “I’m sure you’ve all heard of the wildly popular TV show Aesop’s Files?” He paused as the crowd murmured their acknowledgment. “Well, our town has recently caught the eyes of the show’s location scouts. Upcoming episodestake placein a beautiful small town during winter, and they’ve decided Bajka is the perfect location. The filming permitsandcontracts havebeen signed, so I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be home to Aesop’s Files for the next monthor so.”

Bel clapped as the room exploded in excitement. She didn’t watch the famous show. Its plot was a campy version of her entirely too real life, so shealwayschanged the channel when an episode came on. But she was well aware of the chokehold the paranormal crime series—and its sex-on-legs lead actor—had on its viewers.

“Now, before everyone gets too excited, there’s a catch.” Griffin raised his hands to settle the chatter. “I don’t need to remind you how popular this show and its actors are, and while it’s unconventional, the production studio seems very keen to exploit that fact for as much financial gain as possible. Because Bajka is a smaller town, it’s easier to protect, so the studio has announced they’ll be hosting…what do they call those cons? Comic something? Whatever. They plan to host those style events during their month here.Signings, meet-and-greets, breakfasts, photo ops, Q&A panels, the works.It’s unusual, but they see Bajka as the perfect excuse to blend filming and fan interactions.

“I’m personally not thrilled with this arrangement. Obsessed fans gathered for an extendedperiodas the cast and crew shoot could spell chaos, but themayor has agreed to the proposal because it’ll be incredible for Bajka’s economy. Almost all the hotels and rentals havebeen booked, so it’ll be amazing for our businesses and a headache for us. Our town will double in size, so unlimited overtime has alreadybeen approved. I won’t lie. It’ll be a lot of work, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. How many police officers get to say they worked the Aesop’s Files protection detail?”

“Is the show bringing theirownsecurity?” Bel asked. “This scale seems beyond our station’s capabilities.”

“Yes. The actors have bodyguards and drivers, but due to the sheer number of fans expected to flood Bajka, their security isn’t enough,” Griffin answered. “Plus, police presence will help inspire order.Emerson and Gold, I realize you’re both detectives, butfor the conventions and fan events,it might be best if you wore uniforms.I want everyone to see we are present and serious. We don’t need any funny business while the show’s in our town.”

The officers murmured their agreement, an undercurrent of excitement thrumming through the bodies, but Bel wasn’t fooled by the promise of famous visitors.These actors would be a month-long headache, but at least there’d be overtime. She’d missed a lot of work on account of being declared dead, and her paychecks were looking thin.

“I’ll have more information and schedules for you over the next few days, but I wanted to warn you to enjoy your quiet evenings and spend time with your families because when the show gets to town, we’ll all stop sleeping for a month. On the bright side, you can bribe your loved ones into forgiving you by introducing them to their favorite actors.I know mywife is not so secretly excited about meeting Beau Draven.”

“I don’t think we want to bribe our girls with Beau Draven meet-and-greets,” a deputy laughed, and the surrounding men groaned in agreement.

“I guess this is a good time to be single,” Officer Rollo said. He was Bajka’s newest hire, a man whose attractiveness rivaled the show’s star, but the last Bel heard, he was well on his way to being taken by her friend Violet, but she’dbeen preoccupiedwith herownrelationship issues. Perhaps their spark had fizzled out.

“Well, you know what they say,” Griffin said. “Never meet your idols. Maybe Beau Draven isn’t as charming in real life ashe is on screen.”

“Yeah, right!” A deputy blurted as he wiped his laughter tears from his eyes. “We’re in trouble.”

“Alas, we probably are.” Griffin joined the joke. “But it’ll at least buy us some favor when we miss weeks of family dinners. And on that note, let’s get to work. Draven and Aesop’s Files will take up enough of our time. Let’s not let it ruin today.”

The room surged with conversation as the officers dispersed, and Bel bolted from her chair, eyes scanning the bodies for her partner. She hadn’t seen Olivia since the hospital, but her friend had barely stayed at her bedside long enough to confirm proof of life.She hadn’t answered any of Bel’s texts, either, not that Bel had sent many.The days with her father had been consumed by Eamon’s absence, and the days after Christmas hadbeen filledwith difficult conversations and rekindled intimacy…in everyroom of the mansion.She’d had little time to consider Olivia’s distance. She assumed it was due to the holidays, but now she wasn’t so sure that’s why her texts remained unanswered.

Spotting blonde hair, Bel pushed through the gathered bodies, but by the time she reached Olivia’s location, her partner had fled the briefing room, her legs carrying her swiftly toward her desk.

“Hey!” Bel breathed a sigh of relief when she caught up, but as she leaned in for a hug, Olivia blocked her movements by yanking her coat off her chair.

“Hi.”One word.Bel had returned from the dead, and all Olivia had was one word.

“Was your holiday nice?” Bel stepped back, at a loss for what to do with her outstretched arms.

“It was.” Two words. This time, Olivia only had two words.

“Did you spend it with your family?”

“I did.”

“Sounds fun.” Everything inside Bel’s chest ached. Olivia and Violet Lennon were hergreatestfriends in this town, and while she understood that her presumed death had wreaked havoc on those who loved her, she couldn’t fathom why her partner was using her coat like a shield. “I’m dying for a latte,” she continued, desperate for a way to connect. “Want to stop by The Espresso Shot before we settle in?”

“Sorry…” Olivia paused as if trying to come up with an excuse. “I have stuff to take care of. Yougoget a coffee. David will be happy to see you.”

And with that, she left an aching and confused Bel in her wake.

“Guess what?”Bel called as she unlocked Eamon’s front door and kicked off her shoes. The sound of thudding feet answered her greeting, and within seconds, Cerberus was barreling recklessly down the grand staircase.

“Hiya, Baby Beast.” She caught him as he leaped off the steps and pulled his squirming body into a hug.

“What?”Eamon shouted from upstairs, and Bel climbed toward his voice, seventypounds of excitementgivingher a burning thigh workout by the time she reached the upper level.

“Where?” she called as she approached the yet-to-be-renovated hallways. Unlikehim, her hearing couldn’t pinpointhis exact location, and she rarely ventured into this section of the mansion. It had come a long way since the night she’d broken in, but the fear the darkness inspired when she thought Eamon would kill her all those months ago kept her far from these damaged rooms… and that her foot might fall through the floorboards.Eamon had focused his renovations on the main living areasfirst, so the half they lived in was so stylish and expensive that she often forgot that most of the Reale Estate was still crumbling.

“Here!” he shouted, and Bel put Cerberus down. He took off running, and she followed him until she found the shirtless and grimy Eamon ripping up damaged floorboards.

“Wow. Looks awful.” She smiled athowhis muscles rippled below his skin with his every movement, and she marveled at how the perfectly smooth and powerful back hunched beforeherhad once been blownto pieces.

---