He watched her close the door and then he scratched his head and looked back over his notes of the boat. They had found it drifting out in the middle of the river. It seemed someone had cut the ropes that kept it tied to the dock. They had just drifted out not sensing they were moving. Obviously because they were too drunk from the signs of all the bottles laying around.

There it was what he was looking for, lime peelings on the floor and in the sink. Must have been another lie of Mathews he obviously liked limes, better than he let on. Why else would they be all around. He and Red both were found in the bunk. At first he thought they were just passed out. Until the coroner said they had died about one a.m. All looked well it just didn't add up right. He grabbed his coat and headed out the office and over to the morgue.

He had a few more questions for Eddie, he should be throught with his exam by now. Eddie was just finishing his lunch and Gary asked the same old question he always did at a time like this. "Geez Eddie how can you sit there and eat with all this?" Eddie's answer was the same.

"They don't want any of it. Scenery ain't much but at least it's quiet. What can I do you for? Looking for more unanswered questions are you?"

"Got anymore answers for me on the Mathews case?"

"Not much. Looks like the guy had a heart attack to me."

"Too young ain't he?"

"Nah, see it all the time!" Then he laughed and said "Maybe Red was too much for either of them. She's been known to give a few a hard time."

"Not many ever die from sex Eddie look further."

"Maybe Mathews had a weak heart and the excitment of what he was up to, taking poor Cara for all she had got to him, along with Red's excitment."

"She ain't that good to kill a man after riding him."

"That come from experience does it?" Gary shook his head and said. "What killed her then?"

"Red's body has been worn out long ago. Liver's ate up from liquor. She is older than him, but she looked like she was scared by something."

He explained while Gary looked at his notes. "Pupils dialated eyes stretched in wonder. Just like she saw the devil himself. Mathews on the other hand looks pleased like a man releived, somewhat like maybe explained from orgasm, pleasure of getting the last laugh on Cara maybe. No murder here."

Gary thought he would never get over seeing dead people it always gave him a chill. He was staring at Mathew hoping there was answers somewhere. "God Gary he ain't going to set up and tell you what happened, Hehe, I'd bet you'd wet yourself if he did."

"So would you, shut up will you. You know this place always gives me the creeps."

Staring at the face of the corpse he said. "He must have been eating something right?"

"I don't know why, hell I didn't look in the guys mouth."

"Well you are now, open it up there's something in there." With some forceps Eddie opened up Scott Mathews mouth so he could insert the forceps in and both men turned their heads from the strong stench and coughed. Then Eddie pulled out something green and slimy.

"Jesus! The guy croaked on a lime slice." There was a strong scent of lime in the room even though the slice Eddie threw in the trash was partly rotting. Gary soon left the Morgue with a lot of questions still rambling in his head. There was a chill to the wind and a storm was brewing in the south. He knew he wouldn't rest until he could prove Cara didn't murder Mathews. Better still he couldn't rest until he knew who did.

Driving back toward the office still not understanding why there would be limes all around the galley of the boat and inside Mathews mouth if he hated them. Well Red of course must have had them. It was probably some sick game of hers to entice him into putting it in his mouth. he stopped at the bar and questioned some of the other girls there and the bartender Tom,he knew well. Still confused when everyone assured him Linda Carr never used limes in anything, she did use lemons though. There was a big difference in lemons and limes even when they were rotting.

Gary headed over to the Antique store hoping maybe he would catch Cara there. But the place was locked up, he searched the door jamb for the key he knew would be there. It had been kept there ever since he was a kid. He unlocked the door and let himself in, and turned on the light.

The place still amazed him after all these years. He use to love coming here and listening to Old man Wilson talk about the good ole days as he called them. He and Cara would sit for hours listening to his tales as they watched the customers come and go. It had been more like a home than a store then. They sold all kinds of variety then, only when the old man died did they get rid of the general merchandise. The old sign still hung above the counter. Wilsons New and Old Antiques. A Price that can't be beat.

He still loved the scent that filled this old store. It was the smell of oak wood. He ran his hand across the desk he had admired for awhile now, he guessed he would never get it now. The place would be closed up and boarded if Cara went to jail. He had hoped to had saved enough money for it by their anniversary next month, to buy it.

He rubbed his nose and remembered the other smell that was mixed with the wood smell. It had been here ever since he could remember, Lime. He looked at the old rocking chair where he and Cara sat at the foor of Old man Wilsons feet as Sarah served him lemonaide with fresh lime slices, just like they both loved. Gary and Cara never could drink it, she always made them a pitcher without the limes.

Even as long as she had been gone, the smell was still strong, just as if she had sliced some fresh ones. Looking around the room not even knowing what he was here for he spotted a few unopened boxes behind the counter. Thinking it was probably a new shipment that came in and Cara just hadn't gotten around to opening them.

Something drew him to them anyway, one box was addressed to the store itself. The other to Cara personally. He picked it up and shook it. Nothing rattled, it sure was light. Wondering what it held, probably a wedding gift maybe or clothes for her honeymoon. Before setting it down, he had a second thought. He sniffed the air and then the box, it had a strange strong smell. Almost like, that's it he thought, Limes.

Thinking well he was holding an investigation, so he really had the right, he took his knife and opened the top of the box. The scent was really strong inside the box, it nearly took his breath away. Moving some paper packing aside, the contents took his breath for sure.

Dumping out the box on the counter he searched through the contents among the packing. There were two plane tickets for Hawaii. The deed to the house on Hickory Hill, and the store. Inside a manilla envelope he dumped out stacks of cash. Flipping through it he thought it must be nearly fifty thousand here, in cold hard cash. As he flipped the bills he scratched his nose as the scent of limes was so strong.

He boxed the contents back up with the thoughts that Cara was definatly a suspect now. She was smarter than he had given her credit for. She had actually managed to get the tickets and money back and package them up to herself. he still wasn't satisfied, it just wasn't like her, he had known her too long.

Going into the office the scent was much stronger there. He ruffled through old invoices on the desk and found a book of charges. Half the people in town owed money to the store, for many years now, they were long overdue bills. But that was just like Sarah Wilson, not to worry about what people owed her or what she owed. Everyone in town knew she would get around to paying her bills, sooner or later, evne so she still made an honest living.

In the top drawer of the desk he found the usual desk accesories. Pens stapler paperclips and rubberbands and receipts. Another drawer held some paid bills and some unpaid ones. Under them was a hard covered book. Curtiosity made him pick it up. He read the title, From the Beyond. It was an old heavilly read book. he wasn't familar with the title or the author.

Inside the front page was a handwritten note, scribled in a weak handwriting he read. My darling Cara Lynn. You will always be a part of me wherever you go in life. I taught you well, and you were like my own daughter, your mother who left you to me. wherever you go, whatever you do remember I loved you, and remember and you can not unscramble your eggs. Grams

Gary ran his finger over the words and he felt a breeze, or a touch of some kind, almost like a pat on the shoulder. He held up his finger, scratching his head with the other hand he was staring at the wet smeared ink on the page and the ink on his finger. "Well I be dam." he said to himself. Lightning flashed and lit up the store, a breeze came out of nowhere. A fresh breeze like fresh rain, he sniffed the air and shook his head. The air was fresh he didn't smell any scent of limes.

Gary tucked the old book under his arm and walked back out into the shop. He was ready to go home and kiss his kids goodnight as they slept. He knew Cara wouldn't mind if he borrowed the book, he would return it later, when he could give Cara some answers.

Something caught his eye as he was about to leave the store. It was something he had possibly overlooked. There was a tag attatched to the knob on the desk drawer. The drawer to the old oak desk he had hoped to buy. He wondered why he hadn't seen it before. Turning the tag he gasped in disbelief as he read. SOLD TO CAPTAIN GARY HARDIN to be delivered.

Gary locked up the store and pulled his coat collar up around his neck and realized it was misting rain. He was anxious to get home and see his wife and start reading for some answers. But he wondered how he was going to close this case. Even more he wondered how he wouldl explain to the DA who actually did murder Scott Mathews and Linda Carr. It wasn't going to be easy. But he somehow felt a relief and a sense of he was doing something right. He also felt that same touch, a light weight on his shoulder as if someone or something was patting him on the back. Gary Hardin headed home as the lighting lit up the dark dampened streets.

The End