Chapter 26
“After the murder of four crew members, and a car accident that killed the lead actor Beau Draven, the studio has announced that this will be Aesop’s Files final season,” the reporter said, and Belwiped her hands as she abandoned her half-assembled sandwich to watch the television. An overwhelming week had passed since the accidents, and while she had the day off, Eamon had requested she stay at her cabin. He had a massive amount of work to catch up on, and the mansion renovations he’d scheduled for this weekend came with loud noises and noxious chemicals. He didn’t want her or Cerberus near the fumes, but Bel didn’t mind. She hadn’t left his house in days, and she had to return home sometimes to perpetuate her stance on not living together yet.
“By combining the already filmed footage with re-writes to give fans a satisfactory conclusion, Aesop’s Files will finish the season early,” the reporter continued. “Viewers worldwide have mixed responses about the series’ finale, though. Some are devastated the show is ending, while others feel the cancellation is necessary considering the new murder allegations. Recent evidencepertaining toa six-year-old cold case has surfaced that police confirm implicates Gwen Rossa, Ellery Roja, Alistair Rot, Warren Rouge, and Beau Draven, birth name Reds, as the perpetrators of the homicide.”
Bel sagged against the kitchen counter with an exhale. She’d done it. She kept her promise. A letter had arrived for her a few days after Rollo vanished. It provided no name orreturn address, but she knew who’d sent it. It held simple directions, but what she recovered after following the instructions was anything but. All the evidence Ethan Rollo promised found its way into her hands, and she was ruthless with it, leaving such a bad taste in the studio’s mouth that they abandoned all ideas of suing Bajka for negligence. After six long years, Grandma Rollo had her justice. Her tombstone finally bore her name.
“Fans shouldn’t be disappointed, though,” the reporter continued. “The studio has announced a spin-off starring Aesop’s Files leading lady, Taron Monroe. Sources close to the actress have confirmed that this series will follow Miss Monroe’s character as she leaves town for a detective position in a new precinct plagued by the paranormal.”
Bel smiled at the announcement and snatched her phone off the counter, selectingTaron’s number before typing a text message.
Bel
Congrats on the new show. I just saw the news.
She placed her phone down and grabbed a knife to spread the mustard, but her cell vibrated before she could even grab the bottle.
Taron
Oh my god, thank you so much! I just wish winning a lead didn’t arrive on the back of a cold case, four murders, and a fatal car accident.
I understand, but you’ll be fantastic. I mightactuallywatch this one.
Girlllllll……….. you better!
When you have time off, I’ll fly you out to consult.
Sounds fun. Can’t wait.
Me either. Aesop’s Files was a great opportunity, but the obsession always felt wrong.I guessnowweknow why, so I’m excited to embark on something new and honest.
Seriously, congratulations.
Thanks, girl. Welcome to my Mon-hoes!
Bel rolled her eyes.
Did you just roll your eyes?
How did you guess?
I shadowed you, remember? I roll my eyes when I’m playing a serious cop now, too.
Maybe you don’t need me to consult.
Nonsense! Anyway, g2g. About to run into a meeting. Talk soon!
Bel picked up the mustard bottle for a second time, only to be interruptedyetagain by a knock at the front door.
“Dad?” She gawked at the sight of her father standing unexpectedly on the other side, but before she could hug him, Cerberus barreled between her legs and almost took him out.
“Hey, baby boy.” Reese scratched the dog as he regained his footing andthenhugged his daughter. “Hi, baby girl.”
“Is everything okay?” Bel squeezed him tight. “Why are you here?”
“I called Eamon to ask if you were free,” he said. “I should’ve called you, but I wasn’t sure if you were working, so I didn’t want to disrupt you. He said you were home, so I jumped in the car.”
“But you’re okay, right?” She pulled him inside, hating how her heart rate spiked at seeing him so unexpectedly. Was he sick? Had something happened?
“I’m fine.” He brushed a thumb over her cheek. “Starving, buttotallyfine.”
“My sisters?”
“Everyone is healthy and happy. And before you ask, Eamon sounded great when I called earlier. Although there was a lot of banging and grunting going on.”
“He’s renovating the mansion himself. It’s why I’m home. He’s using chemicals that he doesn’t want me breathing in.”
“That’s considerate.”
“I was just making lunch,” she said, returning to the cutting board. “Want a sandwich?”
“Sure, sweetheart. Thanks.”
“So, what’s up?” Bel asked, grabbing two more slices of bread and another plate.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said on Christmas, and I’ve finally reached a decision. But this isn’t a phone conversation. I needed to see your face.”
“So you want to know everything?” she asked over her shoulder.
“No, sweetheart. I don’t,” he answered. “It would only make me fear for your life more than I already do, and I want to trust that you’re okay. That Eamon is treating you right, and he’s truly your protector, not your abuser.”
“You have no idea how protective of me he is.”
“That’s why I’m here. I want to know… within reason,” Reese said. “I want to learn enough so you don’t need to hide your life from yourownfather, but that’s all. Because if you change my perception of reality, I’d never let you out of my sight again. I’d be terrified to let you liveon your own, but that isn’t fair. Despite all your hardships and terrors, you seem happy living here with Eamon.Ijustwant to make sure your happiness is coming from a healthy and honest place.Then I’ll go home.”
“I’mhappyyou’re here.” Bel slid the plates onto the table and took her father’s hand as she sat beside him. “Because I hate hiding things from you. I never have, and I don’t wish to start now. I want you to understand me,andnot just because my life is unusual, but because I found someone incredible. I need you to love him like I do.” She started crying, but these tears were pure happiness. “Because I love him so much, Dad, and when I tell you everything he’s done for me, you’ll love him too.”
“Hey, thanks for coming,” Eamon said as Violet and Ewan walked into his disaster of a house. This crumbling section at the rear of his home was the most daunting mess he had to tackle, and he hadspecialplans for this rubble.
“Where’s Olivia?” he asked when he noticed the third member he’d invited was missing.
“She still wants nothing to do with me,” Ewan said, hisnormalconfidence absent as he mentioned his ex-girlfriend.
“Bel and Olivia are back on amicable working terms, but I don’t think Olivia cares to rekindle their friendship,” Violet said. “I hope that changes, but whatever happened between all of youupset Olivia. At least she isn’t ignoring Bel anymore.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Eamon said. “I mostly invited her as Bel’s friend, but it’s you two and Lumen’s Customs that I need.”
“Speaking of Bel, where is she?” Violet scanned the construction site as if she suddenly realized her friend was missing.
“Home,” Eamon answered. “She’s with her dad, so she’ll be occupied for the weekend,which is whyI invited you here today. I don’t want her knowing.”
“Okay?” The word escaped Violet’s lips like a question.
“So, what’s up?” Ewan asked.
“Isobel’s birthday is this spring, and I have an idea.” Eamon gestured to the filth behind him. “But I need help… a lot ofvery fastand secret help.” He turned back to the girl in designer black and the flannel-wearing bear shifter. “So, what do you say? Will you help me?”
Thank you for reading Evidence of a Folktale. Bel, Eamon, & Cerberus will return for another fairytale inspire crime in Postmortem of a Poem . if you enjoyed this book and feel comfortable leaving a review, I would greatly appreciate it. Reviews go a long way in helping authors like me.