Page 14 of A Dash of Wolf

He nodded at Ivan without a word and walked back to his Tahoe. He wasn’t surprised to see Dixon leaning against his own patrol car waiting for him.

“You think it was her?” Dixon asked.

Mason shook his head slowly. “No.”

Dixon raised an eyebrow. “That was fast.”

“Adeline chained herself to a bulldozer in broad daylight with a group of elderly people holding signs and a friend brandishing a bullhorn. Oh, and she brought her talking cat. Does that sound like a woman who sneaks around at night removing battery cables without leaving a trace?”

Dixon considered this. “Fair point. And in all the years Adeline has been protesting, I’ve never known her to do something underhanded like this. You’re right, she wants others to know what she’s doing and why she’s doing it.”

“Whoever did this was careful and methodical.” Mason opened his driver’s side door. “That’s not Adeline Beaumont.”

Dixon laughed. “Don’t let her hear you say that.” He paused as he opened his own driver’s side door. “So who did it?”

Mason looked back at the marsh. “That’s what I need to figure out.”

“I’m going to hit the north side of town,” Dixon said. “Patrol that area. Casswell is on the south side.”

Mason nodded and slid behind the wheel. He drove through town, slowing down before he got to Adeline’s bakery, but the lights were off. He glanced down at the clock on his dash and saw it was going on two-thirty. He drove to the station and parked out front and headed inside.

“Phones have been ringing off the hook,” Beulah announced before he’d even closed the door. “Everyone wants to know if you’ve arrested Adeline again.” She took a sip of her drink and looked expectantly at the door he’d just shut.

“Great.” Mason dropped into the chair across from Beulah’s desk and rubbed his face. “Why is this Adeline thing such a big deal? Is it because of her last name?”

Beulah shrugged. “Not much else to get excited about around these parts, Chief. Tourist season just came to an end, so until the holidays roll around, it’s pretty dull. We need to find enjoyment in the small things.” She smiled. “And Adeline Beaumont getting arrested is never a small or dull thing.”

“What’s this market going on? I’ve been told to stop by twice now, but I don’t know what it is or where it is.”

“The Thursday Night Market. Takes place every Thursday from spring until Yule. Shop owners and anyone else selling products set up booths along Tide Street from four to seven. It’s quite the event. Food, crafts, magical goods, live music sometimes. The whole town turns out.”

“So the street is blocked off?”

Beulah nodded. “Yes, sir. Chief Dawson and our two officers would always be present and be seen to discourage anything from happening.”

Mason raised an eyebrow. “Did things usually happen?”

Beulah laughed. “Nope. Never. But they all three went anyway. Chief Dawson said it was good for the town’s morale. But I know he just went for the funnel cakes.”

Mason smiled and pushed himself up from the chair. “Guess I’ll be paying a visit to the Thursday Night Market in a couple hours.” He paused at his office door. “And Adeline will be there?”

“Oh, yes.” Beulah picked up her mug and took a long, satisfied sip. “Her and Emory share a booth every Thursday.”

He nodded. “That’s what I figured.”

He stepped into his office and closed the door behind him. Time to get to work and read through old theft files. Maybe he’d get lucky and catch a break and stumble across a clue on as to who might be targeting Ivan’s equipment other than Adeline Beaumont.

“I’m heading home, Chief,” Beulah said from his doorway. “I’ll see you at the market.”

Mason glanced at the clock on his wall and was surprised to see two hours had flown by...and he wasn’t any closer to solving the case. Nothing from the old files had jumped out at him.

“See you at the market,” he said absently to Beulah.

Through the window, he could see Tide Street already starting to come alive. How had he missed the citizens putting up tables and arranging their products? He wasn’t sure, but he thought he caught the scent of popcorn when Beulah opened the front door, and he put a hand to his stomach. He’d been so busy introducing himself to shop owners that he hadn’t stopped for lunch, and then he’d been called out to Drury Marsh. He was definitely hungry.

He stood and pushed in his chair. This could wait. He’d go outside, mingle, grab a bite to eat...and maybe even a coffee. That would give him the perfect opening to see Adeline and talk with her. Beulah had said she and Emory shared a booth every Thursday.

And if his pulse raced at the thought of seeing her again, he totally ignored it.