End of Chapter One - Murder In Queen County

“Just give it to him,” Monica said.

Annette shook her head and then handed over her license. 

The Sherriff walked away.

“He can’t do that!” Annette said with her voice slightly elevated. 

Monica combed her hair back with her fingers and said, “Calm down.  He can and he did.  He’s just being a prick because he obviously has nothing better to do.”

“I’m not used to these backwards hillbillies.”

“And I am?  Look, we’re both tired and worn.  We’ll find a hotel and get settled and then go get a bite to eat.  Just let me do the talking.”

“Fine.”

The Sherriff came back to the car and threw the licenses in the open window.

“Handle it,” Annette said, turning to look out of the passenger’s side window.

“Are we free to go?” Monica said with pierced lips to the Sherriff.

“Yeah, you free to get out this town.  We don’t take kindly to strangers in these parts,” the Sherriff replied.

“Actually, we’re staying for awhile.  Thought this may be a good place to lay down some roots,” Monica retorted in an accent that mocked the Sherriff’s southern drawl.  “Matter fact, can you tell us where we might find a hotel to lay our head for the evening?”

“Ain’t none,” the Sherriff said.

“From the looks of this place, I know you don’t have a Taj Mahal, but you’re telling me that you don’t have a Sheraton, a Hilton, a Comfort Inn, a Motel 6?”

“Ain’t no need,” the Sherriff said.

“But they have a Bed and Breakfast,” Annette said, pointing to a wooden sign up ahead. 

“Ain’t no vacancies,” the Sherriff said.

Monica blew out a gasp of air and nodded.  “Ok, Mr. Sherriff man, you win.  We’ll leave.”

“And don’t come back now, you hear,” the Sherriff said, as he turned around.

Monica waited until he took one step and then put her gear in drive.  She spun around him and into a parking spot in front of the Bed and Breakfast.  “Wait here.  I’ll check us in,” she said to Annette, jetting out of the car.

Before the Sherriff was able to run into the lobby, the clerk at the Bed and Breakfast handed Monica a pair of keys. 

Monica turned around to face the Sherriff and waived the key.  “You were wrong Sherriff.  They had one room left.”