Burnt Out …Part 35 …Finis

Tragedies are about the downfall of a tragic hero and the fall from grace of a person of promise.

But beyond the denouement of a would-be hero, they also illustrate the enormous sense of waste that results from succumbing to a fatal flaw in character that devastates and impacts so many lives.

Doris Lessing had many talents and accomplishments but jealousy poisoned her outlook and this toxic emotion resulted in the deaths of Marian Gregory and Sarah Wilkerson, two fine police officers, the latter being my fiancé.

Clare and I stood solemnly by while Doris was put in a police cruiser and taken away. Cyril was right beside us, quietly supporting us, aware of the toll the investigation had wrung from all of us over the course of several weeks.

A fall mist had rolled in adding to the gravity of the situation and it cast a somber pall over our already downcast mood.

Clare spoke up. "Let's go inside and warm up before the fire—I'll make coffee."

"I could use a pick-me-up right now," Cyril muttered, trying to dispel the disappointment we all felt.

Once we were all inside and seated by the fire sipping coffee, our spirits revived somewhat.

"There are still several loose ends to be tied up," Cyril remarked, "but you two did an excellent job in identifying Doris as the sniper."

"Thanks, Cyril," I responded, "but it was mostly Clare's instincts that kept us on track. We'll have to follow up on Henry Lodge though and tease out his relationship with Doris. Obviously, those two had an on-going relationship and it was Lodge who tipped off Doris and almost got us killed."

He nodded. "I think Henry was enthralled, but although he was a wiling patsy I don't think he was involved beyond succumbing to Doris' charms."

Clare frowned, "The one thing that puzzles me is why Marian Gregory was murdered. Was this some separate grievance between the two women?"

Cyril shook his head. "I was working on that part of the case and from what we were able to piece together from various interviews is that the two women had a falling out. Apparently they both had too much to drink at a staff get together and got into an argument. It turns out the argument was over Cam. I don't know all the details but it looks like it was a case of jealousy again."

Clare turned to me, "I told you that you had a unique talent for upsetting women—even when you don't try."

I threw up my hands in surrender. "I'm not even going to try to defend myself against that one."

"Good idea,"Cyril chuckled, "you can't avoid self-incrimination because we don't have a 5th amendment to the Constitution in Canada."

"Lucky for you, Cam," Clare said, "You don't want to get on my bad side."

I grinned sheepishly but she was right—I didn't want to upset Clare. I wanted to marry her.

Later, after Cyril had left and we were sitting before the fire with Maggie, our golden retriever, I formally proposed.

Thankfully, she didn't hesitate but readily accepted, even suggesting a December wedding.

"Two months," I chuckled, "is that enough time?"

"December weddings are magical, besides, I don't want to take a chance of anything spoiling our happiness."

I had to agree. I had struggled with the idea of coming back here, contending with familiar associations and painful memories, but the ghosts that haunted me had been exorcised and I could think of no better life than working with Clare and raising a family here.

And so we bonded, the three of us already a family, huddled by the fire, sheltered from the damp autumn chill with the only spectres surrounding us being the swirling mists rising from the fields.