Eliza Brookes [Brookes - Home Sweet Murder

Allegra Mitchells arrived in Llewes Cove the same way she left it all those years ago mysteriously and in style. She hopped off the rickety old bus, clutching her backpack strap to her. It was early morning, and most of the shops had not opened yet. She might live out of a suitcase most of the time, but Allegra knew how to do so well. She took great pride in the fact that her outfit was pristine and that her hair did not look like it had just spent four hours on a humid old bus.

She took a deep breath and turned to wave at the bus driver. He did not even wait for her to close the luggage compartment before roaring off in his tin can. Smoke poured out from the back and Allegra was left to cough in the unhealthy vapors. She sighed and turned to the old bus depot. It was still a sad old building that needed a lick of paint. Or a bulldozer, whichever came first.

The sun was just starting to peep over the horizon, and a small breeze swept through the air, causing her to hug her jacket closer. Allegra Mitchells stood there, almost expecting Grumpy Old Dot to come trundling up in her modest station wagon, berating her for taking so long. She smiled faintly at the memory. It had been ten years to the day now when she had left this town for good. The corners of her mouth turned down as she remembered the circumstances.

She shook her head impatiently, trying to get rid of the unhappy memory. All that mattered was that she was home, and her great-aunt Dot would be happy to see her despite how they left things all those years ago. Allegra might not have had much else, or anything really, but at least she had the amazing gift of looking on the positive side of things. If it suited her mood. She smiled fondly as she passed the little building. The first time she had climbed off that bus, Grumpy Dot had bought her a bag of treats to cheer her up.

With a contented sigh, she picked up her single suitcase and began the long walk to her great-aunt's house on the other end of town. As she walked through the town, she was reminded of the strange nature of time. In some places, like New York, time was like a raging river that moved too quickly to be appreciated. In a town like Llewes Cove, whose only claim to fame was that the tourist office dubbed it The Friendliest Town in America!, time trickled slowly. You had to keep checking your watch to make sure that it was moving. In ten years, not a single thing had changed. The same stores opened at the same time and were even painted the same color. She wondered vaguely if the people had changed at all. Probably not, but one could hope.

That hope vanished when the grocer walked up to his shop and stuck his keys into the door with a jangle. He looked up, as if sensing her presence, and sneered under his bushy, greying mustache. She gave him a mischievous smile, obviously, the good man remembered her. He scoffed and muttered under his breath before pushing the door open with his foot and kicking it closed behind him, as if to remind her of her lifelong ban. It felt good to be home.

The famous Californian heat made itself known as she passed the town square. She wiped her brow and looked at her phone, resting for a moment. Everything in Llewes Cove could be found through the town square. It was oddly designed, with the back of most buildings facing the beautiful coast instead of in front of it. It appeared as though the town was split in two. On the marina, there were a few lively seafood restaurants and a dilapidated fair on the docks. You could buy an all-access ticket and risk your life on the rickety rides or chance food poisoning at one of the many stalls. It was the gem of the town. If she remembered correctly, which she did, the townsfolk did not get along well with the business owners who lined all their businesses on the dock, which was creatively nicknamed "Dock Street". Hence, the split. Tourists were welcome on either side, and by welcome, the townsfolk preferred it if they stayed by the dock. Allegra was welcome on Dock Street, but she was not welcome in the town itself.

Allegra glanced over to the main street that connected the two sides, and she wished she was going there. Unfortunately, she was required to pass through the whole town to get to her great-aunts house. Great-Aunt Dorothy, or Grumpy Dot for short, was a special case. She belonged to neither side. During the summers that she spent there, Allegra had tried her best to understand why both sides welcomed Grumpy Dot. Grumpy Dot had laughed and said that she was too stubborn to fall in line, and most of the townsfolk had given up on her. She was grumpy and brusque, so naturally, everyone liked her. The truth was that Llewes Cove hated newcomers. The original founders of the town preferred exclusivity, and never welcomed newcomers. The divide in the town could be explained in a few simple words. Dock Street belonged to people who welcomed tourists and the town square belonged to those who did not. They could function just fine on their own, thank you very much.

Great-Aunt Dorothy had moved here with her late husband over fifty years ago. Her mother had been born and bred in the town, so the town accepted her. But she was also a newcomer, so Dock Street, who belonged to people who ironically were also born and bred in the town, welcomed her too.

Grumpy Dot had never been one for convention, so she built her house outside the town, facing away from the beach. Grumpy Dot claimed that she wanted to see the natural Californian beauty instead.

Allegra wiped the sweat from her brow and glared at her heavy suitcase as if it was to blame for this entire ordeal. She grumbled to herself, upset that the tiny town did not have a taxi service. Although Allegra had spent most of her time traveling in and around massive cities. It was easier to get lost in the crowd there. In a small town, you stood out. She had forgotten that tiny towns, like Llewes Cove, were not fond of public transport. To be fair to the town, taxis, and busses would be a waste of money since almost everything was within walking distance. Besides, most people had cars. She could imagine the disapproving look on her great-aunt's face when she found out that her great-niece didnt have a car. Or an apartment. Or a boyfriend. As if on cue, her phone beeped in her pocket. She ignored it and mentally calculated how much further she had to go.