Dating Is Murder Read online

  It wasn't Alicia and Bonnie; it was two older woman who looked up in horror to see her running, wet and bedraggled, straight at them. While she babbled about her near-death experience at Adrian's hands, one of them pulled out an ancient looking cell phone and dialed three digits. Autumn turned and gazed back toward the river, terrified that she would see Adrian racing toward them, but he had vanished.

  EPILOGUE

  * * *

  “I can't believe he honestly thought his grandfather wanted to see people get killed.”

  “The man was deluded,” Alicia said. “Eat this cookie. It will make you feel better. I made a whole batch for you before I left this morning. I’ve also got chicken soup, more hot chocolate since I know how much you like it, and some ice cream that we should probably put in the freezer soon.”

  Autumn took the cookie, idly breaking off a piece and stuffing it in her mouth. Her friend, ever the caretaker, had come over as soon as she heard what happened. Alicia was glad for the company. Nick would be coming over later in the day, but that morning he was busy dealing with the police and making sure that Westley would be all right once he heard that his grandson had confessed to a murder.

  “I'm just glad they caught him,” she said around her mouthful of cookie. “Can you imagine if he was still out there somewhere?”

  “Where did they end up finding him?”

  “He went back to his house; can you believe that? He must really have been insane. I don't know if he thought I wouldn't go to the police, or if he just didn't care if he was caught.”

  “I feel terrible for Mr. Phillips,” Alicia said. “His grandson looked up to him so much that he wanted to kill people for him. That's just… scary.”

  “It is,” Autumn agreed. “I can't believe I thought Bonnie might have killed Jessie. I feel terrible about that.”

  “You did?”

  “Well, she was just acting so oddly about his death. I thought maybe she got upset that he spurned her and shoved him into the river or something. Obviously, I was wrong about that.”

  “You couldn't have been more wrong,” Alicia said with a chuckle. “Sorry, I shouldn't be laughing.”

  “I don't blame you. I just can't believe I was so blind.”

  “No one thought it was Adrian. Not even the police. Don't beat yourself up about that. I'm just glad you're all right.”

  Autumn had to agree with that sentiment. Her thoughts about her own mortality, that had been spurred by Jessie's death, had made her realize how quickly a life could change or end. She had come close to meeting the same fate as Jessie, but somehow, she had escaped. She didn't want to waste the chance that she had been given. She vowed to herself to live the rest of her life to its fullest. Her time could come at any moment, but anyone’s could. It wasn't worth dwelling on. What was more important was living without any regrets and making sure that she was always there for the people that she loved.