The Frame: A Heaven Murder Mystery (Heaven Murder Mysteries Book 17)

Derek sat with a thud in his chair and stared at the empty cardboard box that sat on the desk in front of him. Pacing back and forth in front of the desk was Paul McClusky. His face filled with anger and determination.

“It’s wrong! Just plain wrong!” he snapped as Derek started packing items from the desk into the box.

“Paul, stop.” he said softly. “I know you’re stunned and angry, but done is done. So would you mind taking those pictures off that wall for me?”

Paul pursed his lips. “This isn’t over.!” he snapped and reached for the first picture, placing it on the couch. “It isn’t over by a long shot!”

Derek took a deep breath and reached for the four framed pictures that paul handed him. It was hard to believe that his entire three years as Chief of Police for Heaven fit into one cardboard box. He swallowed hard and added the official paperwork from the review board.

“I’ll see you around town.” he said clamping a hand firmly on Paul’s shoulders. “I really appreciate all the things you’ve done.” he added and picked up the box.

Sally dabbed her eyes as he made his way out the front door. “Bye Chief.” she whispered and shook her head. “I can’t believe it.” she said.

“No one does.” Randy snapped. “It’s a bunch of trumped up bull.” he added and taking a deep breath turned back to his desk.

It had been a rough three weeks. I sat at the kitchen table and waited. Part of me wondering where our lives went now and a part angry at the process that had been used to fire Derek and replace him with Frank Ludley. Ludley came from a background of office cop. He hadn’t been in a squad car in over eight years, but he had the political connections to land the job that Derek vacated.