They had been childhood sweethearts. Both families encouraged the match from early on. It brokered two powerful Montana families together. Everyone was happy at their union although they needed no encouragement from family or friends. They had always known that that they loved one another and that there would never be anyone else.
They had lived the perfect life. She knew she was very fortunate to have been given such a life. She looked back with fulfillment and happiness.
Her husband’s sudden death came as a surprise and left her with a hole in her soul. She had tried to fill the void with volunteer work and social functions. All these things still left her feeling as though something was missing. She began to realize that she had never really done anything for and completely just for her. Ellie never regretted her life with John and wouldn’t change a thing. At this stage in her life, she began to realize she wanted something more. She wanted something that was going to give her excitement and adventure. She knew that she would never love again. John had been all the man she needed and doubted that there would ever be another. Ellie counted herself lucky to have found such a love.
Chapter One
“Become a private eye,” the advertisement read.
Ellie lay on the bed and daydreamed of the adventures she could have. Her children would probably want to have her committed if they knew she wanted this. This time, they would know she had flipped her lid. It had been very difficult when John Sr. died and left her alone. She fought so hard to escape the hole she was sinking in after his death. John Jr. had wanted to have a live-in nurse brought into her home to keep her company. Ellie railed against this idea. She was in the prime of her life, and she certainly didn’t need looking after by some nurse. Jr. had had no malice in his heart when he brought up the idea. He had simply been worried about his mother.
Over the many months after John Sr.’s death, Ellie had lost weight and had become rather gaunt. She had not even begun to recognize her own self in the mirror. It was no wonder her kids were worried. Truth be told. Ellie was a bit worried herself. Life had thrown her a curve ball, and she had no idea what to do next.
Ellie loved murder mysteries. Her personal library was filled with all the latest volumes from the newest authors. Books by the Volume had always been her home away from home. Sometimes, she giggled to herself because she had probably put Sue and Chuck’s kids through college. They were the owners of the bookstore and always kept their eyes out for the newest and latest books to thrill Ellie’s imagination.
In fact, Sue and Chuck had become instrumental in Ellie finding something new in her life to fill her time. They worried about her spending so much time alone up in that big ole house. Their relationship had started out years ago as customer and business owner and had developed into a lifelong friendship. Their love of literature solidified their relationship. It was with their encouragement that Ellie began to rejoin the land of the living. Sue continued to bring over a new book on each visit. Soon Ellie’s night table had begun to fill with unread books.
Ellie no longer wanted to read the type of books she loved. All these people in those pages were having such grand adventures, and here she is, lying in bed. Growing old and withered before her own eyes, she wanted her own adventures. She got up from the bed and pushed the growing pile of books to the floor. It was not out of anger but more out of a new self that she would begin to create. Deciding that she was not going to let life defeat her now, Ms. Ellie Lynn Moore would be someone in her own right. Even if she failed doing it, at least she would know that she had tried.
Besides, what fifty-five-year-old woman would become a private detective without having a few screws loose? she thought. The thought brought her mind, swimming back to her husband. John Sr. had told her more than once, “Ellie, I think you were a gumshoe in your past life!”
Ellie would turn red and reply, “Oh, John. Don’t be ridiculous. Me? A gumshoe? Though the thought of it does sound thrilling.”
Standing in her room, she began to really look at herself in the mirror. For the first time in a while, Ellie caught just the twinkle in her own eyes. She began to see the old Ellie peek out from beneath the surface. Looking herself over, there were a few sags and wrinkles, showing in her face. But for a fifty-five-year-old woman, Ellie thought she had held up well over the years. Realizing that she was a grandmother, she smiled. What else was she supposed to look like?
It was decided right then and there, in front of the mirror, that she would become a private eye.
Now, how exactly did one do that?
Where is that darn advertisement? Ellie’s mind raced.
Pushing aside the books that were now piled on the floor, she grasped a hold of the paper with a renewed vigor for life. Whipping through the pages of the circular paper, her eyes scanned the pages for the advertisement. Finding it near the back of the paper, a huge sigh of relief escaped her. It surprised her. She had sounded like she had just found her lost diamond, and it was a way she had.
Reading over the advertisement, self-doubt began to rise with in her. Silently, she sat on the edge of the bed. The paper clasped within her fists. She hit the paper against her legs with a slap. Quickly, she dialed the 800 number. Her fingers trembled as she punched in the numbers. Inside, she felt like a mischievous little girl, stealing the first warm cookie from the batch just out of the oven.
In her ear, she could hear the ring in the ear piece. Holding the phone to her head, sweat began to bead on her forehead. Her cheeks filled with blood and took on a slight blush. Ellie’s heart began to pound with in her chest.
“Hello. Thank you for calling Price Private Detective School. We are either away from the phone, or out in the field. Please leave a detailed message after the beep.”
Beep. A shrill whistle of a beep sounded.
“Hello,” she instinctively said.
“Yes. Hello. This is Ellie Moore, calling regarding the advertisement you have listed in our local circular paper. Please give me a call back at (406) 555-1291. I am calling about becoming a private detective and the school you run.”
Click.
Quickly, she had hung up the phone, then grabbed the receiver and base and hugged it to her chest. Her heart was racing. Sweat was now covering her forehead and her under arms. She felt like she was already on a secret mission for someone. This time, it was for herself, and she let out a long sigh. The tenseness from her shoulders began to slip away.
Suddenly, the phone rang in her hands, frightening her. She almost whipped the darn thing over the bed. Ellie started to laugh as she answered. Get a grip, woman, she thought.
“Hello!” she answered with a huge grin on her face.
“Ellie, is that you?”
“Yes. It’s me. Is that you, Sue?”
“Why do you sound so out of breath? Is everything all right? Do I need to come over?”
Always ready to send out the troops, she thought of Sue.
“No, no. I am fine. The phone just startled me for a moment. Guess my mind was off on another planet there for a moment.” Ellie had to stifle a laugh before she got a bad case of the church giggles. You know the church giggles? This is where you laugh and just can’t stop even though you know you should.
Exasperated, Sue said, “Now, you sound like you’re on the verge of laughter? What is going on over there? What is going on with you, woman? Did I catch you with your hand in the cookie jar?”
Smiling, Ellie replied, “You might as well have. I was just taken by surprise. That is all. What is up?”
“I have got some of those books you ordered awhile back. Thought you might like to come by and pick them up? Besides, Chuck is out on some errands, and it’s a slow day. Thought you might like a cup of coffee?”
“I don’t think I will be needing those books any longer, but I do have some new