Josie Buckhannon, her fiancée, and her grandmother are targets of practical jokes gone too far. Her grandmother's best friend is decapitated in the Buchannan home with too many suspects to consider. Once again Josie helps the FBI sort fact from fiction and find the unlikely suspect as she lives on the cutting edge of retribution.

On the Cutting Edge

RetributionBy J.J. Luepke

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 J.J. Luepke
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-6078-7

Chapter One

Memories

"Mayor Glass! To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" Eleanor Buchannon held the hand carved wooden door of her home open for the city official to enter. The robust man, in a gray suit and ponytail, removed his hat and strode into the foyer. His walking stick clattered on the doorframe as he twirled to face her.

"Mrs. Buchannon, Eleanor, if I may," he said with an overabundance of warmth. "That's a lovely lavender outfit you're wearing, much like the choir gowns from high school. If you recall, we were in the choir together back then."

"Thank you for the compliment. Yes, sir, I believe I do remember that. You were the baritone and couldn't decide whether to sing bass or second tenor." They both chuckled.

"Indeed, that was so. I have made many more important decisions since then. In fact, last week I purchased your neighbor's house to the right. I would very much like to make an offer on your home as well. Surely, with your granddaughter getting married, she will be moving away; and, you will be left with all that yard work and snow removal. Certainly, a woman of your stature shouldn't be doing all that manual labor."

"Should I choose not to do it myself, Mayor, I could always hire it done."

"True, true; however, why should you make that kind of expenditure when you have a willing buyer right in front of you? I would be more than generous in my offer, which would allow you to retire in style—perhaps obtain a quaint little condominium across town if you wish to continue to own your own place; or, perhaps rent a small apartment on Main Street where you don't have to drive to the grocery store? One with an elevator so you wouldn't have to climb stairs. Wouldn't that be convenient?"

"I thank you for your concern, Mayor; but, I haven't given it a thought just yet. But, I'm certain that I won't have to make that decision today."

"Please call me 'Ellis'. 'Mayor' is just too formal, especially if we're going to be doing business together. Besides, aren't you in Ladies Aid with Joanie? I would certainly want to treat my wife's friends with a great deal of care. In fact, I would be willing to pay you full market value for your home. I'm sure a nice young family would be interested in renting it."

"As I said, Mayor Glass," Eleanor said as she opened the front door, indicating it was time for him to leave. "I haven't thought much about selling my house just yet. I will let you know should I decide to sell it to you."

"Just think what a lovely bed and breakfast it would make," the mayor kept at her. "Wouldn't that be a nice addition to our lovely town?" The mayor was fierce today. "I can just picture the Christmas tree in your tower window and lights strung around the entry to every room in this spacious Victorian Lady. Or, perhaps, a young couple with a growing family may need a place to rent while they get established financially ..."

"Be that as it may, the answer is still 'No'."

"Mark my words, Eleanor; no one in town will offer you as much as I have for this old house. Please remember everything I've said and give me a call at the City office when you decide to sell." He slammed his hat onto his head and scowled like a bulldog as he stomped toward the door of the Buchannon home, then turned as if to try one last time to convince her to sell.

"No, Mr. Mayor," Eleanor Buchannon said sternly. "I repeat: My home is not for sale at this time, not at any price. If you have no further topics of discussion today, sir, I bid you adieu!"

"We shall see about that, Eleanor!" the mayor replied as he snapped his cane and headed out the door. His ponytail was incongruent with the business suit he was wearing. "I have quoted you a top-dollar offer. Call me if you change your mind."

Eleanor was right on his heels as he exited the charming Victorian home in which she and her granddaughter, Josie, lived in Lakewood, New York. She slammed the door behind him and turned in a huff. Grrr! That man has gotten under my skin ever since he tried to kiss me in high school, she thought as she yanked on the hem of her vest in irritation. She marched to the kitchen. A hot cup of chamomile tea would help calm her jangled nerves. She put the kettle on, set out a clean cup and rummaged through the tea cabinet for the right box. When the kettle was on, Eleanor went to the telephone to call her granddaughter. Josie should know about this immediately!

* * *

"Good morning, boss!" Vikki Dale bubbled with joy at seeing her employer and best friend enter the door of Sanderson & Sons Advertising Agency Monday morning. "Did you have a great weekend?"

"It was phenomenal!" Josie Buchannon said. "Helping P.J. move into his own apartment right here in Lakewood is like a dream come true! I'm so glad he got that job at Lakewood Technologies last month. He's been living with a co-worker, and commuting to his parent's on the weekends. This way we will be able to see more of each other, and actually get to date!"

"I can't imagine you had much opportunity with him living in New York City, even if it was only 90 miles away. Besides, you were kind of busy with the FBI investigation for a while."

Josie didn't want to remember the events that took place only a couple of months ago, but no one in town seemed to want to let her. They were always complimenting her on her courage, bravery and guts. It was redundant, all the way around. The newspaper had printed a banner story on how she helped the FBI catch her attacker and murderer of their employer, Lewis Sanderson. Josie had been run out of town at knifepoint and had to find a different job in New York City. This left her grandmother vulnerable, but she had been assured the police would patrol her street more frequently than usual. Then Mr. Sanderson was murdered, with Viagra® of all things! On the heels of this news, the FBI showed up at Garvey, Sloan and Associates, LTD, where Josie was, by then, making her way, and asked her to come back to Lakewood to help catch the killer. Being a target wasn't something Josie relished, but she enjoyed putting together her "Princess Plan" to accomplish the task. The name seemed appropriate at the time because Mr. Sanderson's lawyer had also arrived in the Big Apple to announce that Mr. Sanderson had been Josie's illegitimate father and that he had left his massive estate to her. Because of that creative plan, the office was now fortified with security cameras, intercom, and sturdier locks on the doors.

With Josie pulling strings anonymously through the estate lawyer, Vikki had been hired to replace Donna Schmidt at the front desk when Donna was transferred to production to assist Hilda Shoemaker. The staff also included Jessica Springer who was the agency's ad model and research assistant. When Josie made her debut as the new owner of Sanderson & Sons, she created quite an irritation for suspected killer Cassandra Coven, the agency's manager. Josie set up scenarios in which Cass's own scathing comments were thrown back at her and her internet access was blocked. Josie was also able to prove that Cass didn't have much creativity and had stolen a lot of Josie's ideas in the past. This was all done purposely and was carefully monitored by the FBI to catch Cass when she finally cracked. She came in one night when Josie was supposedly working late and confronted Josie with a gun. Luckily, Josie's fiancé, P.J. Coleson arrived on the scene in time to knock Cass...