Hard To Tell

"Please follow me, Mister SinClair." The rickety old woman beckoned him through her maze of hallways, decorated with pastel paintings, dainty decorations and vintage looking rugs. The light that was filtered through the lace curtains only served to drench the hall in a soft and welcoming light as she led him and his large dog toward the outdoor patio.

"I don't remember you having a dog the last time you visited, Detective Sinclair." She mused as she shuffled forward.

"Ah, yes, I got him pretty recently. I hope he's not a bother, ma'am."

"Of course not. He's actually quite mild mannered for such a large dog."

"Heh, well police dogs are supposed to be ma'am."

They finally got to the patio door and she opened it for them, the detective bowing his head slightly, his hat now in his hand, as he proceeded outside, Higgins following right at his master's heel. Once outside, Mrs. Jackson motioned to the small outdoor table with a few chairs huddled around it. A large umbrella shaded its current occupant, Mr. Jackson, from the noon sun. Linus pulled out a chair for Mrs. Jackson before settling down on his own, Higgins sitting down right next to the detective, content to remain close.

"Thank you both for the invitation for tea. It was a pleasant and welcoming surprise." Linus commented with a smile.

"Janise was so pleased when she was mailed her locket back, the first thing she wished to do as a thanks was invite you for tea." Mr. Jackson chuckled.

"Now Robert dear, you know that was one of the first gifts you gave me! I couldn't possibly believe I lost it. For seven years I fretted about that locket." Janise shook her head. "I was so relieved to finally get it back, especially before our anniversary party! And in such good condition, all cleaned up, I knew immediately that I had to work to try and repay you. Which reminds me, I do hope you enjoyed those cookies, although I'm sorry to see you couldn't make it to the party."

"The cookies were wonderful, Mrs. Jackson, thank you. And yes, I apologize that I wasn't able to make it... Work, you know." Linus said with a wave of his hand. Though that was only part of it. While he did have work piled up to wazoo and a lot to do, part of him didn't go to the party because of the people. Too many people... People who he knew wouldn't be all too welcoming to him. The last thing he would have wanted was to ruin their fiftieth anniversary. "If I had anymore paperwork, I'm sure I could drown in it."

"I can only imagine. How long has it been now? Twenty years since we last heard of the local detective?" Mr. Jackson asked his wife as she poured them their tea.

"Oh, it's got to be longer than that." His wife replied as she slid a cup toward the detective. "Closer to thirty, I think."

"What happened to the previous detective?" Linus inquired, raising a brow as he rose his cup to his lips.

"It's hard to tell," Mr. Jackson began. "Technically speaking, he's been stationed here as a detective for a little longer than thirty years. He started off well, but eventually seemed to just slow down in his work. After so long, nothing began to get done. This is a small town, not much happens here so I can understand a lack of work, but to let it go like he did was quite unprofessional. Some folks, after so long, began complaining about how slow he was... then began to complain that he wasn't getting anything done. No one even saw him unless he was getting groceries and even then he refused to discuss business off the job."

"You can imagine how many people were unhappy with his job," Mrs. Jackson continued. "He was being paid taxpayers money to work, and he was getting paid, but not for working. Eventually the people voted him out, along with a few other questionable policemen and women. We've been without a real detective for about five years now, until you came along and filled the position again."

"Goodness gracious. I'm only sorry I didn't fill it sooner. That's not fair to you folks." Linus shook his head, soon setting his cup down only to take a cookie from the tray nearby.

"The way I see it, at least it was you that filled it. Though..." Mrs. Jackson only glanced off to the side, her cup held close to her lap. "I'm sorry you had to come into a position many have learned to resent."

"I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Jackson, but nothing can be done about it now. I'll just have to prove myself, is all." Linus breathed out a sigh at that before breaking a piece of his peanut butter cookie and offering it to the dog. Higgins, after a quick sniff, easily lapped it up. "Though I'm learning that's easier said than done."

"A lot of things are easier said than done, my boy. Let's just hope that, when all is said and done, you've found it wasn't as hard as you originally thought." Mr. Jackson nodded, satisfied with his own comment. Linus found himself settled with it as well.

He just hoped that it wouldn't take as long as he thought it might take.