Mel stood at the window of Ralph's apartment gazing out at the blanket of snow. Pools of light from the lamps along the pathway in the courtyard emphasized the sharp pinpoints of diamond-like glitter.

"We've got to read Greg's blog." Mel insisted. "I've been so busy, and everyone's raving about how he nailed the brownie review."

"I'll pull it up on the Smart TV and we can read it together." Ralph opened his laptop and tapped a few keys before clicking on the first thing that came up on his search. "It's a popular search. He really must be the most popular food blogger in the state."

The blog popped up on the screen and Ralph began to read it out loud.

I'm breaking my own promise to myself to keep my newest coffeeshop haunt my own little secret. Buried on one of Fort Collins' many mini business streets, Cozy Corner is a destination establishment.

Let me be clear, it isn't your usual Starbuck's clone. Yes, their baristas are a talented group, and the herbal tea bar is still adding new combinations, but it's the atmosphere of a home library in the bookstore which truly hooked me in the first place.

Then there's Elena Anker. Part of the three way partnership which owns Cozy Corner, this extraordinary baker provides all the pastries, sandwiches and desserts which make eating here a must.

My favorite selections here are the Rueben Roll and her version of the classic brownie.

She updated the Rueben Roll to include versions with light rye, dark rye, and somehow managed to add the classic swirl to a roll like the rest.

Hollowed out, she stuffs each crusty mini loaf with Montreal Smoked Meat, a home made sauerkraut, and a choice of several different mustards. Each tray is labeled accordingly. My personal choice is the one with Thomy hot mustard, which gives a spectacular contrast with the smoky Gouda cheese.

Get here early, as there are a limited number produced each day and they sell out extremely quickly.

If you have a sweet tooth, the triple chocolate Brownies are, as my granddaughter insists, to die for.

Their perfect moist texture is stuffed with dark chocolate, white chocolate, and walnuts, they are topped with a rich sweet chocolate fudge icing. Your doctor will be horrified if you become addicted like I am.

I won't bother you with the excellent selection of chocolate types. This is the highest priced item on the menu and would grace the dessert menu at any of Fort Collins' top notch epicurean establishments. But I'll drop a hint; Nicional and Porcelana are two of the rarest chocolates you will ever enjoy.

As I type this, I'm already regretting the lineups on Saturdays and I hope the incredible care the staff shows remains as constant as it has been for the many months I have kept this secret. A word of advice to the owners---Do not give up your day of rest. Stay closed on Sundays. My usual barista assures me it will always be peaceful in my customary corner, and the bookstore will always be a bibliophile's treasure trove.

"Okay, now I get it," Ralph said after he finished reading.

"The brownies are tiny, and yeah, $15.00 dollars for a tiny inch and a half square surprised me when I found it on the menu. Now I know why. The chocolate is simply better than any I have ever tasted. The chocolate delivery has only come once since I've been working at Crazy Corner and I watched Elena lock it into a special shelf in her cold storage."

Ralph punched the chocolate names into the search bar and Mel watched as the AI summarized. Her eyes popped at the prices. They were in British Pounds on the website Ralph went to.

"How does Elena do it?" Ralph said.

"I'll bet she knows the producers. She might be getting a better deal on the raw product if she's buying direct. That, and there really isn't that much of it in any one square. Just enough to make my taste buds sing every time I have one. I always pay for them from our tip jar."

"Well they're going to start selling out every day now too." Ralph said.

"I know. I limit myself to one a week these days. And the ones I have at our Sunday meetings. Elena is so generous with them then."

"Two more days till the next one. Greg's last message to you said he had some major news and he was checking some new leads Garth provided."

"Sylvia found the tip message from Hans Obrecht too. She's pulling in Internal Affairs to help dig through Grumman's entire record with the Sheriffs."

"Things are coming together," Ralph pulled her in tight under his shoulder, dropping a kiss on her forehead, and she smiled at the memory of her visit to the doctor the student union medical clinic recommended. Her cycle cooperated, and she was able to start them on the first day of her period. Fooling around with Ralph was safe now even if he didn't push it that far.

She turned her lips up and his tender kiss brought a sigh to her lips. He always made her feel like a queen.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

"Thank you for the wonderful review, Greg," Peggy sat in her customary easy chair with her laptop on her legs.

"I hope it doesn't overwhelm you." Greg's wry comment had Elena shaking her head.

"I've had to increase the number of rolls I'm preparing, and the brownies sales are taking off as well. I'm impressed with your ability to discern the chocolate beans. Most of my customers only understand that it's the best they've ever had."

"I learned about chocolate during the time I spent on the upper reaches of the Amazon. Never lost my taste for the product which came from the rarest of the beans." Greg admitted.

Ralph's selection of muffins and scrambled egg samosas matched their earlier start time. Everyone helped themselves as Mel delivered lattes, espresso, and straight black Brazilian blend for the Detective.

She introduced Sylvia Eisenmann to the group and slipped into the only open seat.

"Can we start with my findings?" The officer flipped her notebook open. "We've opened an investigation into Grumman's cases through our Internal Affairs Department. I have to caution you; this is preliminary work and the Officer is unaware as of yet. I found Hans Obrecht's tip line conversation. It was forwarded to Grumman and deemed superfluous. His entire report is based on Deloras Durant-Williams witness testimony."

"What about my concerns?" Anson asked.

"Again, your email is there in our IT archives. Ignored because of Deloras' testimony. I don't understand why Homicide was never contacted. That is SOP as far as any suspicious death."

Elvin nodded. "Definitely standard operating procedure. It has been for decades. Even in an open and shut case, like Grumman thought he had, it should have been turned over to make sure all evidence was considered."

"Then the question is---what is the relationship between Grumman and Deloras?" Dr. Elizabeth asked.

"Exactly where I was going," Sylvia agreed.

"I'll take that one on." Agnus was tapping furiously on her laptop. "I have half a dozen stories where he has been involved in questionable investigations. Particularly when it comes to past arsons. There is an attitude of it wasn't a bad fire, or no real damage. I talked to the fire department arson investigator, and he says there is a disturbing dichotomy on the origin point. We may have two arsonists. He's definitely a name from the past, and a very interesting one at that."

"Do you have a place to start?" Anson asked.

"I do. He's a regular patron at a country music bar on the outskirts of Fort Collins. I suspect the mixologist there will be willing to answer a few questions."

"I know the establishment," Sylvia said, "It's popular with a number of firefighters too. I'll ask around there, as I train with them on the high angle rescue team."

"Let's keep in touch Sylvia," Agnus said. "I think if we combine our efforts, we'll get some interesting answers."

Greg cleared his throat and said, "I've written this in an email for everyone to read later. What I found out from Garth is disturbing. Lana, he's willing to be a witness for you, however you proceed. He suggested a civil suit first for damages and using it to ask the judge for criminal charges as a result."

"Hit the highlights then, will you?" Lana requested.

"The reason we could not locate Deloras is she was confined to the forensic mental health unit at the Fort Collins Mental Health Hospital. Garth has power of attorney, which was granted almost five years ago. He completed his physiotherapy training except the final practicum after that."

"Why is Deloras confined?" Dr. Elizabeth asked.

"Multiple issues. Paranoid psychosis, pyromania, are the two most significant problems. However, it gets worse. Someone provided a court order to release her and picked her up in the middle of August. I have yet to track down the paperwork." Greg rolled his eyes. "It seems to be missing at the moment."

"I can find the court order," Lana said.

"Garth left his job here to see if he can find her in her usual haunts in Telluride. No luck. BTW, the condo is listed in his name because he sold his mother's property in order to cover the costs of her treatment. Everything is properly dealt with, as he consulted with the judge who approved his power of attorney for his mother."

"So, was he ever the problem?" Melinda asked.

"Garth was a top notch gamer for years. He spent many hours in arcades and with his single friend. One Errol Madison. I've spoken with him and confirmed. Both of them believe it was his mother who set the fire. And he believes she has a long term lover. He doesn't have a name, but he wonders if that's who rescued her from the Mental Health Hospital."

Silence descended when Greg finished his brief report.

"To answer your question, Mel, I would say he is well alibied. I would have to confirm with someone, probably parents, who was familiar with Errol's activities, but Garth is eliminated as a suspect," Lana explained.

"I wonder if there is record of a plea bargain which ended with Deloras' forced treatment?" Agnus asked.

"Another thing for me to research through court records." Lana scribbled notes on her legal pad.

"So, are we at a dead end?" Mel asked.

"No. There are two things to work on. Grumman and his highly questionable work history and finding out how Deloras secured her release from treatment," Lana said.

"I suspect your figure in black is Deloras," Greg said. "Garth said his mother has an obsessive exercise routine which she maintained without fail while she was in hospital. She's been that way since his father died in the line of duty. He has progress reports which he will also share with you, Lana."

"Okay then," Anson put in, "That makes it entirely possible for her to be the source of Mel's footprints."

"I just remembered everything," Mel whispered her voice strengthening as she continued to speak. "Oh my God. She used gasoline to start the fire. It was burning before she ever got to my room. She didn't know I was awake. I smelled it and the smoke, and I followed her. I'm assuming it was her considering what we know now, but I didn't know it then." She jumped up to pace. "How could I forget?"

"Did she say anything?" Dr. Elizabeth's question stopped her dead in her tracks.

"You're the reason, remember that. You're the reason my brother wasn't there. Then she set my sheets on fire. I have no idea what she was talking about, and I didn't recognize the voice. But I don't remember visiting her or seeing her, except when I was little. Like before school. That and the comment I told you about before. The mission from God thing."

"You had burns on your legs, Mel. They weren't bad, barely worse than a bad sunburn, so you didn't scar. You were extremely lucky to survive. No wonder your brain buried everything," Dr. Elizabeth said and picked up her latte. "A toast to your survival is in order."

The rest of the group raised their cups and Mel plopped back down onto the cushions of the couch. "We have to find Aunt Deloras."