The next day, Thorian was on call at work. Cici was at the school with her students for the first day back to class. He’d promised to help her with her first shift, very soon, but today they had to get back to their regular lives.

He went to the hardware store and bought a bunch of supplies to start working on the kitchen. He planned to work on the cabinets first and then the floors. He had already ordered the appliances and the new countertops. He hoped to have it all complete by the time Cici moved in when her lease was up. During that time, he would fix up the house as much as possible, so it would be ready for her. Now that he knew he would have someone to spend his life with, he was far more motivated to do the work.

He finally finished cleaning out his grandfather's things later that morning. After throwing away the garbage, he put the rest into storage, so he could sort through it later. There were so many memories he wanted to keep, but he wasn't quite ready to process it all yet. There was so much other work to do on the house to get it ready for a family. He spent the morning tearing up the linoleum floor and repairing the subflooring, preparing to put down the new subway tile.

He had just finished with the subflooring when he got a text from his work. He had another call for the Talbot estate. He squinted at the text, wondering what could have gone wrong so soon. On his way over to the estate, he sent Cici a quick message, telling her where he was going. It all made him a little nervous. Especially since they had been snooping on the Talbots the day before.

He drove up to the front of the house and parked his truck, just a little after three. The only car in the driveway was the teenage son’s. Thorian grabbed his tools, making his way to the front door. He knocked, and the teenager opened the door.

"Boy, am I glad to see you," the young man said.

"Last time I was here, you told me that you were staying at your girlfriend's house," Thorian said, moving into the entry hall.

"Her parents got tired of having me in the guest room. The invitation was only for the holidays, so I had to come home.”

"How are you doing with your dad?" he asked.

"Honestly, he hasn’t been around very much. He's been spending a lot of time with Sally."

"Is that so," Thorian said.

He went down to the basement and shined his flashlight onto the fuse box. He tested a few things while the young man was at the top of the stairs.

“How is that?” Thorian called.

"Lights are still out," the teenager said.

"How about this?" Thorian said replacing the fuse yet again.

"Still nothing.”

Thorian took his flashlight and traced the electric cables back through the unfinished basement and came to the narrow opening of a crawlspace. He pushed aside the particleboard covering the entrance and peered inside. It was dusty and dark, but he could see the wires running behind the walls. He stooped and crawled inside, shining his light. He found the mainline connected the fuse box with the kitchen had been slice halfway apart. He quickly repaired the wire and when he was finished, he looked down at the ground under him and found a pearl earring, sitting on the floor. He picked it up and and put it in his pocket.

As he turned to leave the crawlspace, he noticed a box sitting in the corner. Out of pure curiosity, he flipped it open and found it full of fireworks. It surprised him so much, his heart skipped a beat. He emerged from the crawlspace and walked upstairs to the teenager.

“That fixed it,” the kid said.

"Where did all those fireworks in the crawlspace come from?" he asked the teenager.

"I don't know anything about any fireworks,” the kid said, turning green.

"They're exactly the type of explosives that were used to kill your mother.”

The kid dropped the juice bar he'd been eating, and it fell on to the immaculate floor.

“It was my dad, wasn’t it?" the kid said.

"Any idea where this came from?" he asked, holding up the earring.

"That looks familiar," the kid said, taking the earring. "You know whose this is?"

"Your mom's?"

"No, this belonged to her friend, Sally.”

Thorian then remembered she’d wearing only one earring the day he’d met her.

"She must have been tampering with the wires,” Thorian said.

Just then, the door opened. Mr. Talbot and Sally walked through the door. They were both laughing. She had a bright smile on her face as she hooked her arm in Mr. Talbot’s elbow.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Talbot asked Thorian.

"I got a call from my work saying that you were having electrical problems.”

"What sort of electrical problems?"

"It looks like one of your wires was cut."

"Who would cut the wires in my house?"

“I don't know, but I found this pearl earring in the crawlspace."

"Is that your earring, Sally?" the teenager asked as Thorian held the earring up for everyone to see. She covered her mouth with her fingertips and gasped. Then she shook her head no.

"Are you sure? I've seen you wear a pair just like that. You've been asking where it was since Christmas Eve."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, looking at Mr. Talbot.

"We also found a stash of fireworks in the same crawlspace. The same exact type that were used to kill Victoria Talbot," Thorian said.

"What are you insinuating?" Mr. Talbot asked.

"Nothing. I just want to know who killed Vicki Talbot during my fireworks display, and ruined my first date with my mate, got me in trouble with the police, and destroyed the rest of my fireworks. I take that personally."

"I don't know anything about any fireworks." Mr. Talbot said.

"Why was your earring in the crawlspace?” Thorian asked Sally. "The wire was sawed halfway, and then finally shorted out. That’s what’s been causing the fuses to blow.”

"I didn't have anything to do with that," Sally said. "I don't know anything about wiring or fireworks."

“I want to know who killed my mother,” the kid demanded, rage growing in his voice. “Was it you, Dad?”

"How could you ever suspect me of killing your mother? I loved her more than life itself. I would've done anything for her."

"Why are you spending so much time with Sally now, then?" he spat out.

"We’re planning the funeral."

"I know that you've always been in love with my father," the teenager accused Sally. "How did you lose your earring in the basement if you didn’t sabotage the electrical wiring?"

"I have no idea,” she said.

"Your earring is evidence you were down there," Thorian agreed.

"Fine, I did it. I cut the wire. I did it because I knew that there was a new handsome shifter electrician in town. I'd heard through a friend that you were exactly her type. I thought that if she found another boyfriend, then Ralph would finally leave her. Then we could be together. But I would never kill her.”

"What about you, Dad?" the teenager said. "You were so jealous of Mom. Maybe you thought that she was sleeping with Thorian and decided to blow her up." A tear slid down the kid’s face.

"I would never,” his father hissed.

A motor rumbled outside, and Thorian saw Jake’s truck pulling into the driveway.

“I think it’s time we ask Jake Martin a few questions,” Thorian said.

They all walked outside and approached Jake in the stable as he threw hay into the horse stalls.

“What’s everyone doing out here?” he asked as the group approached him.

"What were you doing at the Fate Valley Resort on New Year’s Eve?" Thorian asked him with the Talbots and Sally standing behind him.

"Working on the grounds crew. They always hire extra temp staff this time of year."

"How did the fireworks get in the crawlspace in the house?" Thorian asked.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re the pyrotechnician and the Talbot’s electrician. Sounds suspicious to me.”

"I had no reason to put fireworks in the basement," Thorian said.

"I know you were attracted to Vicki. Maybe you killed her in a fit of rage because you couldn't have her,” Jake suggested. “And then you were planning to murder to the rest of the family when you had enough saved up for a good explosion.”

“That’s an interesting scenario,” Thorian chuckled.

“You're the one that killed her, aren't you?" the teenager barked.

With that, the stablehand pulled a pistol out of the back of his pants and pointed at the family.

"I never would've hurt her. I loved her. But she wouldn't leave Ralph. She had a wandering eye and couldn't stay faithful. If I couldn't have her for myself, no one would have her! So, I did it. I drugged her champagne while we were making out in the bathroom, took her to the tent, shoved those fireworks in her mouth and ears and set them on fire. It served her right. She belonged to me. She told me so."

Everyone stood there, stunned at the rantings of the crazy man. Thorian could smell the scent of fear rising off them. He’d had enough, so he burst into a bear form and charged at the madman. Jake shot his gun and a bullet flew into the ceiling of the stable. Sally screamed. The horses spooked and reared up on their hind legs, kicking frantically and whinnying for their lives. In all the commotion, Thorian jumped on top of the Jake and held him down while Mr. Talbot tapped on his cellphone.

“Oh my god, oh my god!” Sally screamed.

“I knew it was him,” the kid said.

“Police,” Mr. Talbot said into the phone.

The police arrived moments later, handcuffing Jake. Thorian's clothes were in shreds on the ground so the cops draped a blanket over his shoulders. He shifted back while Jake was shoved in a police car. Thorian, Sally, and the Talbots went back inside, and watched the police drive off with Jake.

"I'm sorry I suspected you, Dad," the teenager said. "Things haven't exactly been easy at home.”

"I understand, son. And I'm sorry that I ever did anything to make you suspect me.”

The father and son embraced, and it did Thorian’s heart good to see the family reconciling.

"I've always loved you, Ralph," Sally said desperately.

The Talbot’s turned to her. The son narrowed his eyes at her, but Mr. Talbot just looked sad.

"I never knew you had feelings for me, Sally," Mr. Talbot said. “Now is not the time for any of that. I’m grieving for my wife, and have to make up with my son. You’re going to have to give me space."

"Can I at least still help with the funeral? I never meant her any harm."

"I could use the help."

Mr. Talbot lent Thorian some clothes, and he changed in the bathroom before bidding the family farewell and driving away. He was sure glad his family never had drama like that. It made him so grateful for his sweet mate and their new life together.