Cletus Jones had always wanted to take pictures of war-torn countries or natural disasters. Instead, he wound up working with a reporter for some online gossip site that paid well if the shot was worth it. Jenny Blake wasn't the worst person he knew...but her self-absorbed nature made her difficult to get along with. Cletus focused his camera on the woman who supposedly was Alex Carter's girlfriend. He didn't understand what the big deal was when it came to Alex Carter. As far as Cletus was concerned, he was just a rich kid that had become a richer adult. There was no special mystery about the guy but women drooled over him and here he was in some random town no one would know existed unless they accidentally drove got lost there.

Cletus glanced across the small grocery store in Bayless to stare at Jenny. Whether she admitted it or not, she was one of Alex Carter's fans. Cletus could tell. She hadn't taken her eyes off of Mr. Moneybags since he entered the grocery store. It was the same look his mother used to get when she saw the liquor store. It reeked of need and desperation. No matter how hard he tried, Cletus couldn't shake the ominous feeling that came over him when they drove into Bayless.

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Alex Carter was currently talking to Wally, who was behind the register. Meanwhile, Abby waved at Maria who was dressed in a blue dress with pineapple print. "Maria...I see you're all alone today. Where are your friends?" Abby asked.

Maria smoothed down her blue dress. "They're probably at home. I came here with Chuck to get a few groceries. He wanted me to make my famous Chicken casserole."

"Sounds delicious," Abby said, smiling. "You know, I'm glad I got to see you today. I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes."

"Sure! I'd love to," Maria answered. "What about?"

"Well...it's about the cabin."

Maria glanced around as if she wanted to make sure no one was listening. "What about it?"

"I kept thinking about the cabin. I was wondering why the sheriff just moved out so suddenly, even leaving his property behind. Mr. Carter has it in storage but surely the sheriff would want to keep mementos of his family."

Maria looked around again before whispering, "Well...I'm not too sure since I was a kid myself back then but the rumor was he was so shocked by everything he left it all behind."

"He was shocked that his family was murdered? I guess I could understand that. I still don't understand why anyone would want to murder a little girl. It makes no sense. Yeah, I could see how living there would be hard on anyone. I mean...I wouldn't want to live in the same place after that happened. Still, he didn't even take their pictures or belongings."

"Didn't you hear?" Maria asked.

"Hear what?"

"Well after everything happened, Sheriff Don spent a lot of time with his brother in the city. Zachary was in the hospital, after all. What was really odd was when Zachery came back, Sheriff Don didn't. Everyone wondered when Don would return. He wasn't sheriff back then but you know what I mean. Anyway, he didn't. It was probably two years later before he returned. Many women noticed that when he came back he wasn't wearing a ring anymore."

"Well, he was grieving the loss of his family so that makes sense," Abby said. "Maybe the ring was a reminder of losing the woman he loved."

"No, you don't know all the facts." Maria scowled, placing her hands on her hips.

"Well, tell me," Abby whispered. "Being in that cabin is driving me crazy with curiosity."

"One night after he returned, he got roaring drunk and went on and on about his wife Maggie being an adulterous woman. A few of his friends tried to make excuses for him saying that he had lost his daughter and was grieving so he must've been speaking gibberish but he just screamed at them. At least that's what my mother told me. Back then, it was scandalous. Why would anyone want to cheat on Don Caldwell? But the things he said that night? They're still shocking."

"What did Sheriff Don say?"

"That Crystal wasn't his. It was the craziest thing. No one would ever guess that Maggie Caldwell would be having an affair but it makes sense when you think about what they found in that cabin."

"What exactly did they--"

"Maria," Chuck said, inserting himself neatly between the two women. "Didn't I tell you not to be spreading rumors in this town?"

"Chuck, I wasn't spreading rumors. I was just telling Abby about the cabin."

"Still, spreading tales to outsiders isn't a good thing. Let's go," Chuck said, placing a hand on Maria's shoulder.

"Where are we going?"

"Into the city. I thought you wanted to watch a movie."

Maria looked back at Abby. "He never wants to go out so I better take him up on this. I'll see you around Abby."

"Uh...yeah. Bye," Abby gave a brittle smile as she watched the two leave. Chuck was getting on her nerves. If he would only let Maria talk to her, she could find out more information about the cabin.

Abby turned around to see the photographer from the other night staring at her. He winked and gave a slight wave but she ignored him. Her eyes scanned the aisles and then the check-out counter for Alex. He was talking to Wally.

"You'll be back at the cabin tonight, won't you?" Alex asked Wally.

"Yes, sir. It won't be a problem. I don't like Abby being scared," Wally answered with an awkward grin. He lifted his chin to the reporters and lowered his voice. "That's them."

Alex glanced over his shoulder to see who Wally was pointing to before turning back to him. "That's very nice of you, Wally. I'll see you later then." Alex nodded before glancing over at Zachary who was wheeling over to sit next to a standing Wally.

"You sure do come here a lot," Zachary growled.

"That's a good thing, isn't it? It means you're making more money if I'm buying more groceries."

Zachary pointed to Jenny and Cletus. "You bring them along too? They don't seem to be buying anything."

Alex shook his head. "No, they came on their own. I'm guessing someone left an anonymous tip that I was here."

"I don't see why anyone would care if you're here but I don't like snooping outsiders." Zachary scowled.

"No one does," Alex agreed.

Zachary pointed at Jenny and Cletus. "You two gonna buy something, or what?"

Jenny frowned and picked up a pack of gum. "If I buy this will you get off my back?"

"No, there's a twenty-five dollar minimum," Zachary said, crossing his arms. "This ain't a rest-stop. I'm here to make money. If you want to stalk Carter, do it on his property, not mine."

Not waiting to hear them respond, Alex ushered Abby out of the grocery store. In their rental car, Abby turned to Alex. "So Maggie Caldwell was having an affair."

"Is that all you found out?"

"I couldn't find out much. Maria's husband doesn't like her spreading rumors and he seems to have a knack for stopping her right when she's about to get to the juicy stuff. Sheriff Don must've found out Crystal's wasn't his and became upset. When he came back to Bayless he got drunk and blurted out everything."

"So he said Crystal wasn't his daughter?"

"According to Maria's gossip, yes."

Alex tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, trying to think. "So that's why he left all the belongings behind? He felt betrayed?"

"Maybe," Abby agreed. "Did you see those two reporters?"

"You mean one reporter. The other is a photographer."

Abby wanted to roll her eyes. Instead, she said, "I'm taking that as you did see them. They were staring at us the entire time. Maybe I should get a badge or something so they know that I really am just your assistant."

Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "That won't be necessary. I'm not sure who tipped them off about you and I staying in a cabin together but as long as they're around, we'll have Wally act as chaperone. Then we can easily tell our side of the story and get away with it."

"We don't need a chaperone."

"Doesn't matter. We still have one," Alex said. "I know you probably believe me, but there's always a reason for the things I do, Abby."

She decided not to reply to that. Wasn't there always a reason behind everyone's actions?

After they arrived at the cabin, Alex stayed behind in the car and watched Abby disappear inside the main entrance.

He waited a minute before pulling out a second cell phone that he kept on silent and read a text message. He grinned before responding anonymously.

"They really are a couple. They even share the same room in that cabin. If you get inside, you'll see how affectionate they are when no one is watching."