A week is never as long as it seems. Detective Aiden Stone was never the type to procrastinate, but he surprised even himself with how much he was capable of accomplishing within such a tight deadline. A day after Hermia’s visit, he made his decision. As promised, one phone call was all it took to wipe his debt away. He broke his lease, packed, and moved out of his office and apartment. Surprisingly, his landlord, pleased that he was breaking lease early, did not charge him the cleaning fee for the damage to her carpet. Even the two cases that were currently in his queue he closed quickly; neither took him more than half a day to resolve. It was as if the stars aligned for him to take the new job.

Exactly a week later, on a Tuesday, Aiden drove a moving truck into the township of Idyllic. Due to his sudden change in lifestyle, what with his debt gone and a new job promised, he was whistling a pleasant tune. It wasn't until he reached the outer gate of the town that he first noticed something was amiss. The town's entry gate was a tall wrought iron gate embellished in gold. Normally, the gate was closed. On days where the town was open for tourism, the gate had a doorman who greeted tourists and gave out brochures. He wore a uniform much like a train conductor in a dark grey with a white stripe along his sleeves and up his pants. Aiden was early; it was about 10 a.m. when the rest of the tourists began to pour in; his moving truck was fourth in line.

When it came his turn, the doorman waved for him to stop. "Good morning, sir. There seems to be a mistake; we don't have any scheduled move-outs."

"Ah, good morning. I'm doing the opposite, actually, I'm moving in. Aiden Stone, the town's new Sheriff. Perhaps you've heard my name before?" He smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile and reached out his hand, offering a handshake.

The look on the doorman's face stiffened. "New Sheriff…I see, it was today, was it?"

Aiden appraised the doorman; up close, he was far younger than from afar. Figures, it was early summer and school was out, Aiden thought. The boy was scrawny, no older than a high schooler; his pale face was round with a few spots of acne. He had an enviable tall nose followed by bushy dark brows to match his black hair. Only his eyes seemed a bit older than the rest of him; two dark grey orbs stared with a bit of hostility towards Aiden.

After a moment of hesitation, the boy reached out and clasped Aiden's hand in his gloved one. His handshake was firm. "Well met, Sheriff. I'm the town Greeter; call me Solomon."

"Thank you, Solomon." Aiden gestured ahead, "I was given an address by Hermia, I mean, Deputy Williams. Do you know where I might find '424 Posy Court'?"

"You'll go straight through Main Street until you hit Ash Lane; it's a one way, take a left there and go till the end. There's a few cul-de-sacs down there, Posy should be the third."

"Thank you! See you around Solomon."

"Likewise."

Aiden rolled up his window and drove through the gate. Once through, his breath hitched. In truth, it had been many years since Aiden had visited Idyllic. Despite the town being relatively close to New Brunswick, there was never any real need to visit. The last time he set foot here was for a coworker's stag night; that had been about half a decade ago.

The town hadn't changed much since, but it was no less picturesque. Despite the early hour, Main Street, with its wide road, was bursting with activity. The short buildings were all in neat rows; each business boasted a bright sign and advertisements. He saw there was a barbershop, general store, apothecary, and fire station all on one side. The other side was more commercial with an ice cream parlour, hat shop, jeweler, and bakery. The scent of baked goods and sugar wafted about, causing Aiden's mouth to water. He turned to his left and right to admire vehicles passing by. Vintage cars of all shapes and colors were common here, drawing the eyes of visitors like bees to flowers.

Even more of a spectacle were the citizens; each of them went about their day dressed impeccably in nostalgic garments from the 1950s and 1960s. The ladies wore outfits from pastel checkered summer dresses to voluminous printed skirts. The gentlemen sported fine suits or colorful polo shirts and nice slacks. Couples lounged under shop overhangs flirting, while others chatted with store clerks. Young teens and children ran around with newspapers, and a few were even employed to shine shoes by the park. Every now and then a stray dog would run through and steal someone's ice cream; the whole town was akin to a scene from a play.

Aiden's lips inadvertently turned up. This might truly be the change in pace he was promised. He made a turn on Ash Lane heading towards the suburbs of the town. Off Main Street, the roads became closer together. The houses were shorter than the shops on Main; brick ranch-style homes and a couple of split levels here and there were the norm. It wasn't until he was close to the end of Ash Lane that he saw signs of trouble.

There were protesters in the street, each holding handwritten signs. Men, women, and children had formed a mob nearing the end of Ash Lane at the mouth of entry into the cul-de-sacs. Aiden had to squint to read the signs, but it didn't take long for his smile to turn upside down. OUTSIDERS NOT WELCOME, IDYLLIC IS IDYLLIC, MIND YOUR OWN, were among the more tame signs. Several cars were in front of him in line to enter their homes, but none of them were moving. Aiden rolled down his window to eavesdrop.

"...it is for the sake of the town that we seek someone from outside-"

"Nay, our own deputies can solve our problems!"

"I don't trust someone from outside to pass judgment!"

"Yeah! There's no need for outside interference!" The mob was passionate, waving their signs ever higher. Someone soon spotted Aiden's moving truck.

It was as if the floodgates opened. The mob moved to surround the vehicle, their voices abrasive and hands raised. Aiden instinctively rolled up his window. Despite Hermia's warning that the town objected to outside interference, he hadn't expected there to be physical pushback against his appointment. With angry faces pressed against the windows of the truck, claustrophobia began to kick in.

It began with what felt like tinnitus in one ear, then grew to fill both ears and all the space in-between his skull. The air felt heavier, as if slime had oozed into the truck from the top and was closing in on Aiden. He was trying to keep his composure. Aiden hadn't expected his first meeting with the townspeople to be so soon, he had no speech prepared. First impressions could make or break his popularity; he had to act fast.

He took a deep breath and rolled down his window. "Good morning." He projected his voice loudly and smiled. The voices ceased out of simple curiousity; the citizens wanted to hear what he had to say. "My name is Aiden Stone. I understand that your beloved town needs the guidance of a new Sheriff due to recent events. Yes, I am an outsider; it will take me some time to adjust to the ways of Idyllic, however! I, like you, want justice for the dead man.”

There was some murmuring among the crowd. A woman wearing an eye-catching red turban and sunglasses spoke up. "Upholding justice is your job, but what of the protection of those who cannot protect themselves?"

Does she mean children and women? Aiden thought, "I have always believed the strong should protect the weak." Before he could say more, an authoritative voice cut through the air. 

"You heard the man; he is on our side." Deputy Hermia had appeared behind the crowd, her hands on her hips. Unlike her first glamorous appearance, Hermia was dressed for function this time. She wore a navy blue deputy's uniform complete with her service firearm and effects. She pushed her auburn ponytail behind her. "Make way now; our new Sheriff needs to settle in." Several voices in the crowd began to argue once more but were quelled by Hermia's declaration. "The Mayor of Idyllic has approved this appointment. If you have any complaints, please direct them to the Nautilus Room in Town Hall." She put a whistle to her lips and began to direct the crowd, clearing the way through. Two other deputies were in her company, also firmly breaking up the crowd. 

Cars began to move again. Aiden let out a breath he did not know he was holding. The unexpected mob had taken its toll. Aiden reached for his iced coffee, taking a long sip; he felt drained. Soon, he reached his destination. 

424 Posy Court was a quaint yellow ranch house. From the outside, Aiden could tell it was miles more space than his previous office and upstairs living space combined. What more, he was afforded a driveway here and even a powder blue shed that peeked out from the yard. He noticed that someone had gone through and placed white curtains and hanging house plants in all the windows. Hermia's face came to mind. He parked and approached the house, empty-handed. 

Up he walked on the concrete slabs that formed the walkway and then up some stairs. A small squarish metal mailbox was tacked next to the powder blue colored front door. He reached in and fished out a set of keys. Hermia was thorough; everything she told him was in the places she told him it would be. Aiden couldn't help but appreciate that his new coworker was so consistent. He slid the key into the keyhole and opened the door. 

Wooden floors greeted him along with some simple furnishings in a spacious living room. There was a TV, a coffee table, and a loveseat. Many plants filled the area closest to the windows, giving the mostly white room a pop of green. Without closing the front door, Aiden walked into the dining room and connected kitchen to see a modest-sized dining table complete with 4 chairs. There was also an island covered in granite that matched the rest of the kitchen's countertops. He opened the cabinets, spotting some disused appliances, and caught a whiff of stale spices. Someone had lived here before, but the condition was more than agreeable.