"We're here," Dave says with only a little more enthusiasm than he feels.

  "Yay! Roll out the red carpet. What a dump," James complains, staring through the Titan's windshield in disappointment. "Nothing like the brochure at all."

  "Stop your bitching, Mackey! Could be worse. At least the roof is in good condition. The building looks structurally sound. Unless there's rodents or roaches running around...I don't see the issue. Sure, the cabins aren't pretty. But they're decent. Come on. Let's grab our gear."

  Dave and James have just climbed out of the truck when a tan sedan carefully makes its way up the winding path toward the cabins. James offers Dave an indifferent shrug.

  "Must be Ms. Barnes. The uh...Property manager...With our keys. Obviously, she lives in that big house at the end of the dirt road. Otherwise, how did she know we're already here? We're two hours early."

  "Obviously," Dave mimics softly.

  As James correctly guessed, the owner of the tan sedan is in fact Melanie Barnes. The aging property manager, and real estate agent, gingerly climbs out of her vehicle. She closes the car door just as carefully and strides over to Dave and James. She offers Detective Mackey her hand, which he gently shakes.

  "Hello, I'm Melanie Barnes. We spoke on the telephone. It's a pleasure to meet you, Officer Mackey...Mr. Newsome."

  Neither lawman corrects Ms. Barnes. What would be the point? Honorifics aside, they're in Nathan's Parish to have a good time. After shaking Dave's hand, Melanie reaches in her skirt pocket for the cabin's keys. She hands the set of keys to Dave. James chooses this moment to voice his discontent at the building's condition.

  "Uh, Ms. Barnes. My buddy and I...We can't help but feel a little misled. The cabin in your online video, and in the brochure, looks nothing like these cabins. These cabins are...Pretty rundown."

  "Oh...Yes. I'm terribly sorry about that. I haven't gotten around to making a more recent video. I'm also the town real estate agent. And I also work part time at the local daycare. So, my day planner is pretty full."

  Dave quickly intervenes, hoping to salvage the good vibes; and their fishing-hunting weekend. He places a large hand on Ms. Barnes' left shoulder. The older woman turns to Deputy Newsome in surprise.

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  "What Detective Mackey meant to say is...We're pleased with the cabin. We just wish we had been given a more accurate description. That's all. No hard feelings."

  "Oh. Well, that's good. Now, I'm not really supposed to do this, but..." Ms. Barnes utters softly, embarrassment in her tone. "I'm really sorry if you both feel misled. I can offer you a deal."

  "No, we don't want our money back," Dave protests.

  "Who says?" Mackey mutters under his breath.

  "I can offer you that second smaller cabin for the weekend as well. Free of charge. Consider it my apology."

  "Ms. Barnes, I don't know..." Dave begins.

  "We'll take it," Mackey exclaims, cutting Dave off.

  Dave and James shoot each other equally scathing glances. Ms. Barnes looks from one irritated lawman to the other. After a brief pause, she finally forges ahead with her explanation.

  "We hardly ever use that cabin. Most of our visitors are seeking something much bigger. It was built when we expected a permanent groundskeeper to be on the premises. The funding for a full time groundskeeper fell through. Our town's population is also in decline and people don't come out here as much as they used to. I hate to see the cabin sit there unused. Besides, we need water to run through the pipes now and again. Cleans the system out. You both can have the smaller cabin for the weekend. I'll have to run up to my house for the keys."

  "You mean the gray house at the end of the road?" Mackey queries, testing his art of detection.

  "Yes. How did you know?"

  "Lucky guess," Dave answers for James.

  "Something like that," James says with a tiny laugh.

  "Make yourselves at home, gentlemen," Melanie says with a laugh of her own. "I'll be back with the other keys in about twenty minutes. I may have to search around for them a bit."

  Melanie steps away from the two law enforcement officers. She goes back to her car and climbs inside. With a tiny wave, she turns her car around and drives in the direction of her less than modest home.

  "Make yourself at home, she said," James says.

  "You truly are a mess, James. Wasn't it you who taught me to should use honey rather than vinegar to achieve a desirable result in any situation? Poor Madison is right. You're becoming almost as bad as a rhino in estrus. I would think you're the one pregnant instead of her."

  "Haha. Funny, Dave. I don't like being lied to. She hasn't updated that video...Or the brochure, in ten years. Are you telling me...In all of those years...She didn't have a single spare moment to whip out her phone and take a few pictures? A video can upload while you wash the dinner dishes or take a crap. She was lying. Pure and simple. That's why I said 'yes' to the second smaller cabin. She owes it to us."

  "Such a boy scout, James. I admire that about you. Sometimes."

  "Whatever."

  Silence fills the air. Dave slides his eyes craftily over to James.

  "Hey, Mackey. I'll arm wrestle you for the larger cabin."

  Detective Mackey rolls his eyes toward the sky. The younger man shakes his head sadly.

  "Have at it, Dave. I'm good with the smaller cabin."