The tour guide was directing us to the bus for the next stop.

"Ok, we'll be watching the lights come on at the Falls in a few minutes." He said, as he directed us back on the bus.

"Are you going to take the Maid of the Mist tour tomorrow morning, Bits?"

"Oh, God, no, I'm terrified of water! That's why I took this tonight. I like to look at it, but not get close to it. You?"

"Why not. I won't get up here again,” said Marie. She had already told Bits about the honeymoon after 35 years and how we had saved for it.

Before it got dark, we were going to tour the walkways behind the falls and this left Marie sort of shivering. She didn't like tight spots and after having to put on raincoats, we were walking in the dimly lit corridors of the cave-like walkways.

Bits stayed with us pretty close. But when we had a snack at one stop she went to the ladies room. She was gone for a long time and Marie went in to see about her.

"Dave, she's not in there! And I don't see the man she was worried about either!"

“Calm down, Marie. I knew that woman was trouble. She's just like you, too dramatic for words!"

"We have to tell somebody, Dave. What if he kidnapped her or worse, killed her or something"

“Marie, I'm not gonna stop the tour. Now let's get on with this. She probably stole the money and he's trying to get it back."

Marie hit me on the arm. "She didn't steal the money, I'm telling you. She was really afraid of that man!"

"Well, wouldn't you be if you had stolen that much money from him?”

When we got back to the bus, the tour guide counted heads and asked where the missing two were, but no one seemed to know. I made Marie be quiet about Bits leaving to go to the restroom when we stopped for snacks.

After we got back and had supper, Marie was still in a snit over the fact that Bits and the man had disappeared.

The next morning, we were getting ready for the morning tour and I had the local news on. "Like you know anybody up here," said Marie, with a frown.

The newscaster was rambling on about totally unimportant things to us, when his voice sort of changed.

"In a late night discovery, the security guards at Niagara Falls found a body in an area that is usually full of tourists, but apparently the person fell over the side after going through the guard rails in the tunnel behind the falls."

We were listening goggle-eyed when suddenly someone knocked on the door.

I stepped to the door. There was a guy with an envelope in his hand and he asked me if this was the Carters room. I said yes, he handed me the envelope. I gave him a tip and took the envelope wondering what in tarnation it was. Marie was still in a tizzy about the news cast.

"You see, I told you so. He killed her. He kidnapped her and killed her! He pushed her out the tunnel! He killed her like Marilyn in the movie! Dave, are you listening to me?"

I handed her the envelope. It was addressed to Marie Carter. She tore into the letter and five bills fell out, along with a short note.

"Dear Marie, enjoy this gift. I appreciate your short friendship. Thanks for believing me. See you in another life, kid. P.S. I always loved the Niagara movie myself."

The newscaster on TV was still talking about the body found at the Falls, as Marie looked at me and held up five $1000 bills. I was never going to hear the end of this!