Vera said, “Probably they’re cowering in their families’ homes right now, afraid of their own shadows.”
He nodded. “But that meant that a perfectly innocent creature, in this case Cassia Brocket, was walking through the woods and stumbled over the now-open grave. She knew right away that it was a police matter, so she reported it. But just think, if the treasure hunters had dug a few feet over, that body might have stayed buried for years.”
“You should find the kids,” Vera said. “To confirm that’s how it happened. I bet the rumors will be flying among the school set—you’ll be able to figure out who happened upon the body without too much trouble.”
“I’ll do it tomorrow,” he said, with a nod. “And you?”
“What do you mean? I’ll write up an article, of course. It’s news.”
“That’s not what I mean, Vera. You’re going to investigate, because you think this is connected with the Springfield situation.”
“I know it is,” she said. “We don’t know much about that body, but we’ve heard one recent accusation of murder, and now there’s one corpse. That’s not a coincidence.”
“We don’t know what it is yet,” he said, a warning in his tone.
“Are you going to tell me I can’t investigate? That it’s too dangerous and you’re going to use your power as the law to stop me?”
Orville put down his mug. “You’ll keep sleuthing around no matter what I say. All I’m asking is that you be careful and keep me posted. We have no idea what’s really going on here. But that corpse was missing a head, Vera. And anyone capable of killing, decapitating, and burying a creature is someone you need to be wary of.”
That was very sensible advice, and she knew it. “You’ve got a point. And I don’t intend to do anything stupid.”
“At least not till after the election,” he added, with the hint of a smile.
“You’re awful!” she said with a laugh. “And here I thought you liked me.”
“Oh, I do,” he said, more seriously. “So, you better take care of yourself.”
“I promise,” she said, touched by his concern. “And I promise to keep you in the loop.”
“Good enough,” he said, rising from his chair. “All right, then. I had a tough day, and tomorrow looks like it’ll be even tougher. You lock your door tight, understand?”
“Sure, but which side of the door do you want to be on when I do?” she teased him.
He chuckled, gave her a kiss, and left to go to his own place. He looked tired, Vera thought as she watched him go. It wasn’t fair to pile a murder on his plate while he was also running for office. Then again, when was murder ever fair?
After double-checking her door lock, Vera went to her desk. She read over her notes about the Springfields and added some key points. It was starting to look like Dot might not be crazy after all. Perhaps Edward, the real Edward, had been murdered. Perhaps that was his body that had been discovered in the woods. Perhaps Edward’s long-lost brother, Thomas, had killed him and taken his place, certain that no one would notice the deception. He did not count on Dot’s natural instincts, nor did he have any idea what Edward called his wife in their intimate moments. He also did not expect the terms of his mother’s will to be so complex.
Finally, Vera decided that she had done as much as she could. She went back to bed and tried to think about pleasanter subjects than murder and betrayal. She thought about Orville and the upcoming election. It would be so wonderful if he won the race for police chief. He worked so hard, and he really deserved it. Sometimes Vera also allowed herself to daydream about a future with Orville. She was a career fox and did not often engage in romantic fancies, but every once in a while she wondered what it would be like to share her life and her home with another creature. With this, Vera finally drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 11
After the excitement of the author event, the discovery of a body, and the fending off of the advances of a narcissistic wolf, it was perhaps not surprising that Vera overslept. She dragged herself out of bed, dressed quickly, and headed out to Joe’s for a large cup of coffee.
Orville and Chief Meade were leaving the coffee shop just as Vera was entering. After a trio of good mornings, Orville mentioned that he and his boss were on their way to the morgue to speak with Dr. Brodhead. He had worked all night and had the results of his preliminary report. Vera promised to join them just as soon as she concluded her business with Joe. She knew that she would not survive this day without a great deal of coffee, and perhaps an egg sandwich.
Fortunately, the line at the counter was short, and Vera joined it while breathing deeply of the delightful aroma of coffee that filled the air. She spent the time waiting in line studying the chalkboard menu with the day’s specials, and was ready with her order when her turn came.
“Good morning, Joe,” Vera greeted the moose, keeping the chitchat to a minimum since she knew that Joe was busy. Joe Jr., the moose’s son, who usually helped out, was nowhere to be seen. “An egg and cheese sandwich on a sesame bagel with the largest coffee possible. To go, please.”
“Coming up,” Joe said cheerfully. He put the order in and motioned for Vera to wait on the bench near the door. The place was already filling up, and Rosie, a mink who’d been
