“The only problem with that is…” Lenore began.
“Yeah. Everyone agrees that Edward is one of the nicest, politest folks in town. He’s not a murderer.”
“Well,” Lenore said, contradicting her own previous thought, “anyone can become a murderer with the right motivation.”
“I’ve got to go to Highbank and learn more about Thomas,” Vera decided. “I’ll head out tomorrow morning on the first boat upriver. Maybe Thomas is still there, alive and well and totally uninvolved in all of this mess. But maybe he’s been missing for a couple of weeks…exactly as long as that body’s been in the ground.”
Chapter 12
The next morning dawned clear and cool. It was perfect weather for both a boat ride and an investigative trip. The fox felt a rush of adrenaline as she dressed for the day. It was almost like having a day off, but with the added excitement of possibly discovering some information about Thomas Springfield.
Stopping by the newspaper office, Vera poked her head into BW’s office.
“Hey, boss,” she said. “Just wanted to let you know that I’m chasing a story and I’ll be out of the office for at least three days.”
“What? That’s an eternity in news!”
“Sorry, but I’ve got to go to Highbank, and I think I’ll stay for at least two nights, possibly more if I find something worth pursuing.”
The skunk made a growling sound in his throat. “You’d better write the article of the year when you’re done, Vixen. I’m not paying you to take vacations!”
“Sure thing, boss,” she said breezily as she left. Vera knew BW couldn’t outrun her, so the conversation was effectively over.
Vera made her way to the dock in plenty of time to purchase a round trip ticket to Highbank. The small town was upriver from both Shady Hollow and Mirror Lake—it would take most of the day to reach. Vera planned to spend two nights in Highbank, ask around town about Thomas Springfield, and then catch an evening boat back to Shady Hollow, unless she found a trail to follow. Geoffrey and Ben from Bramblebriar had a friend who ran a bed-and-breakfast in Highbank, and recommended it to Vera. She had also mentioned her plans to both Lenore and Orville, so that her absence wouldn’t cause any undue worry. Plus, it was easy (though not cheap) to send wingmail should she need to advise anyone of a change in plans.
Vera boarded the boat with a spring in her step. She knew from past trips that there was a small snack bar aboard that provided food and drink to the passengers. Knowing that there would be plenty of coffee available gave Vera peace of mind. She chose a seat on the upper deck and settled in for the journey. She had brought along a copy of Watership Down, and she was looking forward to a leisurely day of reading.
There were other passengers aboard the boat, but Vera kept to herself. She put down her book for a time and made some notes about what questions she wanted to ask about Thomas Springfield. She planned to check into the inn and then find somewhere to have dinner. She would wait until the next day to ask around about the rat.
Vera considered herself to be an observant creature. It was a big part of being an excellent journalist, as well as a detective. However, Vera was extremely caught up in her book, and she didn’t think that there was any reason for her to watch the other passengers on the boat. If she had looked around a little more carefully, she would have seen a particularly wolfish figure on the lower deck of the boat.
In the afternoon, when the boat neared the dock at Highbank, Vera reluctantly put down her book and gathered her belongings together. She hated to stop reading at such a crucial point in the story! As she made her way down the gangplank to dry land, Vera asked one of the muskrat crew members for directions to Highbank Hideaway. The town was quite a bit smaller than Shady Hollow, and everything she was looking for was conveniently located on the same main street. The fox thanked the muskrat politely for his help and made her way to the inn.
Highbank Hideaway was a charming Victorian set back from the street. It had a huge wraparound porch and an extensive garden with a gazebo. There were comfortable-looking wooden lounge chairs set in the garden. Vera hoped to claim one to read her book after dinner. She went to the bright green front door and lifted the heavy knocker, molded in the shape of a pineapple. The door was opened by an older lady chipmunk with a cheerful expression.
“Hello there, dear. My name is Kitty St. Clair. Welcome to Highbank Hideaway.”
Vera was pleased to be greeted so cordially. She had not made a reservation but had been hoping that there would be a room available.
“I’m Vera Vixen,” she replied. “I’m from Shady Hollow, and I am here on business. Might you have a room available for a few nights?”
The affable chipmunk opened the front door wider and invited Vera into the vestibule.
“You are in luck, Miss Vixen,” Kitty replied. “I have one of our finest rooms available. If you would like to sign our ledger, I can show you to your room.”
Vera wondered to herself if all innkeepers referred to every one of their rooms as “the finest.” Kitty St. Clair was so similar to Ben and Geoffrey Eastwood that they could be related. Perhaps it was just something they learned in the hospitality business.
Vera followed Kitty up the stairs and down a long hallway with closed mahogany doors along it. When they reached the end of the hall, they stood in front of a door with a shiny brass plate on the door with a 3 on it. Kitty unlocked the door with
