She closed her eyes…and went right to sleep.
When Vera opened her eyes the next morning, she wondered for a moment why all of her limbs ached. Then she remembered the events of yesterday and groaned a little as she climbed out of bed. She would have one more luxurious breakfast at Highbank Hideaway and then get the midmorning boat for Shady Hollow. She was ready to be home in her own house and to see Lenore and Orville.
Once more the dining room was set up with an ample repast. Today there were pancakes and fruit. Vera filled her plate with the delicious food and filled a mug with coffee. She was congratulating herself on dodging Bradley Marvel when the wolf entered the dining room. She knew that there would be no avoiding him on the boat home so she resigned herself to be as cordial as she could. After all, if not for him, she would still be trapped at the bottom of the pit or worse.
“Good morning, Vera,” the wolf boomed, clearly in good humor. “You don’t look any the worse for wear after your fall.”
“I’m feeling much better,” Vera replied, and then because she knew that he was expecting it, “Thanks to you, I’m alive to tell the tale.”
Bradley Marvel nodded modestly, but he was obviously pleased. He fancied himself a hero, and now he actually was. Vera shuddered to think what could have happened if he had not found her.
Vera finished her pancakes as quickly as she could. She excused herself, saying she needed to pack up her things and get to the dock. The wolf nodded, saying that he would see her on the boat.
The boat ride was tolerable, and when the boat docked at the Shady Hollow pier, Vera knew that the first order of business was a proper dinner. She made the mistake of mentioning that she loved the food at the Bamboo Patch, and before she knew what was happening, Bradley Marvel walked her to the restaurant and loudly announced that they needed a table for two. Several of the other diners glanced their way, inquisitive looks on their faces.
Oh, brother, she thought. She wasn’t sure she could endure another meal with Marvel. Maybe I can tell Sun Li I need takeout.
They were seated at a comfortable booth near the kitchen, and Vera concentrated on the divine smells coming from there, rather than on her dinner companion.
“Pearl Mountain-style Mushroom Steak, huh?” Bradley said, perusing the menu. “Now that’s more like it!”
“I’ll have the Three Treasure Squash,” Vera told the server. “And some tea, please.”
“Of course, Miss Vixen,” the server said with a smile. “Chrysanthemum, as usual?”
At Vera’s nod, she hurried away to get the teacups. Vera sighed. At least her tummy would be satisfied. Her brain was not so lucky.
“I just don’t know how to explain what happened in the woods,” she said, scanning her notebook, hoping for a spark of inspiration.
“It’s simple,” Bradley said.
“Really?”
“You were in dire peril, and I saved you…”
“Not those woods,” she interrupted crossly. “I mean the woods here in Shady Hollow, where the body was discovered. If that corpse isn’t Edward and it isn’t Thomas, then who could it be? There are no other male rats who were reported missing in this area. Orville checked the records. We don’t attract many folks just passing through, especially this late in the year. They come because they’ve got family here, or they’re looking for work.”
The server returned to the table with a tea tray. She placed the ceramic teapot down and then put a teacup in front of each of them. The cups were decorated with beautifully painted maple leaves in red and yellow. Sun Li liked to have dishes that matched the season—it was all part of the charm of dining there.
Bradley took a sip, and scalded his tongue.
“Careful, it’s hot,” Vera warned him half-heartedly. Then she continued, “I refuse to believe that a stranger just happened to wander into town, and then just happened to get killed by someone who just happened to be able to bury them without being seen! It’s ridiculous.”
“If no one cares that the rat is dead, why bother finding out what happened?” Bradley asked.
Vera carefully sipped her tea from the half-filled cup, which was now the perfect temperature. “I care that the rat is dead. And anyway, it’s still important to find out the truth.” She thought of Mr. Fallow’s request for her to investigate the crime. If she couldn’t prove that the corpse was somehow connected to Dorothy’s accusation that Edward was somehow not really Edward, then it was quite possible that she’d be declared mentally ill. Vera couldn’t stand to see Dorothy shut away for the rest of her life, simply because she couldn’t prove what she felt in her heart to be true. “I’ve got to find some evidence that will help Dot,” she said at last.
Just then, Sun Li himself came out, bearing a tray with two large plates. “Heard you were here, Vera,” he said, putting a plate down in front of her. “How goes the investigation?”
“Not great,” she admitted. “Every time I think I have a lead, it ends up being a red herring.”
“Huh, good thing you didn’t order the special then,” he joked. He looked at Bradley Marvel. “Is this a friend?” (Sun Li had been one of the few creatures who didn’t appear at the book signing.)
“Bradley Marvel. Author. Adventurer. Alpha. Oh, and I saved Vera’s life yesterday,” Bradley told the chef.
“Well, that is certainly a good deed,” Sun Li replied politely. “Enjoy your dinner. And Vera,” he added, “if you keep risking your life while solving murders, you know you’re going to make a lot of folks upset.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, with a little salute.
Vera focused on her meal, enjoying it immensely. A fall favorite, it consisted of three kinds of grilled squash arranged over a pilaf of three kinds of rice. Over it all was drizzled a sweet sauce with ginger,
