“Hmm. Can’t say I have. It sounds like she’s very frightened,” he said. It was typical of Sun Li (who had been a surgeon before becoming a chef) to consider Dotty’s feelings before the other facts of the case.
“That was plain enough,” Vera agreed. “She practically fainted! But she needs to see a doctor, not the police. A murder is impossible.”
Sun Li took a slow sip of tea, then said, “I’ve traveled quite a bit in my life, and I’ve seen a lot of things other folks would describe as impossible.”
“What are you saying?” Vera asked curiously.
“Just that if you do plan on investigating this—and it’s intriguing enough to be right up your alley—I’d suggest you start with the assumption that Dorothy is correct, and that her account is reliable. Everyone else seems to think she’s made a mistake. And if you think that too, you’ll only discover what everyone else will. Try a different approach.”
It was good advice, and Vera thanked him.
After the tea break, Vera made her way back to the newspaper offices. The day was still crisp and lovely, but all she could think about as she walked was what she’d witnessed earlier. How strange to believe that your own husband had been murdered while he was standing right next to you. It didn’t make any sense at all.
Vera made a quick stop at her desk, right in the center of the busy office of the Herald. She wrote up her story on her beloved clackity typewriter and read it over once before getting up to submit it. Then she decided that she could use a pick-me-up and headed to Joe’s Mug. The local coffee shop was the heart of Shady Hollow. It was a comforting place where every creature could feel at home and enjoy Joe’s fine food and drink.
When Vera entered the café, she was happy to see that it wasn’t too busy. Esmeralda Von Beaverpelt was working behind the counter, speaking to a customer, another beaver who looked like her spitting image.
This was because the beavers were sisters, and they did look incredibly alike. Not too long ago they also dressed alike and acted similarly too. They were the rich heiresses of one of Shady Hollow’s most important families. But after a tragedy that shook the Von Beaverpelts’ world, Esme did something unthinkable—she started to work for a living.
Esme shocked her family by taking a job as a waitress at the humble coffee shop, and she shocked the town by being extremely good at it.
Meanwhile, her sister, Anastasia, clung to her past life as a spoiled brat and tried to maintain her image as a wealthy creature of leisure. Judging from the slightly worn appearance of her fancy garb, things weren’t going so well.
The sisters remained on good terms though. They giggled in exactly the same way, and they waved to each other as Stasia picked up her lunch order and strolled to the door.
That was where Stasia stopped, since Vera was in the doorway.
“Oh, Miss Vixen,” Stasia said in a pinched, haughty tone. “How do you do this lovely day.” She blamed Vera for some of the family’s misfortune, though Vera really only reported the story.
“I do just fine, Stasia,” Vera replied easily, not ruffled at all by the creature’s attitude. “Hope you’re keeping busy.”
“Well, I have some shopping to do in Elm Grove,” Stasia said, who very likely would go nowhere near Elm Grove today. “Goodbye!”
Vera let her out and then walked to the counter.
“Hey there, Vera,” Esme greeted her in a much more genuine tone. Unlike Stasia, Vera and Esme had become friendly over the past few months. “Dining in or taking out?”
“Hmm, just a takeaway order for me.”
Joe popped his big head out of the kitchen and asked if she had heard the latest. Vera looked at the moose expectantly, since he always showed a capacity for being first in gossip.
“Dotty Springfield has gone round the bend,” he said in low tones. “I heard that she was shrieking about her husband being murdered while he was standing right beside her. She’s always been a little nutty, but this really takes the cake. Folks are saying that Edward should have her institutionalized.”
Vera was surprised that the story had already circulated this fast, considering she’d been on the scene and it happened only a couple hours ago. But then again, Shady Hollow was a small community. She felt a little sorry for Dotty, especially after Edward had given Vera the cold shoulder that morning at the lawyer’s office. Perhaps there was something in Dotty’s claims. She decided not to say anything about her suspicions to Joe and Esme, but she might discuss it with Orville if she could find the time. As she was collecting her coffee, Joe mentioned that Orville had already set up a campaign office in the abandoned storefront across the street from the café.
“The old etiquette school?” Vera asked, shuddering. “I hope the rent was cheap!”
“Cheers to that,” Joe agreed. No one was sorry to see the school gone, and as it turned out, Shady Hollow residents were quite polite to each other without needing any fancy classes.
When Joe saw Vera glance at the pumpkin pie displayed temptingly on the counter, he started to slice a piece for her. “Make it two servings, please, Joe,” Vera said, an idea coming to her. “Orville waits all year for your pumpkin pie, and I bet he’s been busy all morning. He’ll want a treat.”
Armed with dessert for herself and Orville, Vera said goodbye to Joe and Esme and walked past makeshift campaign headquarters that had appeared overnight. As she crossed the road, she noticed various residents of Shady Hollow going in and coming out of the office. Perhaps they were interested in volunteering for Orville’s campaign. It was certainly good to know that there was support for a new chief of
