'He'll just tell us to butt out, Meg. He always does.' Quill was seized with a desire to get back to the Inn, and jumped to her feet. 'Where's Edward? He's been in there quite a while. Did he go in right after you?'
'Yep. I'll go check.'
'Meg, we're not supposed to go in there. Davey said...'
'Bosh!' Meg jumped up, disappeared into the building, then reappeared a few moments later with Edward Lancashire. 'Mrs. Hallenbeck just went in to see Officer Kiddermeister,' he said in response to Quill's inquiry.
'You were in there a long time,' said Meg. 'Did he ask you the same questions he asked us?'
'I'm sure he did,' Edward said easily.
The door to the library swung open, and Mrs. Hallenbeck felt her way carefully down the steps. Quill went up and took her arm. 'Are you feeling all right? This must have been such a shock!'
'This has been quite an experience,' the old lady said. 'Most interesting. I warned her that liquor would be the death of her someday - that, and those pills.' She gazed around with satisfaction. 'It's a lovely day.'
'Did Mavis drink much, Mrs. Hallenbeck?' Edward asked.
'A cocktail every evening, without fail. I myself neither smoke nor drink, nor put any drugs in my body,' she said firmly. 'I am often complimented on my youthful appearance. It is the result of taking care of myself. Shall we walk to the Inn? I could use a cup of tea.'
'Would you like me to call the van from the Inn, Mrs. Hallenbeck? It's all uphill.' Quill was worried about her in the heat.
'What a thoughtful child you are, Sarah. You take such good care of me. No. I shall walk. I walk four or five miles a day most of the time. I am frequently complimented on my stamina.'
The four of them set off at a rapid pace, Mrs. Hallenbeck leading the way.
'Had you known Mavis long?' asked Edward of her.
'Oh, yes. She worked for my late husband, you know. Had a title - Human Resources Director or somesuch. Quite a stupid woman, really, when you think about it.'
'Such a terrible way to die,' murmured Quill, half to herself.
'Perhaps the sheriff will find some evidence on the barn door,' suggested Edward.
'I did not so much as pick up a stone, so I clearly am not responsible,' said Mrs. Hallenbeck with immense satisfaction. 'But that terrible Baumer person. Someone should put people like that in jail. Imagine being responsible for an accident like that.'
They reached the bottom of the incline to the Inn. Mrs. Hallenbeck looked girlishly up at Edward. 'I believe I'll take this handsome young man's arm up these little stairs.'
Edward presented his arm with a gallant gesture, and the two sisters fell behind. The words 'frequently complimented' floated back to them more than once, and Meg muttered crossly, 'I don't think that woman's elevator goes all the way to the top, Quill.'
'Meg, she's eighty-three years old. We can't imagine what that's like. All the people that she grew up with, her husband, her friends, are either gone or going. The line between life and death must seem very thin to her, each day more of a struggle to stay on this side and not slip to the next.'
Meg started to hum the portentous strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance,' and Quill told her to shut up. 'That doesn't make you think of fat guys with double chins making speeches full of hot air?' said Meg innocently. 'It does me.'
'I'd rather think about what to serve the Chamber tonight.'
'Something comforting, but not depressing,' said Meg.
'Pasta in sauce ought to set Marge right up. As long as I don't have to make it, smell it, or eat it. Frank'll make it.'
'Pasta in sauce,' said Marge with satisfaction some three hours later. 'Finally something I rekonize.'
'Very diplomatic,' said Howie dryly. 'Traditional village fare for weddings, anniversaries, and funerals.' He rolled a forkful around in his mouth. 'Do I detect fresh basil? The last of the Vidalias?'
'Do I detect bullshit?' asked Marge, raising her eyes to the ceiling. 'Or is it Heinz spaghetti sauce, like any sensible person uses.'
'We need to get to the purpose of this meeting,' said Elmer Henry. He rapped the gavel and stood up. Seventeen faces stared back at him. 'This emergency meeting of the Hemlock Falls Chamber of Commerce is now in session. Will you lead us in a prayer, Reverend?'
'He's not here,' said Betty Hall. 'He called his own emergency session of the deacons at his church. Said he'll be right along as soon as it's over.'
'So Tom Peterson isn't here either,' said Elmer. 'And Myles is off on his investigation. We have enough to vote, Quill?'
'You need a certain portion of the membership,' said Quill hesitantly. 'I'm not sure just how many.'
'Two-thirds,' said Howie impatiently. 'There's twenty-four active members.'
There was a pause while everyone figured this out. 'We're two short,' said Esther, which, unknown to Quill, helped enlighten Mark Anthony Jefferson, the vice-president of the Hemlock Falls Savings and Loan, as to Esther's cash-flow troubles.
'No, we're one over,' said Marge promptly, which would have surprised Mark Anthony not at all. 'So, do we cancel the rest of the History Days or what?'
'If I might say something,' said Harvey Bozzel. He stood up, tucked his hands boyishly in the back pocket of
