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tail between her legs.
    “We need a liaison between Grady’s personal assistant and this committee. Somebody who knows the town and local resources. Somebody who can get things done, fix little problems, run interference if needed with the hotel or the production staff or anybody else. Somebody who thinks quickly on her feet. Sally says that’s what you’re known for. And besides, you’re a vegetarian, and nobody else is.”
    “I’m sorry . . . ?”
    “Grady’s a vegetarian. He lives in Southern California, after all,” she said, as if that explained everything. “And one of the conditions of his coming was that we have somebody check the menus and snacks he’ll be eating to be sure there’s no meat, dairy, preservatives. You’ll understand.”
    I didn’t, but I tried to. “Kind of like a poison taster.”
    Nobody laughed. I fumbled for an excuse. “Um, that sounds like a big job, and unfortunately I do have—”
    “Oh, yes, indeed it is,” Veronica said, before I could go on. “But luckily, it’s only one job, not the multiple the rest of us are carrying. We didn’t want your first time on this committee to be too difficult.”
    I weeded out seven pairs of eyes and went for Sally’s. She had been waiting and took up the hard sell. “The busiest part will be the first week he’s in town, Aggie. And that’s religious education camp at church, so the girls will be occupied all day anyway. I know you were planning to help with camp activities, but May tells me if we need you more, she’ll be glad to give you a pass.”
    I wished I could get my friend May Frankel, who was chairing camp this year, in a dark alley. Of course, May and Sally were simply trying to be helpful. Both of them were sure that working on this committee would be good for me, that I’d meet new people, experience a little vicarious limelight. And now that I no longer seemed to be stumbling over dead bodies, I might establish an identity apart from the church and the police department.
    Veronica must have timed my hesitation so she’d know the precise moment to leap in for the kill. She leaned forward. “I know this cause is dear to your heart. Sally tells me your younger daughter had a friend who nearly died a few weeks ago, before they could move her to a pediatric ICU in Columbus. Isn’t that right? It must have been particularly upsetting for a young mother with children of her own. The way things are now, all young mothers of Emerald Springs walk so very close to the edge.”
    I was in the sights of a crack shot. My father could put Veronica’s talents to good use. No, what was I thinking? Veronica would round up my father and his cohorts, make them shave and change out of camouflage. Then she would find them nine to five jobs drilling ROTC units or working as instructors for the local agricultural extension office.
    “Of course I’ll do it,” I said, as if I hadn’t just flashed through every possible way of wiggling out of it. “Just let me know what’s expected, and I’ll take care of it.”
    Veronica’s smile stretched all the way to her wisdom teeth. She picked up the stack of papers she had so carefully straightened and held it out to me.
    “It’s all right here. Phone numbers, contacts, schedules, Grady’s diet, Grady’s requirements for his suite, Grady’s contract. Thank you, Aggie. We were all so sure we could count on you.”

3
    Ed looks great in a tux, but even for a fancy reception in Grady Barber’s honor, getting him into one isn’t worth the hassle. Since Ed debated his way through prep school in a coat and tie, if he can’t wear a disintegrating Harvard T-shirt, he’s most comfortable falling back on old habits. Knowing what I was up against, I had asked him to choose his best white shirt, and any tie his mother hadn’t given him for Christmas. Now, in the mirror, I could see he was waiting for inspiration and wearing the T-shirt in the meantime.
    “You look good,” he said, coming up