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think. The police are in the Village. You know what that means.”
    “Indeed. We heard about the terrible demise of Cesar Rizzo. Are there any suspects?”
    “I think everyone here is probably on some suspect list right now.” I took my mocha and cinnamon roll from a new, young, handsome monk who was too shy to look me in the eye. “Any ideas?”
    Brother Carl shrugged. “One doesn’t like to speak ill of the dead, Lady Jessie. But you know Cesar had a penchant for the ladies.”
    “I know.”
    “I’m not sure what a penchant is,” Tony said with his mouth full of cinnamon roll, “but he slept around a lot, that’s for sure.”
    “There have been many altercations between Cesar and ladies he left behind as well as gentlemen unhappy that his roving gaze fell on their lady. I suppose they have questioned Cesar’s brothers?” Brother Carl asked.
    “I’m not sure. Are you saying you think one of them could have chocolate-coated him to death?” I sipped my mocha.
    “Again, this is only my speculation. But there is a lady who Cesar had been wooing. She had proven difficult for him because she had another suitor. I’m not sure who that lady, or gentleman, is.”
    “Thanks, Brother Carl. Excellent cinnamon roll, by the way.”
    “Yeah,” Tony agreed. “But let’s not worry about Cesar. He’s dead. We need to do something about the knights. What about those guys?”
    Brother Carl had plenty to say about the knights, too. Of course, the Village was always rife with gossip. When something happened, it was like a juggernaut of speculation and interest. Before Tony and I had left the bakery, at least five other people had stopped in to chat about Cesar’s death. Each of them had a different theory.
    But because my theory went along with Brother Carl’s, I decided he was right and tried to think of ways to proceed. There was nothing wrong with helping Chase and the police. They could probably use it.
    Outside the bakery, Tony and I ran into Robin Hood and two of his Merry Men. I’d known Robin and Alex, his right-hand man, for years. I lived in Sherwood Forest during the summers that I dated each man. The tree houses were popular with visitors but not so much once you’d lived there. There was no running water or plumbing—but there was plenty of electricity for toaster ovens and, recently, computers.
    “Hail, Lady Jessie.” Robin sketched a short bow. All the Merry Men had to be careful or their little green hats fell off. “Have you seen the Bailiff this morning?”
    Alex laughed. “Of course she’s seen him. They live together!”
    Robin gave him a harsh frown. “Indeed. That is common knowledge. I was being polite, something you’ve obviously forgotten. Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham are more polite than you.”
    “What is this politeness kick you’re on, Toby?” Alex demanded.
    Robin, aka Toby, grimaced and shushed him. “No wonder we’re losing out to the knights. Have you ever heard any of them who weren’t polite and well spoken?”
    “I don’t think that’s their appeal,” Tony argued. “You need horses, Robin. Big, white horses to compete with them.”
    “Okay,” I said. “I think you guys don’t need me for this conversation. See you around.”
    “No!” Robin stopped me. “We need help, Jessie. Chase won’t do what needs to be done with the Templar Knights. Have you seen them? Maid Marion ran off to their encampment yesterday. And they don’t think anything of riding into our space in the forest. Something has to be done.”
    “I heard all the complaints this morning. I have to tell you, except for interrupting performances, Chase wasn’t sympathetic.”
    “Ah, that’s where you come in. You could talk to Chase about the problem now that you’re here and you’ve seen it for yourself. You could persuade him to take up arms against the knights.” Robin put one arm around my shoulder and leaned in close.
    “Yeah. Chase needs to get them off of those horses