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home now.” She took his glass and set it on the table. Robert obediently stood up.
    27

    Shelley Freydont
    “I’ll walk you out, and then I’ll take myself off to bed.” Marguerite walked beside the couple as they left the room. “Good night,” she said and closed the door behind them.
    Stuart moved to the couch and motioned Ellis to join him. “I don’t envy Robert facing Grappel in the morning,” he said. “But really, it can’t be helped. In view of the possible ramifications, we must do all we can to assist the police in their investigation.”
    “Investigation?” asked Biddy.
    “Just normal procedure. Nothing to worry about.”
    Ellis’s mouth pulled into a grim line. “Be assured that nasty son of a bitch, uh, pardon, ladies, will make things as uncomfortable as possible. Miserable bastard.”
    Lindy wasn’t sure whether Ellis had been referring to Robert or Sheriff Grappel with his last statement.
    “The sheriff doesn’t seem too popular,” she ventured.
    Stuart lifted his glass to her. “I think we can all drink to that, my dear. You would be hard put to find a meaner piece of work than Byron Grappel. Backwoods inbreeding or something of the sort.”
    Ellis choked on his drink. “Stuart.”
    “Well, it’s true.”
    “He’s always been a hothead,” said Jeremy. He had been so quiet that Lindy had almost forgotten he was in the room.
    “Surely, he wasn’t sheriff here when you were a student,” she said.
    “He doesn’t look that much older than the rest of us.”
    “No.” Jeremy spoke slowly as if his thoughts were miles away.
    Ellis took up the explanation. “I think he had just started as a patrolman, the first year you were here.” He raised his eyebrows and leaned forward. “He was engaged to Chi-Chi.”
    “Chi-Chi?” Biddy and Lindy said simultaneously.
    “And therein lies the rub. He and Chi-Chi had been childhood sweethearts. Everyone in town expected them to marry as soon as Byron had saved enough money.”
    “You mean she’s a local girl?” asked Biddy.
    “Oh yes. She was here working as a maid that summer. She fell head over heels in love with Robert, didn’t she, Jeremy.”
    “What? Oh, yes,” Jeremy agreed and returned to the contemplation of his brandy.
    28

    Midsummer Murder
    “They were married at the end of the summer, the last day of camp.
    Best thing that ever happened to Robert . . . and to Chi-Chi,” Ellis said as an afterthought. Then he chuckled. “You would have enjoyed that, Stu. Byron showed up the night before the wedding with a shotgun.
    Chi-Chi walked right up to him, stuck her nose in his face, and kicked him in the shin so hard that he dropped the gun. While he was hopping around on one foot, rubbing his leg and cursing like almighty thunder, Chi-Chi takes the gun, walks over to the lake, and chucks it right in. God, the girl had an arm.” He laughed again, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. He leaned back against the couch, still chuckling. “You know, Jeremy, I haven’t thought about that wedding in years.”
    “A formidable lady,” said Stu.
    “Yes, she was,” agreed Ellis. “Gave a whole new meaning to the expression ‘shotgun wedding’.” His eyes danced with amusement, then came to rest on Jeremy’s. “That was quite a summer, wasn’t it?”
    He was answered by a rumble of thunder, so close that they all jumped. “And on that note,” said Ellis, “I think I’ll say good night.”
    29

    Three
    Rain descended on the mountain during the night. Lindy was startled from sleep several times by claps of thunder and the sky flashing bright through the window. By morning the storm had changed into a steady downpour that lashed at the windowpanes and thumped heavily on the sills. The sky was gray and depressing.
    Biddy groaned from the other bed. “Ugh, rain, and I didn’t bring an umbrella.”
    “I’m sure they will have plenty downstairs.” Lindy went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting it run