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waiting for. Tell us what you see.”
“Penny, what do you think I see? All I see
are stairs and the dark basement below,” sighed
Rich.
Shaking her head, Laura knew that she would
have to direct the investigation. “Well, if we can’t
see anything, what are we waiting for. Let’s go
downstairs. Come on Rich, you’re leading this
phase of our investigation. Lead the way.”
Penny looked at her friend and rolled her
eyes as Laura continued. “The stairs are quite
Before Laura could respond, John jumped steep. Be sure to hold on tight to the railing.
in, “Good point, Carl. I’m sure the police don’t Rich and I will go ahead and turn on more
want a bunch of Toastmasters poking their noses lights. Chop chop!”
in where they don’t belong. Let’s keep our focus In a stage whisper, Laura asked Rich, “Are
on having good meetings and bringing in new you afraid of the dark? Do you want me to go
members.” first?”
Laura jumped up out of her chair, “I Rich glared at her and started down the
disagree,” she exclaimed. “Who better than us stairs gripping the handrail as he went. Laura
to figure out if it was an accident or murder, and followed close behind. When he reached the
if it was murder, to identify the guilty party. I basement level, Rich rubbed his hand along
suggest we begin by visiting the scene of the the wall for the light switch and flipped it on.
crime. Rich, you were there, lead the way. Then An overhead light cast an eerie glow. Rich and
Carl can tell us what he remembers.” Laura took a few steps into the laundry room,
Rich, caught off guard, looked like he wanted making space for the others to gather. One by
to be anywhere else. Scooting his chair away one, like lambs to the slaughter, each descended
from the table, Rich moved slowly as if to avoid the stairs into the basement where William had
the task at hand. One by one the members stood met his demise. They all looked at Rich with
and filed behind Laura and Rich. the intensity of a congregation waiting for a
After opening the basement door and sermon to start. Rich looked back at the group.
flipping on the light switch, Laura gestured to “Where’s Terry?”
Rich to begin. When he failed to respond after “I thought she was right behind me,” John
a moment, Penny probed, “Rich, what are you said.
VOICES! | DECEMBER 2022 21
