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A SEASON OF STORIES
“Miss Marple to the rescue,” grinned Penny. encountered William downstairs, killed him, drug
“There was a copy of the guest list in the police his body into the wine cellar, and left before the
report. Next to each name was the type of costume police arrived. Oh, it is most definitely murder.
worn.” Laura leaned forward, “Penny, William was And it’s up to us to find the murderer.”
the only one identified as wearing a devil costume.
There is no mention of a second devils’ costume.” At the Peabody Mansion prior to the next Toastmasters
“So, devil number two could be the murderer. Meeting. . .
That is, if it is murder.” Laura dragged the cart, one step at a time, up
“Oh, it’s murder alright, and the police knew to the front door and unlocked it. “I’ll turn on the
it all long. Peabody Sr. didn’t want the negative lights and turn up the heat. It will be warm in no
publicity so the whole thing was quietly swept time,” she said, as the blazing chandelier brought
under the rug.” Laura pulled another page from the dining room to life.
the folder. “It was obvious from a small blood trail, Penny busied herself setting up the banner.
that the body had been rolled over and dragged Laura opened the crate. Staring up at her from
into the wine cellar. The killer was most likely inside, handwritten on a sheet of paper, was a
hoping the body wouldn’t be noticed for a while. message. Laura sucked in her breath, “Penny,” she
According to the autopsy report, William did not said with a shaky voice. “Look at this.”
fall down the stairs. There was no bruising, bumps, Penny took the note and read it out loud. “If you
or scrapes that would have been present if someone know what’s good for you, forget about William
had fallen down a steep set of stairs. He died from Peabody.” The color drained from her face and
blunt force trauma to the back of the head. My she dropped into the nearest chair.
theory is that devil number two came uninvited, To be continued. . .
28 ONE COMMUNITY
