Iris Avenue by Pamela Grandstaff Page A

as an even scarier deity and defeated him. Yama then became a protector of Buddhism.”
    “It looks like he’s holding one of those View-Master disks like we had when we were kids.”
    “That’s the karmic wheel of life. The six realms represent samsara, into which beings are reborn. The nature of one’s existence is determined by karma, and these are the stages a soul goes through before reaching enlightenment.”
    “I though Buddhists were all peaceful and laid back,” Hannah said. “That scene right there looks more like hellfire and brimstone.”
    Caroline looked at Hannah as if she were an idiot.
    “If you want to learn more, I’d be glad to lend you some books,” Caroline said. “The monks teach a course of study in Zen Buddhism here at the lodge, if you’re interested.”
    “No, but thanks anyway,” Hannah said. “I’m currently blacklisted at Sacred Heart and the Methodist Church. No use pissing off the Buddhists as well.”
    “It’s very interesting…” Caroline began, but Hannah interrupted, “I’m sorry I can’t chat longer but I need to get started.”
    Caroline went to her office to get the key to the garage apartment, and then got sidetracked by a phone call. Hannah looked around the room. The monk who had answered the door came back in, bowed to Hannah and then stood quietly nearby, placid and calm.
    “So, no talking, huh?”
    He smiled kindly at Hannah and nodded.
    “Now, see,” Hannah said, “that alone would keep me from being a good monk. I like to talk too much.”
    The man continued to smile benevolently.
    “I thought all of you would be Asian,” Hannah said. “I guess that was small-minded of me, thinking every Buddhist would look like the Dalai Lama. You actually look more like my brother Quinn. We’re always wishing Quinn would sit still and shut up for a few days.”
    There was a small poster held by magnets on the refrigerator titled “The Five Hindrances” and Hannah gestured to it.
    “Things to watch out for?” she said. “Like the seven deadly sins?”
    The man nodded.
    She read out loud, “Sensual Desire, Ill-Will, Sloth, Worry, and Doubt.”
    The monk nodded again.
    “Sounds more like Caroline’s to-do list,” Hannah said.
    The man’s eyes twinkled, and Hannah thought she detected the telltale signs of suppressed laughter.
    “Careful,” she said. “You’ll have to say ten Hail Buddhas if you laugh.”
    Caroline came in with the key and everybody bowed to everybody all over again.
    “Thanks, so much,” Caroline told Hannah as she handed her the key. “I appreciate your help.”
    “Anytime,” Hannah said as she went out. “I’ll bring the key back in a bit.”
    As Hannah removed the humane trap from the back of her truck a large, dark sedan came up the curving drive and parked in front of the lodge. Hannah dawdled so she could see who was in it. She was surprised to see bank president and political ass-kisser Knox Rodefeffer exit the vehicle and hurry up the steps to Caroline’s front door.
    Knox was a large, ungainly man with blinding white capped teeth and an unconvincing toupee. Although she personally found him horribly unattractive, Hannah had heard that his sexy secretary was also his mistress. Knox loved to name-drop his political connections and brag about his trips to Washington, D.C. If Rose Hill was a small pond, Knox was one of the biggest bottom feeders.
    Hannah wondered what business he had with Caroline Eldridge, and concluded he must be trying to get Caroline to put money in his bank, or to write a big fat check to one of his political cronies. Caroline had pledged to provide a match for a grant application Hannah and Drew were writing, to start a feral cat program and build a no kill animal shelter. Hannah hoped Caroline hadn’t forgotten about that, and thought she might mention it again before she left.
    Hannah set the trap for the raccoon family and then poked around the eaves until she found where they were getting in and