gentlemen, and Rhonda called the meeting to order. The only new agenda item, she said, was to review the effect the investigation into Abigail Montgomery’s death would have on the library operations. She brought up two or three items the board had failed to consider on Monday, when the meeting ended rather dramatically.
Throughout the meeting I was self-consciously aware of Hogan’s request that I watch how everyone interacted. I watched them all suspiciously. And I didn’t notice a thing out of the ordinary.
I was relieved when Rhonda called on Butch for a report on the current situation at the library.
The investigation was having very little effect on actual operations, Butch said. “The library remained closed yesterday, but we opened on schedule this morning. Of course, we’ve had a busy day today. I believe Betty has issued a dozen new cards.”
“The common garden-variety sensation seeker,” Cornwall said.
Butch nodded. “I’m sure the curiosity effect will wear off soon. I’m also sure everyone here has been interviewed by the investigators.”
Carol gave an angry sniff. “I certainly knew nothing to tell them. And I owe Corny, Gwen, and Lee an apology. I shouldn’t have lost my temper when I first came in.”
The three of us made “never mind” motions. Gwen was the only one who spoke. “We’re all in an emotional uproar,” she said. “I didn’t like that detective upsetting my kids.”
“I’m sure we were all cooperative,” Rhonda said soothingly.
“I haven’t talked to the investigators,” Miss Vanderklomp said. “And I don’t intend to do so.”
“I’m afraid you must, if they request an interview,” Rhonda said. “After all, to them we’re all witnesses.”
“I am not a witness! I saw nothing. I didn’t even speak to Abigail Monday.”
“But, Miss Vanderklomp, you and Abigail and I met on the front steps. We came in together.”
“That’s not speaking. That’s just greeting each other. We didn’t discuss anything.”
I decided to jump in. “Did Mrs. Montgomery seem normal when you met her? I mean, she wasn’t angry or preoccupied or anything?”
“Certainly not!”
“That’s the sort of thing the detectives need to know,” I said. “If she was calm, fine. But if she’d been upset or angry—”
“I didn’t know her well enough to read her moods by the way she said ‘hello,’” Miss Vanderklomp said. She threw her head back and looked down her nose at me.
“I am not a witness,” she said, “and I am definitely not talking to any detectives. You, Mrs. Woodyard, were the person who declared Mrs. Montgomery dead. You remained with her body until the emergency technicians came. You are the one they should question.”
She made her mouth into a prim little line and gave a firm nod.
I had definitely been put in my place. In fact, the whole board was in its place. And we all accepted our chastisement meekly.
“Is that all the board’s business?” Miss Vanderklomp asked.
Rhonda rolled up her knitting. “I will mention that I talked to the funeral home about services for Abigail.”
“Oh yes,” Miss Vanderklomp said. “We should sit in a group.”
“That won’t be possible. The services are to be private.”
Miss Vanderklomp frowned in a disapproving manner. But she left with no further comment.
But as soon as she was out of the room, Mr. Cornwall gave a rich chuckle. “What a disappointment for Ann,” he said. “There’s nothing she likes better than a juicy funeral.”
And with that comment he followed her out the door.
Gwen spoke. “Totally wacko,” she said. “All of them.”
I was growing to like Gwen more all the time.
Carol gathered her papers. “Since there’s no funeral, I guess we ought to go by the house.”
“It sounds as if the family wants as little attention as possible,” I said. “You can sign the book at the funeral home, even if there’s no visitation. Or a handwritten note is always proper. And if
Throughout the meeting I was self-consciously aware of Hogan’s request that I watch how everyone interacted. I watched them all suspiciously. And I didn’t notice a thing out of the ordinary.
I was relieved when Rhonda called on Butch for a report on the current situation at the library.
The investigation was having very little effect on actual operations, Butch said. “The library remained closed yesterday, but we opened on schedule this morning. Of course, we’ve had a busy day today. I believe Betty has issued a dozen new cards.”
“The common garden-variety sensation seeker,” Cornwall said.
Butch nodded. “I’m sure the curiosity effect will wear off soon. I’m also sure everyone here has been interviewed by the investigators.”
Carol gave an angry sniff. “I certainly knew nothing to tell them. And I owe Corny, Gwen, and Lee an apology. I shouldn’t have lost my temper when I first came in.”
The three of us made “never mind” motions. Gwen was the only one who spoke. “We’re all in an emotional uproar,” she said. “I didn’t like that detective upsetting my kids.”
“I’m sure we were all cooperative,” Rhonda said soothingly.
“I haven’t talked to the investigators,” Miss Vanderklomp said. “And I don’t intend to do so.”
“I’m afraid you must, if they request an interview,” Rhonda said. “After all, to them we’re all witnesses.”
“I am not a witness! I saw nothing. I didn’t even speak to Abigail Monday.”
“But, Miss Vanderklomp, you and Abigail and I met on the front steps. We came in together.”
“That’s not speaking. That’s just greeting each other. We didn’t discuss anything.”
I decided to jump in. “Did Mrs. Montgomery seem normal when you met her? I mean, she wasn’t angry or preoccupied or anything?”
“Certainly not!”
“That’s the sort of thing the detectives need to know,” I said. “If she was calm, fine. But if she’d been upset or angry—”
“I didn’t know her well enough to read her moods by the way she said ‘hello,’” Miss Vanderklomp said. She threw her head back and looked down her nose at me.
“I am not a witness,” she said, “and I am definitely not talking to any detectives. You, Mrs. Woodyard, were the person who declared Mrs. Montgomery dead. You remained with her body until the emergency technicians came. You are the one they should question.”
She made her mouth into a prim little line and gave a firm nod.
I had definitely been put in my place. In fact, the whole board was in its place. And we all accepted our chastisement meekly.
“Is that all the board’s business?” Miss Vanderklomp asked.
Rhonda rolled up her knitting. “I will mention that I talked to the funeral home about services for Abigail.”
“Oh yes,” Miss Vanderklomp said. “We should sit in a group.”
“That won’t be possible. The services are to be private.”
Miss Vanderklomp frowned in a disapproving manner. But she left with no further comment.
But as soon as she was out of the room, Mr. Cornwall gave a rich chuckle. “What a disappointment for Ann,” he said. “There’s nothing she likes better than a juicy funeral.”
And with that comment he followed her out the door.
Gwen spoke. “Totally wacko,” she said. “All of them.”
I was growing to like Gwen more all the time.
Carol gathered her papers. “Since there’s no funeral, I guess we ought to go by the house.”
“It sounds as if the family wants as little attention as possible,” I said. “You can sign the book at the funeral home, even if there’s no visitation. Or a handwritten note is always proper. And if