Wish You Were Here by Rita Mae Brown Page A

thing.”
    â€œNeither are you. Will you help me?”
    â€œWhat do I have to do?”
    â€œThe police ask routine questions. That’s fine, because they learn a lot. We need to ask different questions—not just ‘Where were you on the night of . . . ?’ but ‘How did you feel about Kelly’s Ferrari and how did you feel about Maude’s big success with her store?’ Emotions. Maybe emotions will get us closer to an answer.”
    â€œCount me in.”
    â€œI’ll take Mrs. Hogendobber and Little Marilyn for starters. How about if you take BoomBoom and Mim. No, wait. Let me take BoomBoom. I have my reasons. You take Little Marilyn.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Rob sailed through the front door. He dropped the mail sacks like lead when Harry told him the news. He absolutely couldn’t believe this was happening, but who could?
    Tucker and Mrs. Murphy overheard Harry reveal the location of the murder.
    â€œWe can’t get there by ourselves unless we’re willing to be gone an entire day.”
    â€œCan’t do that.”
Tucker pulled at her collar. The metal rabies tag tinkled.
    â€œSo, how are we going to get out there? We need Harry to take us in the truck.”
    â€œHalf of Crozet will go out there. People have a morbid curiosity,”
Tucker observed.
    â€œWhen she gets in that truck, no matter when, we’d better pitch a fit.”
    â€œGotcha.”
    Mrs. Hogendobber was stopped by Market Shiflett as she ascended the post office steps. She emitted a piercing yell upon hearing the news.
    Josiah, crossing the street, hesitated for a split second and then came over to see what was amiss.
    â€œThis is the work of the Devil!” Mrs. Hogendobber put her hand on the wall for support.
    â€œIt’s shocking.” Josiah tried to sound comforting but he never would like Mrs. Hogendobber. “Come on, Mrs. H., let me help you inside the post office.” He swung open the door.
    â€œWhen did you hear?” Mrs. Hogendobber’s voice sounded even.
    â€œOn the radio this morning.” Josiah fanned Mrs. H., now sitting by the stamp meter. “Would you like me to take you home?” Josiah offered.
    â€œNo, I came for my mail and I’m going to get it.” Resolutely, Mrs. Hogendobber stood up and strode to her postal box.
    Harry and Josiah followed her as Fair screeched up out front, killing the engine before turning off the key as his foot slipped off the clutch.
    â€œYou could have come right through the window,” Mrs. Hogendobber admonished him.
    Fair shut the door behind him. “I thought I’d give the taxpayers a break and not do that.”
    â€œThis old building could use a rehab.” Josiah turned the key in his box.
    â€œDo you know about that sweet Maude Bly Modena? Murdered! In cold blood.” Mrs. Hogendobber breathed heavily again.
    â€œNow, now, don’t get yourself overexcited,” Josiah warned her.
    â€œQuite right.” Mrs. Hogendobber controlled herself. “So much evil in the land. Still, I never thought it would come home.” She touched her eyebrow, trying to remember. “The last bad thing that happened here—apart from the drunken-driving accidents—why, that would be the robberies at the Farmington Country Club. Remember?”
    â€œThat was in 1978.” Harry recalled the incident. “A gang of high-class thieves broke into the homes there and took the silver and the antiques.”
    â€œAnd left the silver plate.” Mrs. Hogendobber didn’t realize how funny that was and couldn’t understand why, for a moment, Harry, Fair, and Josiah laughed.
    â€œThe theft wasn’t funny, Mrs. H.,” Harry explained. “But on top of being robbed, everyone would find out who had good stuff and who didn’t. I mean, it added insult to injury.”
    Mrs. Hogendobber found no humor in it and made a harrumphf. “Well, this has been too