The Unkindness of Ravens M. Hilliard (popular novels txt) 📖

that was Ed Dexter. I was surprised he had come and didn’t expect he’d stay long. I was so focused on my quarry, I didn’t see Anita until she was right in front of me.

“Oh, hello,” I said, keeping my eye on Dexter over her shoulder. “Lovely event. Such a good idea. It’s going well, don’t you think?”

She looked pleased. “Thank you, Greer. We’ve got a good turnout, and it’s a beautiful day. A much better picture to leave people with.”

“Oh, yes,” I said. Anita was feeling chatty, and Dexter was moving toward the parking lot.

“The memorial page is very nice, Greer. You found some lovely pictures.”

“Thank you. We’ve had some nice anecdotes contributed, too. Though I was hoping for more from the All News people. I think I see some of them—”

“Those people.” Anita sniffed. “They want to offer a reward for information leading to an arrest! Can you believe it? I made it clear they would make no such announcement today. Not only is there no proof of wrongdoing, it would be insensitive to mention it here. Now I hope I don’t see it on the evening news.”

I thought she had her priorities out of order, and was indulging in some wishful thinking, but I told her I agreed. Ed Dexter was getting closer to the edge of the lawn. Fortunately, he was always willing to stop and talk to a fan, but I had to get away from Anita if I wanted to catch him.

“That would be dreadful. You know, I hit it off rather well with a few of them while I was at the station. Perhaps I could have a word? Mention the family’s feelings? Oh, I see one of them now. Don’t worry, Anita, I’m on it!”

I dashed away, careened around a few clumps of people, and skidded to a halt a few feet behind Ed Dexter. I called out.

“Mr. Dexter! Hello! So glad I caught you! It’s Greer Hogan. We met the other day?”

I got the practiced smile again, though not the same wattage as before.

“Of course. I hope you got my e-mail?”

“Yes, thank you, this morning. It will be on the website today.”

He’d sent a brief paragraph praising Joanna’s concern for others and her high professional standards. He used the word “stickler.” I was pretty sure he didn’t have any sense of irony and had come up with whatever he could on short notice, but his choices had been interesting.

“I’m so glad you could make it today. And I understand this is your second visit? A few people saw you having coffee on Main Street the other night. So exciting to have a celebrity in our midst.”

He looked genuinely confused for a minute, then briefly panicked before his usual smooth mask slipped back into place.

“Ah, yes, I’d forgotten. Thursday night. Met a friend. Charming little place. And of course, I wouldn’t miss an event to honor a co-worker. Everyone at the station is distressed.”

Lying about the night he was here. I let it go.

“Actually, that’s why I wanted to talk to you. We’ve heard there will be a reward offered, and the announcement could come any time. Given the circumstances, don’t you think that would be a little awkward for you?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“I’m afraid I don’t follow, Ms. Hogan.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you knew. The police haven’t given a cause of death yet, and it would be so distressing for the family if anything else were implied and it turned out to have been a tragic accident all along. Not to mention how it would look for the All News team. Or if it did turn out she was killed, and it was somehow related to her work. I’m sure you understand.”

“I get your point. It’s not up to me, but I’ll mention all this to the station manager. I’m sure it can wait a day or two.”

“Thank you. No one wants any unnecessary bad publicity.”

He gave a nod and left.

I reported back to Anita, who agreed I’d done the best I could, and headed to the refreshment table. The adrenaline from my suspect hunt was wearing off and my sleepless night was catching up to me, and I had yet to tackle Millicent. I loaded up on whatever sweets were left and grabbed a big cup of coffee. Felicity’s fabled artichoke squares were nowhere in sight, and neither was Felicity. All of Joanna’s immediate family had gone. Things were winding down.

Back at my desk I checked all the traps I’d left for anyone who might be inclined to search it while I was elsewhere. Nothing had been touched. I left them in place. I’d locked my bag in a file cabinet and tucked the key into my pocket, the same pocket that held my little baggie of evidence. They would stay where they were until it was time to go home. I’d be where the action was.

Back in the reading room I found Officer Webber, neatly turned out in a navy skirt suit. Even with her long blond hair released from its usual tidy bun and a pale pink blouse peeking out from under her jacket, she still managed to look like she was in uniform. She was inside the entry in a shallow alcove that housed a narrow tapestry. I watched her study the room’s occupants. She either hadn’t spotted me or didn’t want to speak to me. Too bad. She might let slip some new information if I caught her off guard. She was still focused on her surveillance when I reached her side.

“Hello,” I said. “You look very nice.”

She looked at me, surprise etching her features. “Thank you. I attended the service this morning.”

“Hmm, I thought that was just family. Part of the investigation, I guess. Anything new there?”

“We were there to ensure privacy for the family.”

“Uh-huh.”

She shot me a look. “Anything new here?” she countered.

I followed her glance around the reading room.

“More strangers than usual. Not surprising, with the memorial—”

I stopped. I’d spotted a familiar