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Of course both Adra and her husband Gene were probably not sprightly enough to try and shake off Chase when he was in full pursuit mode. Very rare is the criminal who can shake that man off once he gets going. Except Usain Bolt, maybe, whoÆs no criminal.

ôI take it youÆre not here to talk about book club?ö asked Adra.

ôNot exactly,ö said Odelia. ôI donÆt know if you heard what happened to Valina?ö

AdraÆs face crumpled. ôHorrible news. The mailman told us this morning.ö

ôTerrible business,ö Gene agreed with his wife.

Both of them were seated in matching armchairs, strategically positioned in front of a large television. For their guests the sofa offered satisfactory seating, and for me and Dooley there was always the carpet.

ôI would have expected them to have a dog,ö said Dooley. ôA small one, you know. Like a Yorkie or a Pekinese or even a Chihuahua.ö

ôSome people donÆt like dogs,ö I said. ôOr maybe they once had a dog and it died and now they donÆt want another.ö

ôWhat do you think happened to the dog?ö asked Dooley, as always fascinated by death in all its facets. ôDo you think someone shot it through the heart like Valina?ö

ôIÆd say chances of that are slim to nonexistent.ö

ôI saw that you are a member of the Brookwell Archery Club, Ada?ö asked Odelia.

ôYes, thatÆs right. You didnÆt know? I used to shoot a lot when I was younger. Nowadays I rarely go anymore, though I keep renewing my membership, more for old timeÆs sake than anything else, I suppose.ö She smiled a sweet smile at Odelia. ôBut IÆm sure thatÆs not the only reason you came here. You probably discovered that my Gene was on ValinaÆs list. And now youÆre wondering if I went over there last night to kill the woman?ö

ôWell, the thought had crossed my mind,ö Odelia admitted.

ôI never signed up for that thing,ö said Gene, who had a sort of crumpled look. Both his clothes, which appeared a little too large for him, and his skin, which had the same effect. ôIt was Lily who was responsible. She probably thought it was a good joke.ö

ôWhoÆs Lily?ö asked Chase, who was taking notes.

ôOur granddaughter,ö said Adra. ôSheÆs thirteen, and is into practical jokes. Last month she signed me up to fly to Mars and start populating a new colony. And now this month itÆs Gene who got it in the neck. Please donÆt read too much into it. ItÆs her age, I guess.ö

Chase smiled.ôSo are you going to repopulate Mars, Mrs. Elfman?ö

ôIÆve raised three daughters. I would think IÆve done my share,ö the elderly lady laughed. ôBesides, who wants to travel to some dead planet when weÆve got a perfectly nice one down here?ö

ôHow about you, Mr. Elfman?ö asked Odelia. ôHave you ever swiped right?ö

Gene frowned.ôSwiped where?ö

ôGene isnÆt into computers,ö said the manÆs wife. ôOur eldest bought him a tablet last Christmas, and I have to say he tried his best, but in the end we simply gave it back.ö

ôThe internet is a dangerous place,ö Gene grumbled as he gave Chase an accusatory look, as if he held him personally responsible. ôFull of crooks and cheats. My son-in-law got a message last week, telling him that he won something called bitcoin. The fool clicked on the message and now his phone has been hacked. HeÆll have to buy himself a new one.ö

ôOur daughter wants us to try out this online banking thing,ö said Adra, ôbut I told her we better not. A friend of ours lost all of her savings when someone from the bank called. Or at least he told her he was from the bank. A very nice man, too. Ever so friendly. Turns out it was some kind of scam and she ended up transferring all of her savings to this man.ö

ôPolice wonÆt do a damn thing,ö Gene grunted. ôAnd the bank refuses to give her back the money, claiming it was her own damn fault for being so gullible in the first place.ö

ôHarriet chatted with a United States Marine,ö said Dooley. ôBut it turns out it was Rufus instead. Rufus is a dog,ö he added for good measure. ôA very nice sheepdog.ö

But of course Adra and Gene couldnÆt appreciate DooleyÆs contribution to the conversation, since they didnÆt speak our language.

ôSo,ö said Adra finally, patting her knees. ôAre we still on for book club tonight?ö

ôAgain?ö asked Gene. ôI thought you just had your book club meeting?ö

ôWhat with one thing and another, we never got to finish discussingTears in the Mud,ö said Adra, ôwhich is why Marge proposed a second meeting.ö She shot a look at Odelia. ôThough now with Valina murdered, I guess we should probably postpone.ö

ôIÆll ask Mom,ö Odelia promised.

ôTell her to give me a call.ö

ôDid you know,ö said Gene, scooting forward in his armchair, ôthat there are people out there who can spy on you through your computer? Take pictures, even? Just imagine for a moment, young man, that youÆre taking a shower and some person on the other side of the world decides to snap pictures of your willy? How about them apples, huh?ö