31906844db5c02010017a90f3f2ca805

Frankly, I wouldn’t. I like my home, I like my couch, I like my backyard, I like my friends and I like my routine. Traveling simply seems like a terrible way to occupy your time, not to mention having to sleep in strange beds, and meet a lot of strange people. If Odelia insisted, I’d do it in a heartbeat, of course. But after Harriet’s words I was starting to think she wouldn’t insist.

“So what do you say?” asked this Conway person. “Say yes,” he added with a twinkle in his eye.

I had to hand it to him. He was very charming, apart from being very handsome.

“I’ll have to think about it,” said Odelia. “And discuss it with my boyfriend, not to mention my boss.”

“Your boss? Oh, right. The reporter thing.” He seemed to figure that wasn’t a big deal. “You can take a leave of absence, though, can’t you?”

“I’m Dan’s only reporter,” Odelia explained. “If I take a leave of absence he’ll have to hire another reporter, and there aren’t that many reporters in Hampton Cove.”

She was the only one, I knew. Reporters don’t grow on trees in small towns like Hampton Cove. It was a miracle Dan had found Odelia. If not for her he’d probably have had to close down the Gazette when he decided to retire. Now she was poised to take over when he did.

Conway seemed displeased for some reason.“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Odelia.”

“I know it is. And I’m very excited. But I’ll still need time to think.”

He frowned, clearly not used to being turned down like this.

“Have it your way,” he said a little grumpily. “I thought you’d jump at the chance, but clearly I was mistaken.”

“Oh, but I think it’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s just…”

He silenced her with an imperious gesture.“Don’t think too long. This offer is time-sensitive.”

It sounded a lot like a threat, and suddenly I liked handsome dude a lot less.

Being the diplomat she was, Odelia decided to change the subject.“So have you visited Wolf in prison?”

“No, I haven’t,” he said. “I don’t know what I’ll say to him when I do. He’s just…” He raked his fingers through his shaggy mane. “He’s one of my oldest friends. I just can’t believe he’d do a thing like that.”

“I know,” she said. “He never struck me as the murderous type. Then again, you just never know, do you?”

“No, I guess you don’t. Is it true that you’re the one who caught him?”

She nodded.“Me and Chase—that’s my boyfriend. He’s a local detective.”

“Oh, I’ve seen him. Talked to him, even.”

“That’s right. Chase interviewed everyone.”

“He was very thorough.” Conway frowned. “Just tell me one thing. Simply to satisfy my personal curiosity. The papers never mention stuff like that. How did you know it was him?”

“A witness came forward. She said the killer was wearing a yellow jacket—a yellow parka, as a matter of fact. And then we found a yellow parka hanging in Wolf’s closet. It still had Dany’s blood on it.”

“Terrible,” said Conway, shaking his head. “That’s just terrible.”

“Also, another witness said the killer had an owl-shaped mole on the back of his right hand, and Wolf has just such a mole.”

“A witness said that?” Conway seemed surprised by this.

Odelia nodded.“She saw the killer and even though she didn’t get a good look at his face, she did see his hand.”

“So this second witness is a she, huh? And will she testify in court?”

Odelia cast a quick glance in my direction, and I shook my head. No, Rita would definitely not testify in court, that much was obvious, and neither would Ringo.

“You’ll have to ask my uncle,” she said, still the diplomat. “He’s the chief of police.”

“Right.” He flashed her a quick smile. “You’re something of a sleuthhound, aren’t you, Odelia?”

“Reporter, sleuth—this girl wears many hats, Con.”

“She does. And now she’s going to be a star on the stage, too.”

His phone jangled in his pocket and he took it out. And as he answered it, I saw Odelia stare at the man, her eyes suddenly wide, and her face almost as white as the sheets she was lying under.

But then Conway excused himself, got up and walked out just when Tex and Marge walked in.

Odelia stared at me, then said slowly,“The owl-shaped mole.”

“What about it?” I said.

“Conway has one. On his right hand.”

Chapter 39

Odelia had called an emergency meeting, and it was being held in her hospital room. Not the best place in the world to hold a meeting, but she had no other choice. The doctor advised against her discharging herself from the hospital, and so did her dad. And she wasn’t going to put herself in danger by going against their wishes.

Around her sat her mom and dad, her uncle Alec, and Chase, of course. They’d tried to locate Gran but hadn’t succeeded. She was off somewhere on a quest to locate the Yellow Parka MacGyver Gang and wasn’t answering her phone.

“So what’s so important?” asked Uncle Alec.

“It’s about your head, isn’t it?” said Marge. “The doctor has found a tumor!”

“No, nothing like that,” Odelia was quick to put her mother’s mind at ease. “This isn’t about me. It’s about Dany Cooper.”

“Dany? You’ve uncovered some more information?” asked Chase.