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crowd, with all those bodies so close together in constant motion and the noise such a distraction, who’d notice a small weapon like a steak knife? Was Mr. Wessler dancing? I didn’t actually see him in the blur.”
    â€œYes. He’s a very vigorous old man. Was, I mean.” Hernandez looked chagrined. “That’s the strange part. He seemed to have been loved by everybody around here.”
    Sadly, Judith shook her head. “No, not quite everybody. Unless,” she added, “someone loved him to death.”

 
    Chapter Five
    T o her dismay—but not to her surprise—Lieutenant Hernandez insisted that Judith keep in touch.
    â€œI realize you couldn’t see much under the circumstances,” he allowed, after stopping the squad car in front of Hanover Haus, “but judging from your history, you have an uncanny way of getting people to open up. You’re also very impressionable—in the literal meaning of the word. It’s possible that something you saw or heard this evening may come back to you. Chief Duomo would like to have you drop by tomorrow morning. He’s very impressed with your credentials.”
    â€œThen he’s easily impressed, especially about me being so impressionable,” Judith said glumly. “Or something like that. Okay, but it’ll have to be after eleven. I’m working the B&B booth until then.”
    â€œThat’s fine,” Hernandez said. “I’ll let him know. Thanks again. And,” he added as Judith started to get out of the car, “be careful.”
    â€œHey,” Renie said, “coz is always careful. Nobody’s tried to kill her for almost ten months.”
    â€œYes,” the officer murmured. “So I understand.” He saluted before pulling out onto the street.
    â€œDamn!” Judith cried. “What happened after I fingered the killer last January was never on the FASTO Web site because Joe and Woody wouldn’t allow the full story to reach the media. How do these cops know about it?”
    â€œBecause they’re cops?” Renie said, opening the door to the inn. “It’s the Blue Network. Word gets out.”
    Judith sighed. “You’re right. Let’s just hope none of this current disaster gets back over the mountains to Joe.”
    The woman behind the desk looked up. “You’re back,” she said, sounding disappointed.
    â€œThey let us out on bail,” Renie said. “If any of our customers show up, send them to the right room. You might want to pat them down first to make sure they brought cash.”
    Ignoring the woman’s startled face, the cousins went upstairs.
    â€œWhy,” Judith asked as they entered their room, “do you have to make things worse?”
    Renie looked innocent. “Like how? Hey,” she went on, shifting gears, “maybe we should stick with the charade that I’m you?”
    Judith removed her jacket. “What for? The cops know who’s who.”
    â€œBut what about everybody else?” Renie countered. “I don’t mean we’d switch places, but we could pretend I’m taking over the sleuthing and let you off the hook with your B&B detractors. You investigate and I take credit. Then Inbred Heffalump can stick it in her mail slot.”
    Judith started to scoff, but paused. “Could we carry it off?”
    â€œWhat’s to carry? The burden is light, the reward is heavy. For you, I mean.”
    â€œWhat if I don’t want to sleuth?”
    Renie’s expression was reproachful. “Coz . . .”
    Judith sighed. “Let me sleep on it.”
    â€œSure.”
    Half an hour later, the cousins were in bed. Each had brought a book for late-night reading. Not long after ten-thirty, Judith felt drowsy. “I’m turning out the lamp on my side. Okay?”
    â€œI want to finish this chapter,” Renie said. “I’ve only got three