A few minutes later, we left, too. A moving target was harder to hit by angry relatives. My first stop would be the Beanstalk Café, where I hoped to find Norris Strump. He was usually the first customer to arrive and I knew completing the crossword puzzle in the daily paper was a treasured ritual.
I half-expected him to be a no-show. He must have heard from the mayor what happened to his student. No matter what cleanup strategy Liberty used, she’d have kept Ruthann in the loop.
Norris was in his usual seat, however, and didn’t look up when I approached. “One across is shame,” I said. “Two across is guilt. And three across is sorry. All five letters.”
He pretended to check the clues. “Not what it says here. You must be working on another puzzle.” Glancing up, he shrugged. “Sounds like an old one.”
I ran my hand over Bixby but he was uncharacteristically quiet. “Just letting it play out,” the dog said. “Mr. Crossword is a puzzle in and of himself.”
The old man went back to his crossword. “You don’t usually ask for an invitation to sit down. I never offer them.”
I sat down. “You heard what happened?”
He penned in another word. “One down. Ten-letter word for caution.”
“Discretion,” I said, looking around. “There’s no one here except Valerie, and she’s a friend.”
The pen scratched again. “You know what they say about people who assume.”
“All I want to know is whether I’m in trouble, Mr. Strump. I feel… awful.” It was too mild a word but it was the best I had.
“How about stinky and smelly?” Mr. Bixby suggested. “Both six letters. Maybe roadkill’s in there, too.” His chuckle was a loud mumble.
Norris lifted his eyes to the dog. “Is he always that helpful?”
I laughed, despite my shame. “Pretty much, yeah.”
“There was another dog last night.” His eyes dropped once more. “Or so I heard.”
“A border collie. Marli Seagrave adopted her.”
His pen stopped. “Interesting. She shouldn’t have been there, yet she won a gift like that.”
I leaned back in the chair, musing. “Actually, I think Marli was exactly where she needed to be. Although I hope she doesn’t remember any of it.”
“She won’t. Liberty took care of that.” His blue eyes rose and pinned me through thick glasses. “You, on the other hand, will never forget.”
“No. It stands as my worst memory ever.”
“The first always is.” Leaning forward, I reached for his hand and he moved it away. “No guests allowed in my brain, thank you very much. I know what you can do.”
“I don’t want there to be a second time, sir.”
“We don’t always get a choice. Did you have a choice this time?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. We always have a choice, don’t we?”
“I suppose, but in the other scenario, Miss Seagrave likely wouldn’t be around to annoy me. I’m sure her dog will be annoying, too.”
I laughed again. “I know a few border collies and that’s probably true.”
He went back to his puzzle and made a flourish with his pen. “Look, you’re correct. Three across is sorry. Maybe you’re not the only one with regrets. This town is in flux, Miss Brighton. More than I’ve ever known. You came home at a bad time if you wanted it to be all rainbows and puppy dogs.”
I ran my fingers over Bixby’s sleek ears again and again. “You stink less,” the dog said. “Still, it’s a wonder Norris can handle it at his age.”
“Your perfume is rather strong, Miss Brighton,” the old man said, chafing his nose with a serviette.
“I know. Another five-letter word: dirty.”
“That’s part of your old puzzle. Best to solve that on your own time, and sooner rather than later. Words like that aren’t serving you.”
“I’m supposed to feel good about…” I leaned in. “About doing things like that?”
“You used the tools you had to do the job you were given.”
The word gave me pause. “Given? Was handling that situation an assignment?”
Norris slumped in his chair. “I’m an old man. Your neediness drains me.”
Mr. Bixby looked up at me with a gleam in his brown eyes. “Puts a whole new spin on things, doesn’t it? We’re secret agents.”
“Aren’t you leaving?” Norris said. “I thought you could take a hint.”
I leaned back and shook my head. “Actually, it sounds like I’m exactly where I need to be, too.”
He started to gather his things. “Then I’ll go. The mayor wants to see me, as you might expect. If you want to stay here, I’ll send Liberty over after the meeting.”
I got up and moving. “Good luck, Mr. Crossword. And thanks.”
