There was nowhere to hide in the diner, which was brightly-lit with florescent lighting. Plus, Myrtle was hardly a short woman, despite her efforts at slouching in the booth.

"I thought you'd want to talk with her. She's a suspect, after all," murmured Miles.

"I appear to be allergic to the woman. She makes me sort of itchy." Myrtle rubbed at her forearms.

Olive had spotted them, though. She was nothing if not eagle-eyed. She zoomed in right for their table. "There you are," she said triumphantly, as if she was winning at a game of hide-and-seek. "You're pretty elusive, aren't you, Myrtle? I thought I'd speak with you at the funeral service, but you suddenly disappeared. With Miles."

Olive was clearly going to be starting yet more rumors. This time, the stars of the rumors would be Myrtle and Miles and their completely fictitious romantic relationship.

"Only elusive when elusivity is required," said Myrtle with a shrug. Olive's knowing look annoyed her. She was the type of person who treasured knowing things that others didn't. It made Myrtle want to disclose information to her simply because Myrtle would be the one dispensing information instead of the other way around.

"Miles and I just returned from the scene of another tragic death," she said, folding her hands in her lap and looking solemn.

Olive's eyes opened wide and Myrtle got a stab of satisfaction. "What? Who?"

"Sadly, it was Jasper Hodges. At the park. From blunt force trauma."

Miles hid a smile. It sounded as if Myrtle was playing the game Clue.

Olive's eyes, if possible, opened even wider. "You don't say. How terrible." But the delighted expression on her face belied her words.

"Where were you before you came over to the diner?" asked Myrtle sweetly.

Olive colored a little. "I was at home. Naturally. I don't wander around town before dawn."

It was a cutting remark aimed directly at Myrtle.

Olive continued, "I was not asleep, though. I was tidying up my house. I try never to be slothful."

Her voice had an annoying self-righteous ring to it that grated on Myrtle's nerves.

Olive added, "However, you and Miles were clearly out before dawn. Did you discover Jasper?" Her voice intimated that perhaps Myrtle and Miles were more involved than just discovering the body—that they might have been responsible for there being a body to begin with.

While Myrtle was rather partial to the idea of an octogenarian master criminal, anything coming out of Olive's mouth was annoying to her at this point. It was almost as if Olive had become Erma Sherman, Myrtle's despised neighbor. She said with a sniff, "We received a phone call from our friend, Wanda, alerting us to the scene of the crime. She's a psychic, as you might know. That's why Miles and I were there." Myrtle set the record straight so that Olive wouldn't start Bonnie and Clyde-type rumors. "How well did you know Jasper?"

Olive shrugged. "I knew him as well as I know everyone in town . . . just a hair. I could recognize him in a line-up. I taught Archie in Sunday school a few years ago. Archie is Jasper's son, if you don't know. I found him a very polite young man who knew a lot about Exodus, if I remember correctly. I can tell that you're asking a lot of really pointed questions, Myrtle. You're looking in the completely wrong direction. I know precisely who's responsible for these crimes."

Myrtle and Miles just stared at her.

Olive preened at having their undivided attention. "Ezra. I happened to notice that his car wasn't in the driveway when I left my house a little while ago."

Myrtle raised her eyebrows. "Wasn't it? If it wasn't there, it's because you were out and about earlier than you said."

Miles cleared his throat. "Ezra had been at the park exercising. However, he was on his way home when Myrtle and I left for the diner."

Olive looked momentarily taken aback. Then she said, "I might have driven around a little bit on my way here. The diner wasn't going to be open unless I dilly-dallied. I drove through some neighborhoods and looked to see whose lights were on. The early-risers. Anyway, everyone with a brain knows it must be Ezra. You say he told you he was exercising?" She snorted when Miles nodded. "That man is hardly a body builder. As much time as he spends outside, you'd think he would be healthier-looking. I'm supposing he was the one who found Jasper. Very convenient, if you ask me."

Myrtle said sharply, "People are doubtful about Ezra because they don't understand him. Their limited intellectual capacity is preventing them from being able to grasp the concept of Ezra. He might seem different from most people in town because he's introverted, scholarly, and spends a lot of time with plants and books. That doesn't mean he's a murderer. It's very disappointing to include you in the group of people who don't understand him, Olive."

This clearly stung Olive's pride. "I'll have you know I'm a college graduate." She was quiet for a few moments before saying slowly, "Perhaps I've been a little hasty in judging Ezra, however. I might have gotten defensive when Ezra was being so passionate about my chopping down the old oak tree. He and I do have a lot in common in some ways. I was also passionate about the tree—I wanted it down so that I could have a sunny spot in the yard and plant some sun-loving flowers."

The waitress came over with Myrtle and Miles's food. Myrtle dug right in, but Miles looked sadly at the food and waited. He was too much of a gentleman to start eating while someone was speaking with them. Even an unwanted person.

Myrtle said briskly, "It sounds like you should make up with Ezra. Life is too short to have these sorts of disagreements. Plus, it's very handy to be on the good side of a young neighbor. Who knows when you might fall and need help?"

The cogs were already turning in Olive's brain. "Yes, that's true. Although my balance is excellent." She threw a scornful look at Myrtle's cane.

Miles interjected before the conversation went downhill, "Thinking back to Jasper, do you know of anyone who might want to harm him?"

Olive shook her head. "No, of course not. My only association with him is through church. Hardly a place where one's animosities are out in the open."

Myrtle was still irritated by Olive in general. She said, "I'm guessing Red will be back over to speak with you again today. About Jasper's death, I mean."

Olive's brow furrowed. "Why on earth would he do that? I haven't even spoken with him a first time."

Myrtle lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "Really? Gracious. But then, I suppose he's been so busy that I really haven't had a chance to speak with Red. And isn't it obvious why he'd want to? You clearly have some enmity toward Ezra. It sure looks as if someone wanted him to take the blame for both Luther's and Jasper's deaths." Myrtle shrugged as if the rest was obvious.

Olive looked completely stunned. It clearly hadn't occurred to her that she could ever be considered a suspect.

"But I didn't even really know Luther or Jasper," she said plaintively.

"That's not the point. The point is making it look as if Ezra killed them," said Myrtle in a cool tone. She glanced across the table and pursed her lips. "Good talking to you, Olive. We shouldn't hold you up from getting breakfast any longer." It was hardly a subtle hint, but then, Myrtle had just basically accused Olive of double homicide.

Olive mumbled a goodbye and slunk away to a table as the diner started filling up with early birds.

"I hope your food isn't cold," said Myrtle with a sniff. "You should have just gone ahead and started eating. Olive isn't worth your gentlemanly codes."

Miles took a large bite of lukewarm spinach and feta cheese omelet. After swallowing it down, he said, "Thanks for dispatching her so rapidly."

Myrtle sighed. "That was mainly because I didn't want to speak with her to begin with. She makes all these passive-aggressive slights towards me." She paused. "Didn't it seem as though she might be about to make up with Ezra, though?"

Miles nodded. "It sounded as if she was realizing they really do have some things in common. And maybe your point about being on good terms with neighbors struck a chord with her."

"Well, I hope she does, only because it will be less-stressful for Ezra to be on good terms with his neighbor. Poor Ezra. He does seem to get himself involved in messes, doesn't he?"

They ate quickly and then left, mainly so Olive wouldn't think of a reason to come over and visit with them again.

When Miles turned onto their street, Myrtle exclaimed, "Look! It's Dusty's truck. And Puddin is at my front door. You see it too, don't you? I'm not just hallucinating? It's not some sort of apparition?"

"I do see them there. It's hard to believe my eyes, though." Miles pulled into Myrtle's driveway.

They got out of the car and Dusty came over to them. "Both feelin' better," he said gruffly. "Gotta get to work."

Myrtle gaped at Puddin, waiting at the front door. "You've brought your own cleaning supplies."

Puddin gave her a scornful look. "'Course I did."

There was no "of course" about it. Myrtle could count on one hand the number of times Puddin had actually brought her own cleaning tools instead of dragging Myrtle's out from under the kitchen sink. But Myrtle was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth. She let Puddin in as Dusty fired up his lawn equipment. Miles waved at Myrtle and left for home—and a nap.

Myrtle watched as Puddin started energetically dusting her tabletops. "What caused this radical change?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you and Dusty suddenly so motivated to work?" asked Myrtle. "Neither of you could be bothered to even talk with me about the possibility of work the other day. I could barely get you to help me with the gnomes."

Puddin paused with her dusting. "Dusty and me want to go to the beach. He's been lookin' it up on the computer. Everything's cheap there right now."

"Because it's the off-season," said Myrtle.

Puddin gave her a suspicious look as she usually did when she didn't totally follow. "Anyway, it's cheap there and it's still hot outside. So we can get in the water an' everything."

"Got it. So you're needing to work hard and make a little money for the trip." Myrtle was still rather stunned at the sight of Puddin cleaning and not watching game shows or trying to get out of work. "What beach are you planning on visiting?"

"Myrtle."

"Pardon?" asked Myrtle.

Puddin looked disdainful again. "The beach is Myrtle."

"Oh, of course. Myrtle Beach, on the coast of South Carolina."

"Been there?" asked Puddin as she squirted some lemon cleaner on her dusting rag.

"Not for a very long time. I tend to prefer quiet beaches where no one is there and I can sit under an umbrella for hours and watch the ocean."

Puddin wrinkled up her brow. "What fun is that?"

"It's relaxing. It's just a different kind of vacation from the one you're proposing."

Puddin muttered under her breath at this. She ran the dust cloth over the remaining surfaces and then moved into the kitchen. Myrtle followed, mainly because she was so fascinated by seeing a galvanized Puddin.

"Are you planning on keeping up this pace all day?" asked Myrtle as Puddin started wiping down the counters and the cabinet doors.

Puddin shrugged. "More I clean, more money I can make."

"Basic economics," agreed Myrtle. She settled into a kitchen chair and Puddin frowned prodigiously at her.

"You're messing me up being there."

Myrtle said, "Over here? But you're over there."

Puddin scowled. "By watchin' me. You're slowin' me down."

So Myrtle moved into the living room again to stay out of the way. She turned on the television and found her last recorded episode of Tomorrow's Promise. She fully expected for Puddin to wander out of the kitchen and sit down on the sofa to watch. However, Puddin managed to stay motivated and soon had moved on to the back of the house.

There was a tap on the door and Myrtle walked over to open it. Elaine stood there with Jack, who beamed up at Myrtle.

"Is it okay if I drop by?" asked Elaine. "It looks like you've got all sorts of activity going on here."

"It's like a whirlwind. Puddin and Dusty showed up, eager to work."

Elaine's eyes grew wide. "Really? Did one or both of them have a small stroke?"

"Apparently, they're saving for a trip to Myrtle Beach. Come on in."

Jack went right for the toy box where Myrtle kept the toys for his visits to her house and immediately pulled out two trucks and started making truck noises. Elaine settled on the sofa.

"Can I get you some water? Tea? Or maybe a little food?" asked Myrtle.

Elaine shook her head. "I'm good, thanks. I was just popping by to see how you were doing. I heard that you and Miles had something of an unsettling morning."

"Did we?" asked Myrtle with surprise. "Oh, you mean poor Jasper Hodges at the park. Yes, we were there—Red must have told you."

"Briefly, when he called in to tell me what was going on. He got out of bed really early and abruptly because of a phone call, of course." She chuckled. "Ordinarily, I'd have been wondering what happened and if everything was okay with a pre-dawn phone call. But I was so tired out that I fell right back asleep."

"Keeping up with Jack probably provides lots of good exercise," said Myrtle, looking fondly over at her grandson who was driving the truck up the wall.

"It wasn't even Jack this time. Well, I guess it was to some degree, but it was mostly learning to play better chess."

Myrtle said, "Ah. Mental exhaustion. That's pretty much the only kind I get nowadays. It's real, though, isn't it? Did Jack at least let you sleep in a little?"

Elaine nodded. "He was very good this morning. When I finally got up and walked into his room to check on him, he was just sitting quietly on the floor and looking through his books."

"Such a brilliant child," said Myrtle, beaming at him. She looked back at Elaine and said, "Did Red say anything else about Jasper?"

"Not really. Just that you and Miles were there and something to do with Wanda. Was she there, too?"

Myrtle said, "She just called to let us know that something had happened. I rounded up Miles and we headed over to the park." She paused. "I guess Red mentioned that Ezra was there?"

"He did. And I really like Ezra, but it sure doesn't look good for him, does it?" asked Elaine. "Luther is dead from a poisonous plant that Ezra has on his property and then Ezra discovers Jasper's body."

"Things could be better," admitted Myrtle. "But the problem is that Red has a very limited imagination. Things that look clear aren't always that straightforward. There are plenty of more-viable candidates as suspects. That's why I need to get to the bottom of this and clear Ezra's name."

Elaine nodded, not seeming in the slightest bit startled to hear her octogenarian mother-in-law stating that she was going to solve two murders.

There was a shriek from the back of the house and a crashing sound and Puddin came flying into the living room.