“I’m having a hard time seeing Buffy as an accessory to murder, much less an actual killer. Also, if they were in it together, why stab her?” I shook my head. “Graham was a man with many enemies. Buffy was well-liked. I think the third option is most likely.”

“Which is?”

“She didn’t say anything because she either liked the killer or approved of his actions.”

“She condoned murder.”

“As I mentioned, Graham had many enemies.”

“How does any of that change your mind about who the killer is?”

“Buffy left her cabin in the middle of the night.” Willingly, since Bill hadn’t known she was gone, hadn’t heard a struggle.

“So?”

“She wouldn’t do that unless she trusted the killer. Anarchy and I assumed a man killed Graham. Almost every man here had good reason. But I can’t imagine Buffy meeting a man in the middle of the night. Not even one she knew. We should have looked harder at the women.”

“Any of them have motives?”

“If protecting their husbands counts, all of them do. And there’s Merit. She and Graham had an argument Friday night.”

“About?”

“I missed the argument. But it must have been passionate. Graham made her cry.”

“What about Mrs. Landingham?”

“When I talked to her yesterday, her grief seemed genuine. Since then, I think she’s been taking Valium.”

“Motive?”

“Anarchy was checking on insurance policies. But unless there’s a large one, she was better off with Graham alive.”

“Would Buffy have left her cabin to meet Merit?”

“Yes.”

“Knowing she was a killer?”

“When you meet Merit, you'll understand. It’s hard to imagine her as a threat.”

“A wolf in sheep’s clothing?” He rubbed his chin. “I spoke with your husband early this morning.”

Florence had been willing to put through the sheriff’s call, but not mine? She could join Dr. Collins in the nest of copperheads.

“He said you’d agreed to stay here.”

“Reluctantly.”

“Would you sit in on my interviews?”

I stared at him.

“I don’t know these people. You do. You can read their reactions.”

I’d promised Anarchy I’d observe. And the faster the sheriff made an arrest or let everyone go home, the faster I could get to my husband. “Fine.”

“I noticed most of the people in the gazebo were drinking.”

“It’s brunch.”

“I say we let them drink a bit more.”

He was waiting until my friends were tipsy to grill them. With me observing. I crossed my fingers and hoped Mother never found out about this.

“Ellison?” The voice was unmistakable. Had thinking of Mother conjured her from thin air?

A second later, the office door flew open. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.” She gave Sheriff Bascom the smallest of glances. “Is this the doltish deputy?”