“At any rate.” Thatch adjusted the collar of his madras shirt. “We’re out."

Mother sniffed. “You should never have been in."

Sheriff Bascom appeared, and every person at the table watched him amble closer to us. He gave us an aw-shucks grin, then said, “Mrs. Landingham. I was wondering if I might have a word?”

Across from me, Thatch visibly relaxed.

Sumner stood.

“Mrs. Jones, would you please join us?”

Mother grabbed my arm, leaned forward, and whispered in my ear, "What do you think you’re doing?" If only she were as quiet as she thought she was.

“Observing,” I whispered back.

“How do get yourself into these messes?”

Everyone was watching us, waiting for me to answer the sheriff’s question. Or Mother’s.

I offered them a sickly smile, pulled free of Mother's hold, and stood. "Of course, Sheriff."

Sheriff Bascom donned a stern expression and surveyed the table. “I’ll need to speak with all of you before anyone can leave.”

Thatch grumbled, but Mother silenced him with the lift of an eyebrow.

“If you'll come with me?” Sheriff Bascom directed Sumner and me toward the clubhouse.

“I answered your husband’s questions,” said Sumner.

“I know it seems excessive, but they’re doing their best to find Graham’s killer."

She nodded and fell silent.

We entered the clubhouse and settled in Randy’s now-familiar office, and Sheriff Bascom asked, “How long were you and Mr. Landingham married?”

“Seven years.”

“How did you meet?”

“I was a secretary at his firm.”

Sheriff Bascom made a note on a legal pad. “Can you think of anyone who might want to harm your husband?”

Her answering laugh was bitter. “Graham had a knack for making enemies.”

“I see. Anyone in particular?”

“No.”

“As his widow, you'll inherit his estate?”

“Estate? There’s no insurance. I’m left with my jewelry, whatever cash is in our accounts, and a big house with a mortgage I can't afford. Oh, and except for my jewelry, Graham's kids get half.”

“No insurance?”

“The firm carried a policy, but we didn’t.”

“So you don’t benefit from his death?”

“The opposite.”

“Would you go through your movements yesterday morning?”

“I got up and put on running clothes. I even teased Graham. He’d planned on fishing, but he'd drunk too many cocktails the night prior and was moving slowly.”

“And then?”

“Then I went running.”

“Did you see anyone?”

“Not until I saw Ellison.”

“How far did you run?”

“Around four miles.”

“What time did you leave your cabin?”

“Five fifteen.”

“Let’s go back to who might have wanted your husband dead? Care to elaborate?”

“Everyone here.” She glanced my way. “Except for Ellison and her husband.”

“Why did you come? It seems odd to want to spend a weekend with people who despise you?”

“Graham never backed down from a fight.”