Tabitha laughed. “Don’t worry, I know I’ve been testy lately, and it’s all Hal’s fault. But he finally came around this morning and I’ve already made the appointment.”

“Um . . .”

She laughed again. “For weeks, months, I’ve been pestering that man to call for his annual physical. He doesn’t want to do it because he knows it’s time for both a stress test and a colonoscopy.”

“That’s why you were mad at him?”

“Mad? Not really. Exasperated, yes, frustrated, yes, but not truly angry.” She smiled. “Although I can see how it might have seemed that way to outsiders.”

Speaking of testy. “Can you tell me something? There’s a rumor that the sheriff made Hal pass some sort of test before she hired him. Is that true?”

Tabitha looked left and right, then leaned forward and beckoned me to move close, which I did. “Yes,” she whispered into my ear.

I waited, but she leaned back. “Wait, is that it?” I demanded. “You’re not going to tell me anything else?”

“Not a chance. If you want to know, ask Sheriff Richardson.”

I squinched my face. “You know I’m not going to do that.” The sheriff and I got along, but asking her a question out of idle curiosity was not going to get me anywhere.

Tabitha’s eyes sparkled. “Then it’s just going to have to remain a mystery, isn’t it?”

*   *   *

I was still grumbling to myself in a good-humored sort of way about the stupid test when I got to the library.

“Minnie!” Holly pulled me into a big hug. “I thought for sure you’d come in late. Or not come in at all. Shouldn’t you stay home today? I’m sure you should. You must have been up until all hours.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine. Honest.” I hugged her back, surprised but not surprised at how speedily the news of Drew’s arrest had traveled. “Is Josh in? I have a—”

“Minnie!”

This time it was Donna who did the embracing. And then Kelsey. I herded them all into the kitchen and gave a one-time summary of the previous night.

“Weren’t you scared?” Kelsey asked. “You talk about it so matter-of-factly.”

I laughed. “Terrified. But it’s all over now and—”

“What’s over?” Graydon asked, walking into the room.

Everyone else in the room glanced at one another. Graydon, the Chilson newcomer, was not yet tied in to the local news connections.

“Morning,” I said. “Um, would you have a few minutes to talk? Up in your office?”