“No,” I said. “Still a mystery.” Although I wondered if it was necessarily a complete mystery to Chief Burke. Quite apart from the knowledge of Caerphilly and its inhabitants he’d picked up in his years as police chief and deputy sheriff, he was a member of the New Life Baptist congregation. If the church had enemies outside or malcontents within, he probably already knew all about it.

And fat chance getting him to say anything before he was ready.

“Well, time’s a-wasting,” Grandfather said. “We need to get Caroline over here.” His old friend and frequent partner in mischief, Caroline Willner, ran a wildlife sanctuary about an hour’s drive from Caerphilly. “We could use her help with these skunks.”

“I thought you were the skunk expert,” I said.

“Yes, but she’s had a lot more hands-on experience with skunk removals,” he said. “I suppose it’s a little too early to call her.”

“It’s a lot too early to call her.” I pulled out my cell phone and checked the time. “It’s only a little past five. Let me take you home where it’s warm.”

“I should wait till six,” he said.

“You should wait till nine, at least,” I said. “She needs her sleep, especially if you want her to drive all the way up here to—”

“Ah,” he said. “There she is now. She must have heard the sirens, too.”

He hurried down the steps to where he had spotted the short, plump figure of Caroline Willner. Beside her was Mother, looking as tall and willowy as ever in spite of the heavy winter coat she was wearing.

“No one tells me anything,” I muttered as I fell in step beside Grandfather. “I gather she came up for the holidays?”

“And to see my new marmots,” Grandfather said. “We’re having a special exhibit to raise funds for the Vancouver Island marmot. Fascinating creatures.”

“I should have known a mere human holiday wouldn’t be enough to drag her up here,” I replied.

“Merry Christmas, Meg!” Caroline enveloped me in a hug as we joined them.

Mother leaned over to give me a kiss on the cheek.

“Such a relief that it’s not actually a fire,” she murmured. “What are Michael and Rob thinking, volunteering for something so dangerous? You’d think they were still in their twenties.”

I shook my head. If she was expecting an explanation, she’d have to get it from Michael and Rob—I agreed with her.

“We need to help the fire and police departments,” Grandfather was saying to Caroline. “Someone brought a cage into the church that contains twelve Mephitis mephitis.”

“Twelve!” Caroline looked startled. “Oh, my. That’s a very large family group.”

“From what I’ve observed of their behavior, I don’t think they’re all related,” Grandfather said. “Are you missing any skunks?”