"Usually I do, but her place is across the creek, and the tide's coming in, and" She paused, and busied herself at the sink, washing out a mug with special care.

"And they'll have to cross the site between yours and Mary's, and Meany's is that site, and Meany's just been murdered and you don't want your kids anywhere near the place," Old Sam finished for her.

Anne Flanagan turned from the sink to give the old man a rueful smile. "Silly, isn't it?"

He snorted into his mug. "No way, lady. You keep them as far away from that bunch as you can. Those folks got problems, and I don't mean just with the killing of their man. They give the word 'dysfunction' a whole new definition."

"You could go with them," Kate said. "With the twins to Mary's."

Anne Flanagan's fine blue eyes rested on her face for a moment. "I could," she agreed, "and I probably will, later, but for now I've got bread rising and half a dozen other chores left to do." She smiled again at Old Sam. "You know how it is with kids. They want everything yesterday."

"You've heard about the murder, then," Kate said, before this turned into Old Home Week at the Y.

The minister poured out a cup of coffee and sat down across the table from her. "Yes."

"Who told you?" Old Sam frowned at her abrupt tone, but she ignored him.

"Wendell Kritchen."

Wendell had brought Frank back from town, and couldn't wait to spread the bad news. The DEW line of the Bush telegraph, that was Wendell. "He tell you Meany was murdered?"

Anne Flanagan's mouth pulled down a little at the corners, with distress or distaste, Kate couldn't decide. "Yes."

"State Trooper Jim Chopin asked me to do a little preliminary investigating while he takes the body to the coroner in Anchorage," Kate said. "We've just come from the Meany place."

Anne Flanagan's eyebrows raised in a polite question.

"Neil Meany told us he was here for dinner last night. Reverend Flanagan."

Kate would have sworn on oath that the slight emphasis on the other woman's title wasn't voluntary. Anne Flanagan's eyes narrowed a little. "Why, yes, he was."

No invitation to call her by her first name, but then Kate didn't seek the privilege, thanks anyway. "What time did he get here?"

"Right after the period was over," the minister said readily. "He brought one of those Japanese floats over for the girls. I invited him to stay for supper. Spaghetti and garlic bread, leftovers warmed up from the night before," she added, her first trace of sarcasm, and surprised a snort of laughter out of Old Sam.

"When did he leave?"

"He helped with the dishes, and we talked. The girls were outside playing until lateI let them go to bed when they want to, out hereand when they came in, they wanted to play Monopoly. They like Neil, too. I made coffee, and Neil had one cup, and we played one game, and he left."