“It’s just rumor, okay? But what I heard was Charles wanted to be the president of the state orthodontist association. It usually goes to orthodontists close to retirement. We have an executive director who does all the real work; this is mostly a figurehead thing.”

I nodded. So did Rafe.

“Anyway, the story I heard was that Charles wined and dined enough of the members to get the votes. Winner was announced at the end of the conference, and the guy everyone had originally thought was going to be president looked like he’d taken a bite of the sourest apple ever. Charles smiled and said better luck next year, but the guy died that fall. Heart attack.”

“How sad,” I murmured. It was just like Melinda had said: Charlie Seller tended to get his own way. And now we’d learned that if his way didn’t come easily, there was precedent that he’d use sheer brute force. Not the violent kind, but force nonetheless.

Charlie was definitely staying on the suspect list.

*   *   *

I’d scheduled myself to work from ten to two, so after I finished eating, I said good-bye to Connor and kissed Rafe.

“Have fun,” I said to them both.

“Fun?” Rafe gave me a shocked look. “This is going to be work, not fun.”

I was not fooled. “Connor, didn’t you say the most important thing to get done before your Fourth of July family reunion was to replace the kitchen cabinets?”

“Um, that’s right,” he said.

“You’re doing demolition today, correct? Which always takes longer than expected, so you’re going to get started right away, right?”

Rafe and Connor exchanged a glance. “She’s on to us,” Connor said. “My wife will be thrilled.”

My fiancé beamed. “Told you I was going to marry a smart one. Do I know how to pick ’em, or what?”

Even Connor, a man I’d known for less than an hour, knew that hadn’t gone over well. “Ah, Rafe, buddy, you might want to restate that comment.”

Buddy Rafe squinted up at me. “Over the top, wasn’t it? Sorry. Got a little carried away. Connor here is a bad influence. Always has been.”

I smiled at him sweetly. “Blaming someone else is making it worse. Just remember what they say about paybacks. See you tonight, okay? Nice meeting you, Connor.”

Outside, the fresh April air whooshed in my face as I walked up to the library. “Refreshing,” I murmured, as I leaned against it. “Invigorating. Exhilarating. Revitalizing. Fortifying, even.”

“Are you channeling a thesaurus?”

I looked up—because my head had been down against the wind—and saw the board president standing in front of the library’s front door.