Free The Traveling Corpse by Double Edge Press Page A

WEC?”
    Barb answered, “I wish we could answer that,
then we might be able to give her a name.”
    Annie replied, “We’re not sure, but we may
know it. Earlier this morning, DeeDee and I were talking about a
new resident we met the other day at Hobby Club. We think her name
is Twila, not sure about her last name.”
    Verna broke in, “It might be Thompson. I’ve
nevah met the woman, but there’s a Twila Thompson on my golf
scramble team this month. I’ll meet her later this week.”
    Surprised, Brad asked, “Did you say Twila
Thompson? That’s the name of the retired CPA that the Board wants
to appoint as Karl’s Bingo assistant. It hasn’t been announced yet.
We’ll meet her at the workshop today.”
    â€œI hope she shows,” Annie muttered.
    Brad was stunned. “You don’t have any reason
to think she won’t be there, do you?”
    â€œNothing definite,” Annie answered. “It was
just that after DeeDee mentioned her this morning, I couldn’t get
her out of my mind. I don’t know why, but like earlier this
morning, I wondered if she were a WASP or a WEC.”
    â€œWell, she moved to BradLee after her husband
died because her brother lives here.”
    â€œWe heard that. Who’s her brother?”
    â€œTony Tuckman,” Brad answered. “You might
know his wife, Tilley; she’s in Hobby Club. He used to be very
active in the park—was treasurer of the Board for several years.
His health isn’t good now, but his mind is alert as ever.” Brad
also told his friends that Paul, the president of their park, went
to Tony to ask his advice. Paul wanted him to suggest someone
qualified to work with Karl and to organize the Bingo books. Tony
immediately recommended his sister, Twila Thompson. She’s a new
resident in the park; so she isn’t too busy yet. He also gave her
credentials, a Master’s in Business and a Certified Public
Accountant, a CPA. When her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer, she retired early from a large insurance corporation in New
England to take care of him. After his death, she decided to move
to Florida and came to BradLee since her brother and wife live
here.
    â€œThat’s good to know,” Annie said.
    â€œBut,” DeeDee said, “although it doesn’t seem
important, but we still don’t know if this Twila is a WASP or a
WEC?”
    â€œI don’t know for sure either,” Brad
answered, “but her brother goes to the Congregational Church; so
I’d guess that she’s a WASP.”
    â€œDoes that information help any in solving
your murder?” Barb asked.
    â€œProbably not,” Annie replied with a sigh. “I
wish I’d learn something that would. I, I mean, we—we just have to
keep working on this—all of us. I can’t do it alone, and I can’t
quit. Something bad has taken place. It needs to be resolved.”
    â€œI think the word we need here is
perseverance,” Barb said. “You know I’m teaching the Senior High
kids in Sunday School this year at First Methodist. Our lesson for
next Sunday is based on James 1:2-3 ‘Consider it pure joy, my
brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.’”
    â€œThat’s a wonderful verse,” DeeDee said.
“Let’s don’t give up. Let’s all persevere an’ help Annie solve tha
case of Tha Travelin’ Corpse!” She raised her empty coffee cup in a
mock toast.
    The rest of the gang joined her, raising
their mugs, and saying, “Here. Here.”
    Â 
    * * *
    Â 
    At nine o’clock, Nelly, the Activities Chair,
moved to the podium and rapped for quiet. She introduced one of the
retired ministers living in the park. He asked all to stand for a
short blessing. Then all of the U.S. citizens put their hands over
their hearts,