Free Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 05 - Life Between the Lines by Diane Greenwood Muir Page A

victim.”
    “Who are you going to be?”
    “Well, Aaron keeps telling me I should be the Grim Reaper. I don’t know if I’m that courageous, but it will be dark and spooky. Maybe I’ll be a vampire. You could build the coffin for me!”
    “You’re doing all of this on Thursday night and then you’re having the Black Masque Ball on Saturday?”
    “What’s wrong with that?” she asked.
    “That’s a lot of planning. How are you going to get everything together for each event?”
    Polly was confused. “It’s not that big of a deal. They’re in two different parts of the building and two different groups are planning them. We’ll be fine.”
    “Okay,” he drew out. It didn’t seem like he was buying it.
    “It will be great. Just wait and see.”
    “I’ll do anything I can to help. I promise. Now. I’m gone before those ladies show up and rope me into a meeting.”
    Polly looked at the time on her computer. “Better hurry.”
    Henry’s eyes grew big and he bolted out the door of the office.
    Jeff came around the corner from his office and said, “I meant to ask you. What’s with all the paint in the gravel out front?”
    Through gritted teeth, Polly said, “We had some vandalism early Sunday morning.”
    “What?”
    “Someone flung paint on the front of Sycamore House. The only things we weren’t able to fully clean were the doors.”
    “How did you get it cleaned up?”
    “Fortunately they used latex paint and we used power washers.
    “So, no idea who did it?”
    “None at all. I filed a report with Ken Wallers. I hope that’s the last of it, but he doesn’t seem to think it’s over, because it was too brazen. You haven’t made anyone angry, have you?”
    Rather than look shocked, Jeff took a moment to think about it. “No, I don’t think so. There was the guy who was staying here last month who thought he shouldn’t have to pay us for the week he spent out at the river getting high and taking pictures. But, we worked that out. He wouldn’t have been angry enough to come back and retaliate. And besides, he lives in Idaho.”
    “Well, if you do know someone from around here who might have a reason to hurt us, let me or Ken know. I hate to think about what they might do next.”
    “Hello !” Lydia called from the front door. She came into the main office with Beryl and Andy and pointed at the conference room. “Can we use your projector? We have great ideas.”
    Polly stood up and grabbed her nearly empty mug. Three cups wasn’t a record, but she didn’t feel as if she was finished yet. “Sure,” she said. “Come on in. I’m getting excited about this.”
    “We are too,” Andy laughed. “Did you talk to Henry about building the coffin? Len said he’d help.”
    “ Henry’s on it. I invited him to stay for this meeting, but he ran over to Len’s house for something or other.” Polly nearly bit her tongue when she finished speaking.
    “Really? What for?” Andy asked.
    “I don’t know. He wanted to ask Len about a project they were working on.”
    “Oh,” she said. “I’m glad Henry asks for his help. Len enjoys working with him.”
    Polly nodded and turned back to the coffee pot, which was just starting a new cycle.
    Lydia had grabbed Jeff, who was helping her sync her laptop to the projector system. “Do you want to stay while we show Polly what we’re planning?” she asked him.
    He looked at Polly, who shook her head in the negative, then shrugged her shoulders. “No, if you don’t mind. I’ve got some things to take care of for the Ball. I also have a meeting with the ministerial association this morning.”
    “What’s that about?” Lydia asked.
    “The food pantry can’t handle all of the food that gets distributed before Thanksgiving, so we’re going to open up that Sunday through Wednesday for collection and distribution.”
    “That’s terrific,” Andy said. “They’ve used the elementary school in the past, but with all of the school budget