Free The Class Menagerie by Jill Churchill

the reasons and method. They’re doing their job and I suggest we all cooperate with them. It’s the only sensible thing. There’s obviously a dangerous criminal out there who must be apprehended.“
    “Out there—or in here,“ Crispy said from the corner of the room.
    An electrified silence fell. Crispy looked around at them all, then pushed the television control button. A shampoo commercial blared at them.
    Mimi was standing next to Jane. ‘That’s the one thing I don’t think anybody really needed to say,“ she whispered. 8

- 8 -

    Shelley followed Jane to the kitchen. Gordon was at the far end, grimly watching police activity in the back parking lot. “What are they doing?“ Jane asked.
    “Not much now,“ Gordon said, coming away from the window. “They’ve taken away the body. And bags and bags of stuff. Now they’re measuring things.“
    “Why’s Edgar determined to pin this on the Ewe Lambs?“ Jane asked bluntly.
    “Is he?“ Gordon asked. “Makes sense. It wouldn’t do us any good if it were known that this was a dangerous place to stay. But if one of the women staying here did it, why that’s no reflection on us at all.“
    “I hadn’t thought of that,“ Jane said. “When did she go out there? How did she do it? I know Edgar locks up carefully.“
    “Yes, but he didn’t take roll call, you know. If that had been necessary, it would have been your job,“ Gordon said a little impatiently. “She either went out there before he locked up, or she let herself out afterwards. The doors work that way; they have to in case of fire. You can go out when they’re locked, but they’re all balanced to swing shut and relock. The bedroom doors will be like that, too, when they’re done.“
    “When did you last see her?“ Jane asked Gordon.
    “Me? I don’t know. I don’t even know which one got killed. I wasn’t paying attention.“
    “She went up to her room about nine-thirty,“ Shelley said. “At least, I assume that’s where she went. She left the living room then.“
    “She didn’t go out the kitchen door between then and ten because I was there the whole time,“ Jane said. “Except when I went into the library to look for my purse...“ She trailed off.
    “The police have their work cut out for them if they’re trying to put together a timetable of what went on inside the house,“ Shelley said. “How many other outside doors are there, Gordon?“
    “Dozens,“ he said grimly. “The front door, the French doors from the living room. A door on the third floor leading down an outside stairway. A door at the end of the utility room. Then there’s a door from the deck—“
    “Never mind. I get the picture,“ Shelley said.
    “Is Edgar still with the detective?“ Gordon asked. “I think I’ll just see what’s going on.“
    When he’d left the room, Shelley said, “What do you suppose really happened, Jane?“
    “I don’t know. There were beer cans on the floor out there and a spilled pack of cigarettes. I would guess she interrupted some tramps or drug dealers or something who were out there and they killed her.“
    “But what was she doing out there?“
    Jane shrugged. “Just snooping around? Who knows? She did seem to have an obscene interest in everybody else’s business. And the building is where Ted died. I notice everyone made a point of not mentioning that last night. Except when Avalon brought out that picture. I wonder if Pooky managed to get it away from her. Poor Avalon. Anyway, maybe it was just ghoulish curiosity about the place on Lila’s part.“
    “Well, whatever it was, I’ve got to get my meeting back under way,“ Shelley said. “And your friend VanDyne is using the library. How long do you think he’ll be?“
    “Shelley, you’ll never get everybody to settle down and talk about fund-raising! There’s been a murder on the doorstep!“
    Shelley considered this. “Maybe I should wait until afternoon.“
    “That makes me think; I’ve got