Much Ado About Muffin by Victoria Hamilton Page A

all wrong,” I said. “I think she’s probably closer to Hannah than anyone, but Hannah doesn’t push, she . . .
pulls
with her kindness.”
    Zeke and Gordy charged into the bakery all agog, wanting to know what the cops were doing at the post office. I followed the rules Virgil had set out, and simply said Minnie had died.
    Gordy looked alarmed. “Did they . . . did
they
get her?”
    Gogi gently said, “Who are ‘they,’ Gordy?”
    He glanced around and bent closer, his shoulders hunching, and whispered, “NWO forces!”
    Zeke sighed and looked impatient, rolling his eyes.
    â€œWhat is NWO?” Gogi asked, head to one side, her gaze intent.
    â€œThe New World Order! She’s a government worker. Maybe it’s beginning.” He shuddered slightly, then poked his head back out the door, looking up at the sky. “Have you seen any government troops?” he asked, looking back to us. “Was there a helicopter, a black one, and guys wearing helmets?”
    â€œNo, not at all,” Gogi said.
    This was a part of Gordy’s descent into conspiracy theory belief. For the most part he went about his life like any small-town fellow. However, get him on the topic of his all-encompassing theory that the world was being taken over by some strange amalgam of government forces, illuminati, black ops, and aliens, and he becomes ever so slightly unhinged. Zeke was silent. Gordy’s beliefs seem to be the only source of tension between the two friends.
    â€œThere were no government troops and no helicopters, Gordy. There
is
no conspiracy. What are you boys up to today?” I asked, to deflect the conversation away from Minnie’s demise.
    â€œGordy’s driving me to work in Ridley Ridge,” Zeke said.
    â€œThen I’m going to work at my uncle’s.”
    I had hired them to look after the grass and landscaping when I first arrived, before they were both gainfully employed. “Would you two have time to come out and look after the grass at Wynter Castle?”
    Zeke brightened. “Sure would, as long as we can do it on our days off! Gordy, you up for it?”
    Gordy, his expression clear now that he had been deflected away from his fretful bugaboo, agreed that he could borrow his uncle’s farm equipment.
    â€œSay, Binny, we’ve got a problem,” Zeke said, turning tothe baker. He shuffled and sighed, his Adam’s apple moving up and down his throat. “We got this guy staying with us. He, uh, came to our door last night and we don’t know what to do.”
    â€œYeah, we don’t know what to do,” Gordy echoed, swiping his wispy hair off his forehead.
    â€œAbout what?” Binny asked. “Who is he?”
    The two exchanged glances. “His name is Karl. We have to be gone all day, but he’s not out of the place yet, and we don’t . . .” Zeke sighed and shifted on his feet, rolling his shoulders. He seemed excessively twitchy. “We don’t want to give him a key to the apartment to lock up when he leaves.”
    Karl . . . I had heard that name lately. Where? When?
    â€œWhy is he staying with you? Who is this guy?”
    â€œHe’s actually, well . . .” Zeke’s Adam’s apple goggled. “He’s one of Minnie’s boarders. He came over last night and asked if he could crash on our couch.”
    Bingo.
That’s
where I had heard the name before! Janice had filled me in on Minnie’s boarders.
    â€œWe said okay,” Gordy added unnecessarily.
    I filed that info, since that put one of her boarders pretty close to the scene of the action. “Why did he want to stay at your place if he’s boarding with Minnie?”
    Zeke’s gaze shifted to me. “He had a humongous fight with her last night and took off.”

Chapter Six

    â€œW hat did they fight about?” I blurted out.
    Gogi gave me