It's a Wonderful Knife by Christine Wenger Page B

look and motioned for her to come so I could talk to her.
    I whispered, “Ask Vern to let me know when I can let everyone out of this room.” The kids and their parents didn’t need to see Liz in a body bag being transported to the Happy Repose Funeral Home in Hal Manning’s hearse.
    ACB flip-flopped out of the church, and I answered questions.
    Finally Vern opened the side door and gave me the thumbs-up sign.
    â€œI am canceling auditions for today. Please return Tuesday at the same time. By then, I should be organized. However, before you go, please take out a piece of paper and write down your name, address, and at least two phone numbers where you can be reached. Also, list your children’s names and what they’d like to be in the pageant. Antoinette Chloe will collect them on your way out. Thank you, and I’ll see you Tuesday at six o’clock.”
    I figured that we could refrigerate the food and bring it back out for Tuesday.
    Sitting on a chair that ACB brought me with my leg stretched out, lost in thought, I probably discouraged the backstage mothers from approaching me.
    Finally the church was empty, with the exception of ACB and me. She sat down and showed me a stack of papers. “That’s all of them. I think that the parents figured that Liz passed away—maybe from a heart attack or stroke—but they don’t know that she was murdered.”
    I nodded. “I figure that we can put the food away and serve it Tuesday. It’ll be fine.”
    â€œWe’ll take care of it as soon as everyone is done in the kitchen.”
    â€œWhat are they doing in there?” I was getting tired—or maybe I was just adrenaline dumping.
    ACB looked off in the distance. “They’re taking pictures and measuring things, but I think they are getting ready to move Liz.”
    â€œDo you know much about her?” I asked.
    â€œNot really. Just what I’d heard about the rose decapitation, and she quit the Garden Club after that. Liz is fairly new to the area. Maybe three years now. She came to Sandy Harbor about the same time you did. She lives alone in that really cute cottage on Daffodil Street. I’m sure you’ve noticed it. It’s buttercup yellow and surrounded by a white picket fence. In the summer the whole yard is loaded with flowers. For Christmas, she has white icicle lights hanging from the eaves.”
    â€œI love that house! And Liz is quite the gardener. I wonder why she never came to the Silver Bullet.”
    ACB shrugged. “Probably because she didn’t drive much. She frequented my place because she could walk to it.”
    Just then Ty Brisco entered the church. “Where’s everyone? I was going to start interviewing people about Liz Fellows.”
    â€œI sent them all home. It’s not right being in the middle of a crime scene, especially for the kids,” I said.
    â€œGood idea, but I wanted to ask if anyone saw anything strange or saw anyone leave the room at the time of Liz’s murder.”
    â€œWe have everyone’s name and contact information for you. And you know this town: In about an hour, everyone in Sandy Harbor will have heard about Liz, and anyone who might have seen anything strange is bound to come forward.”
    â€œYeah.” Ty looked at me. “Sorry you had to see that.”
    I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m glad it was me and not a little kid.”
    He put his hand on my shoulder as if to comfort me. It helped. “What about all the food?” he asked quietly.
    â€œAs soon as you’ll allow us into the kitchen, Antoinette Chloe and I will wrap it all up and put it in the fridge.”
    â€œYou can come in now. Hal Manning cleaned up the couple of spots of blood from the floor. Everyone is gone. I’ll help you, and we’ll get out of here faster.”
    â€œCome to think of it, where are Bob and Ray?” I asked.
    â€œThey are