The Traveling Corpse by Double Edge Press Page B

present a big check at each monthly general meeting, and
all would applaud him in appreciation. These funds paid a lot of
the park’s expenses and kept the dues very low for the owners.
BradLee was an extremely economical place to live for the quality
of life available to residents.
    Doc raised his eyebrows, “Money. That’s
always a good motive for murder!”
    â€œBut surely, not in BradLee!” DeeDee
protested. “Not here in our lovely park!”
    A new thought popped into Annie’s head, and
without thinking, she asked, “Who’s Karl’s new assistant? Barb told
me that Brad told her that the Board just appointed someone to help
him, but she didn’t know who it was going to be.”
    â€œI didn’t know that!” Doc said with
surprise.
    â€œMe neither,” said DeeDee.
    Art shook his head; this was news to him,
too.
    Annie said, “Oh, dear!” and rubbed her
temple. “That was a secret; I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Barb
told it to me on the Q.T.,” Annie admitted. “Here’s the scoop, but
you have to promise not to let this go any further. Please do
better than I just did about keeping a secret. But maybe it will
help if you know what’s going on. Here’s what she told me: Karl’s
been running our Bingo for at least five years, as you know. It’s a
big responsibility, and it takes a lot of work and time and energy.
Besides that, it goes on all summer long. No break. It’s every
Tuesday night, year round.”
    â€œI always got the impression that Karl liked
running it alone,” stated Art.
    â€œI think he does, too,” Annie agreed, “but,
Barb said, that Brad said, that the Board wondered if maybe—they
haven’t proven it—but they are wondering if Karl isn’t skimming off
some of the Bingo money. He doesn’t keep a record of the expenses
that it takes to run Bingo. He could easily pocket fifty or even a
hundred dollars every week, and we’d never know it.”
    â€œThat’s true,” her husband agreed.
“Everybody’s just so happy to get all the funds we do from Bingo
that no one questions anything.”
    â€œWell, I guess they’re asking questions now,”
Annie said. “The Board felt they should appoint an assistant, that
it was time for someone qualified to keep regular books, to make
Bingo more business-like.”
    â€œThat seems like a good idea,” Doc commented.
“Karl just kind of runs Bingo out of his hip pocket. Not much
bookkeeping done.
    DeeDee broke in, “Oh, I think I know who it
is!”
    â€œKnow who is?” queried her husband.
    â€œTha new assistant. I think I’ve figured out
who tha new assistant is! Well, I can’t tell ya her name right off,
but I know it’s a woman. I was surprised they picked a woman
instead of a man for tha job. It’s gonna take a strong-willed
person ta stand up ta Karl.” DeeDee paused, “Remember, Annie, there
was a new woman introduced at Hobby Club. Now wait jest a minute; I
do know her name. It’s on tha tip of my tongue, an’ it starts with
a ‘T.’ Anyway, she’s kinda new in tha park. She’s got reddish hair,
an’ she wears it long, least it’s down over her ears and turns
under. We used ta call that style ‘page boy’.”
    â€œI know who you’re describing, DeeDee,” Annie
chimed in. “I heard she was a CPA; had a big job with some
corporation before retiring. Wait, I’ve got it. It’s Twila. Twila
Something. She’s a widow. Bought a place on Oneida Street, and
she’s from Michigan.”
    â€œOh, not more from Michigan!” exclaimed
DeeDee. “Ya know how many we have already from Michigan in our
park? They always make sech a fuss at Coffee Hour when they
announce someone’s moved here from Michigan. Those Michiganders
jest clap an’ hoot an’ holler an’