It's Murder at the Buy-Right

30

"What's all that commotion out front, Henry? Sounds like World War Three."

Henry and Daisy Ann looked out the front windows of the store.

"It looks like some kind of protest to me," Henry said.

A dozen people were marching in front of the store. Their homemade signs had many messages: ALBION FOR SHERIFF! RE-ELECT ALBION.

"What are they doing picketing here?" Daisy Ann asked.

"I don't know. But look at their faces. They don't look exactly like the Welcome Wagon to me."

Henry was right.

"Ignore them, Henry. We've got work to do."

A brick came crashing through the store window.

"Call 911!"

Henry got on the phone.

Richmond Eades came driving into the lot in less than sixty seconds.

"That was fast," Daisy Ann said.

She waited until the deputy stepped out of the car before she walked outside. The crowd was frowning.

"Who did this?" Richmond said.

"None of us," one man spoke up. "We're just campaigning for Albion. Peaceful."

"Peaceful, huh," said the deputy.

"Some kid run up and tossed that brick," somebody else said. "Ran away quick, too."

"What did he look like?" Richmond asked.

"He was tall."

"No, he wasn't."

"He had red hair."

"I think it was a girl."

Even Daisy Ann could read the writing on the wall.

"Henry," she said. "Go down to the hardware store and get a couple of sheets of plywood. Use this card."

"Yes, 'um."

"And get a few rolls of silver duct tape, too."

"What a mess," she said to the deputy. "You gonna make this mob disappear so I can clean this up?"

"They got a right to say who they want for sheriff, Daisy Ann."

"But this is private property, Richmond. And I don't want anybody cut by shards of glass."

"O.K. I'll see what I can do."

The crowd left. Daisy Ann got the broom. One of the signs had been left on the sidewalk. She picked it up and turned it upside down and speared it into the trash can.