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Royce refused to see anyone, but Ori entertained fro endlessly the circumstances under which she’d heard the nehat she’d first thought, when the facts had finally penetrated, and how she’d commenced to hoith er’s fate or her son’s fugitive status, she experienced events as peripheral to "The Ori Fowler Show," in which she starred Before I had a chance to slip out of the room, the minister asked us to join him in a word of prayer I have to confess, I’ve never been taught proper prayer etiquette As far as I can tell, it consists of folded hands, sole at the other supplicants I don’t object to religious practices, per se I’ someone else inflict their beliefs on me Whenever Jehovah’s Witnesses appear at , assuring theue them with my views

While the minister interceded with the Lord in Bailey Fowler’s behalf, I absentedthe time to study his wife June Haas in her fifties, no ht class, destined for a sedentary life Naked, she was probably dead white and diloves with so ointment visible at the wrist With her face blocked out, hers were the kind of liht see in a medical journal, illustrative of particularly scabrous outbreaks of io and eczema

When Reverend Haws’s interminable prayer had come to a close, Ann excused herself and went into the kitchen It was clear that the appearance of servitude on her part was actually awhenever she could I followed her and, in the guise of being helpful, began to set out cups and saucers, arranging Pepperidge Farm cookies on plates lined with paper doilies while she hauled out the big stainless-steel coffee urn that usually sat in the office On the kitchen counter, I could see a tuna casserole with crushed potato chips on top, a ground beef and noodle bake, and two Jell-O rated carrots), which Ann asked erate It had only been an hour and a half since Bailey fled the courthouse in a blaze of gunfire I didn’t think gelatin set up that fast, but these Christian ladies probably knew tricks with ice cubes that would render salads and desserts in record time for just such occasions I pictured a section in the ladies’ auxiliary church cookbook for Sudden Death Quick Snacks… using ingredients one could keep on the pantry shelf in the event of tragedy

"What can I do to help?" June Haws asked froloves, she looked like a pallbearer, possibly for someone who had died recently from the sae and pulled a chair out so she could have a seat

"Oh, not for me, hon," she said "I never sit Why don’t you let et off your feet"

"We’re doing fine," Ann said "If you can keep Mother’s mind off Bailey, that’s all the help we need"

"Haws is reading Scriptures with her even as we speak I can’t believe what that woh to break your heart How’s your daddy doing? Is he all right?"

"Well, it’s been a shock, of course"

"Of course it has That poor man" She looked over at me "I’m June Haws I don’t believe we’ve been introduced"

Ann broke in "I’m sorry, June This is Kinsey Millhone She’s a private detective Pop hired to help us out"

"Private detective?" she said, with disbelief "I didn’t think there was such a thing, except on television shows"

"Nice to meet you," I said "I’"

"Well, I hope not All those gun battles and car chases? It’s enough to make my blood run cold! It doesn’t seeirl like you"

"I’ this for a joke I avoided any further interaction by picking up a cookie plate "Lettoward the other rooht between Bible readings in the one room and relentless platitudes in the other I hesitated in the doorway The high school principal, Dwight Shales, had appeared while I was gone, but he was deep in conversation with Mrs E room where I handed the cookie plate to Mrs Maude, then excused ain and headed toward the office Reverend Haas intoning an alaredness, pestilence, consu locusts, and distress Ori’s lot must have seemed pretty tame by comparison, which was probably the point