Before Qwill and Ella could go out to the site of the new home, Koko, began one of his cat fits. He Yeowed and ran in circles finally endingup at the kitchen closet where his leash and travel basket is kept, stopping as quickly as he began. He stared at the closed door. I think he wants to go Ella, said Qwill.
They put on his harness and then into his basket and he went for a ride at dusk with them. When they turned onto the lane, from Treveylan Road, Koko began to scream. When Qwilleran took him out of the car, he bagan to make hideous screeches and screams and pranced around stiff legged in circles in the dirt. Ella, who had never witnesses koko's death dance was in shock. Qwill is he in pain, what is wrong with him. Qwilleran stopped right there and explained Koko did this when someone who was dead was nearby. He had decided that He would tell Ella everything. If they were to be harmoneous, she needed to know about koko, his love of investigations, the works.
She accepted what he said, as if he said the clouds are in the sky and said, oh. Qwill looked at her, she seemed not to be teasing or sarcastic, she just said.........oh. Then added okay. Well I hope there is not a dead body out here. How close does the dead body have to be for koko to do this death dance. Before he couuld answer, koko was off on a run, dragging him behind by the leash.

Qwill followed Koko to a pile of scrap lumber piled up next to the north end of the new house. The pile formed a teepee shape. Ella was beind him, almost running to keep up. Koko jumped on the pile and began to claw as if to dig. Qwill scooped him up and said, Ella, take this cat back to the car and lock him in. Bring your cell phone back with you. Ella did as she was instructed and soon returned with her cell phone. Qwill dialed the police chief, Andrew Brodie. Brodie, I am not sure if anything is wrong, but we are out at the new house site and koko is with us and he is throwing a cat fit over a pile of lumber. Do you think you could sent someone out to help me move the wood. Hang on Brodie said, that smart cat has found something, don't touch a thing, we will be right there. In almost no time, Brodie pulled up with two other patrolmen. They began to help Qwill shift the wood over. It was quite a task, and they were intent on the job when they heard Ella gasp. They turned to her and she pointed......a hand was sticking out of the pile. Oh no, she said, calmly, I think that is a hand. Qwill ushered her back to the car, where an indignant cat was howling from his wicker basket.
Before driving off, Qwill made one more call to the night desk of the Moose County Something. He reminded them not to use his name or address in the report and he drove Ella home.

The next day Brodie stopped by at breakfast to tell them the identity of the body. It was one of the "gypsy hippies" that had led the protest on their property earlier.

Qwill told Brodie that Bart was working on putting Ella's name on all the property to avoid a law suite. Well Brodie said, it must have made the hippies mad. I have not seen any in town lately. The body was one of the ringleaders in the sit in and protest. Why did you want to build on that property anyway Qwill. It is the Trevelyn curse you now. Curse, Ella asked?

The story is coming together now. I think you did a good job in bringing in the beginning of the story to the inevitable murder. Logical choice of victims. Is Giles Buchanan an LJB character or one you created? I like him, especially his name!

I wonder what Sue will do when she runs out of letters. Such a clever concept. Maybe she's good and sick of the series, and will be glad to finish.

When LJB is not coming up with clever names like Tootle and Toddwhistle, she comes up with wonderful Scottish names, like MacIntosh and Brodie. Makes my Scottish ears hear bagpipes (The part of me that is not Cree Indian is Scottish.)

Ella had decided to have a second open house later and include other people in a buffet on the deck when it was warmer. She did not want to leave anyone out, but preferred to keep it small and intimate. On the porch table on this night was: smoked salmon with Bri cheese and fresh dill with crackers, a dip of smoked chicken with mayo, green grapes, walnuts and celery with crackers, a cheese ring made of five cheese topped with warmed apricot preserves with crackers and several trays with olives, pickles and nuts. Also an arrangement of chocolate covered strawberries made a colorful display. For dinner the guests enjoyed baked oysters covered with bacon, green onions and bacon bits. The main course was flounder rolls stuffed with blue crabmeat, bok choy slaw, garlic roasted broccoli and califlower with pimento and delicate yeast rolls. Dessert was chocolate mousse with whipped cream and toasted pecans. No salad was served per Qwill's request. After dinner coffee was served on the deck and interesting conversation abounded.

Well Qwill, what are you going to do with the condo? Arch asked. Qwilleran was slow to answer and tamped his mustache. We have discussed the subject of the condo and apartment in town at great length. We have also discussed my old apartment over the garage behind the theater club. We had decided not to decide. We are going to give ourselves some time, maybe a year in the house before we decide. That way Ella can slowly move her arts and crafts materials to her art room here int he house along with any boxes of storage items. She can go at her own pace. If she decides to keep the apartment, that is her choice. We likewise will hang onto the condo for awhile. We are in no rush. We want to spend a winter in the house before we decide about the condo. We are keeping the apartment over the garage for rental or visiting guests. It will one day convert to the K fund anyway. But enough about our living arrangements. Brodie was by the house this morning and brought some shocking news. They have finalized the investigation of the barn burning and it seems a member of the Native American protesters will be charge with the crime. You mean the hippie gypsies? Mildred asked in shock. Yes, one of the gypsies. It seems they targeted various persons of means several years ago and I somehow got on their list. Well, Mildred said, At least it was not someone local, but rather someone from "down below", and with that statement, the group fell into a reflective silence broken only by the howling of Koko, letting the guests know it was eleven oclock and his bedtime. The end