Duck the Halls: A Meg Langslow Mystery (Meg Langslow Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page A

four sides and the top. If you look close, you’ll see the bottom is solid.” He handed the Chief Burke his binoculars.
    “So they’re less likely to spray if they can’t see us?” Chief Burke was peering intently at the cage. “Why is that?”
    “They’re smart,” Grandfather said. “They know they have a finite amount of spray before they run out, and if they use it all up, it could take a day or two to replenish. And if a predator figures out they can’t spray, they’re dead ducks. So they’re much less likely to spray if they don’t see a good target. That’s why they do all that hissing and foot stomping we saw. Usually they can scare off predators without having to spray.”
    “So we put a cover on the cage and they won’t spray us?” Chief Burke said.
    “Probably won’t spray us,” Grandfather corrected. “I’d still keep my distance. The adolescents might be a little trigger-happy.”
    Chief Burke nodded.
    “I think I’ll call Randall Shiffley about this,” he said. And then, turning to Chief Featherstone he added, “Mayor Shiffley’s family owns both a construction company and a moving company. Between the two of them, they should be able to figure out how to get this confounded cage out of the choir loft.”
    He turned back to Grandfather.
    “So who, apart from zoologists, would know about how to handle a caged skunk safely?” he asked.
    “Hmmm.” Grandfather looked thoughtful. “Animal control officers. Veterinarians, as long as they’ve worked at a zoo or wildlife shelter. Maybe hunters. Domestic skunk breeders. Maybe someone who works at a pest control company, one that includes wild animal relocation in its services.”
    “Great,” I said. “We’re in a county full of hunters, where wild animals regularly stray into people’s yards and houses, near a college with a graduate zoology program, and just down the street from a small but world-famous private zoo. Isn’t there anything we can think of to narrow the chief’s pool of suspects?”
    Everyone fell silent for a few moments. We were all frowning and thinking—except for Grandfather, who had returned to studying the skunks through his binoculars. Then Chief Featherstone spoke up.
    “We saw no signs of a breakin,” he offered. “So it would have to be someone who knows something about skunks and has access to the church.”
    Chief Burke frowned, no doubt because that meant the prankster was more than likely a fellow member of the New Life congregation.
    “Not necessarily,” I said. “There were a lot of people at the choir rehearsal last night.”
    “Weren’t they mostly family of choir members?” Chief Burke asked.
    “Not entirely.” I shook my head. “I was there. Aida Butler was on patrol last night, so I brought her daughter to the rehearsal.”
    “One of my deputies,” Chief Burke said to Chief Featherstone.
    “And I saw Abe and Rivka Sass.” I was ticking off the non-Baptists in attendance on my fingers. “They’re taking off on a cruise tomorrow and won’t get to see tonight’s concert so I assume they got permission to come to the dress rehearsal. And they weren’t the only ones. There’s pretty much an open door for rehearsals.”
    Chief Burke winced and nodded.
    “What’s all this about a concert?” Chief Featherstone asked.
    “Everyone wants to hear the New Life choir’s Christmas performance,” I said. “But most people also want to attend Christmas services at their own church, and on top of that on Christmas the New Life Church is full to overflowing with just the congregation. So they always give a concert on the last Saturday before Christmas. This year, it’s tonight.”
    “You may have to reschedule the concert, then,” Chief Featherstone said. “’Cause there’s no way this church is going to be fit for human habitation by tonight.”
    I winced. I didn’t look forward to breaking the news to Jamie and Josh if the concert were canceled.
    A deputy popped in from the