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voice.
    Fascinated and wanting to see what all the fuss was about, Richard fell into step, squeezing into a gap between a teenager and a plump elderly woman who was leaning heavily on her walking stick.
    The wheat circles were about the diameter of a medium-sized house, but they weren’t completely circular, which made Richard frown. They were more oval than round. Any fool knew crop circles were round. Why would a jokester go to the trouble of playing the elaborate hoax and not do a proper job? Part of the ground bore scorch marks as if a fierce heat had burned the wheat. Ted was lucky his whole field hadn’t caught fire.
    The distinctive click of a shutter button made Richard wince and memories of this morning return. He hoped he didn’t find himself on the front page of the Gazette clad only in his boxers. That Marcie Montgomery had a tough, determined streak when it came to her job. And she liked to expose people. Richard prayed he didn’t feature tomorrow morning. Richard ducked behind a family to escape the press of bodies. He weaved in and out of the crowds to inspect the other circle. It was pretty much the same but there was a slight impression in the soil as though the force of impact had been greater. Richard didn’t believe in UFOs but he wasn’t sure how the local kids had managed such an elaborate prank.
    Tired of the jostling and pushing and shoving, Richard made his way back to his SUV. The dog was waiting beside the Women’s Division stall and Julia Brompton, his old teacher, was slipping it pieces of scone. That dog knew exactly which side its scone was buttered. He whistled. The dog glanced over at him with total disinterest and rubbed against its benefactor’s legs instead of answering like a well-trained pooch. Julia Brompton gave her a whole scone. The dog placed it on the ground, licked the woman’s hand then picked up its bounty and trotted over to him. Shaking his head, Richard carried on to the gate.
    The people were still entering the wheat fields at a steady rate, chatting together with great animation. Excitement shimmered in the air.
    “What did you think?” Ted Morrison asked when he approached.
    Richard dragged a hand through his hair. “If it’s a trick, it’s well executed.”
    “Yeah.”
    “See you later, Ted.”
    “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the woman. I’ll worm the details out of you down at The Thirsty Cricket.”
    Richard ignored the taunt and lifted a hand in casual farewell. Interesting. Ted Morrison didn’t believe a UFO had made those impressions in his wheat field either. Although he hadn’t said as much, it was there for Richard to see in his expression. Richard couldn’t blame him for milking the situation for all it was worth.
    When he reached the SUV, Richard opened the door for the dog and she leapt in, settling down to eat her scone.
    He switched on the ignition and pulled out onto the track. “I don’t know how you managed that food. They would have made me pay.”
    The traffic into town was heavy. Richard snorted when he passed a bunch of hippies, their colorful panel vans emblazoned with peace slogans. The two vans belched clouds of smoke and Richard hurriedly wound up the window. Looked as if everyone had come to town for the show. Hordes of people, mostly strangers, loitered outside the town café and the pub. The outside tables were full and staff scooted in and out, bearing plates of food and dirty dishes. Thanks to the purported UFO sightings, it appeared the business people of Sloan were doing a brisk trade.
    He turned into the small alley that ran behind the police station and parked. “You wait here,” he told the dog. Killer must have understood because she settled down, rolling up in a tight ball on the passenger’s seat. Smiling, Richard climbed from the SUV and walked around to the front of the police station since he’d left his set of work keys at home on his dresser.
    The inside of the station was as crowded as the main