Part 4 (1/2)
”That's not true,” Roger Randolph said. ”What about 4, 1, and 1?”
”Ah, the banker chimes in,” Cora said. ”Yes, 4, 1, and 1 do multiply and give you 4. But it can't be that in this case, because we just filled in the top square in the second row with a 2. That's one of our three numbers. So it has to be 2, 2, and 1.”
”I thought you couldn't have two 2's,” Chief Harper said.
”You can as long as they're not in the same row or column. Which is great. It tells you where they go. The 2's have to be on the wings of the triple, and the 1 has to be in between them in the square with the 4.”
”I'll take your word for it,” Harper said. ”Just solve the d.a.m.n thing.”
”Mind if I write on this?”
”Not at all.”
Cora solved the KenKen.
”So, what does it mean?”
”It doesn't mean anything.”
”But it has to.”
”Why?”
”It was left there.”
”So?”
”Someone went to a lot of trouble to break in here and leave it.”
”Yes, they did.”
”Why?”
”I have no idea.”
”Aren't you curious?”
”Yes, I am. If you find out, I'd like to know.”
”You're not going to help me solve this?”
”Solve what? The crime that wasn't?”
”Someone clearly wants you to.”
”Why do you say that?”
”Because of the number puzzle.”
”It's a KenKen.”
”Whatever. The fact is you're being challenged.”
”I'm always being challenged. It's like open season on the Puzzle Lady around here.”
”You're not going to do anything?”
”There's nothing to do. This either means nothing, in which case there's nothing we have to do. Or it means something we don't know, so there's nothing we can do.”
That answer did not satisfy Roger Randolph. ”So, what are you going to do?” he said irritably.
Cora frowned. ”It's Thursday, isn't it?”
”Yeah. So?”
She smiled. ”I'm going to play bridge.”
CHAPTER.
7.
”Four hearts,” Cora said.
Iris Cooper's face fell. The first selectman had just bid three no-trump and was obviously looking forward to playing a cold contract. Iris was not at all happy to have her partner take her out.
Cora wasn't sorry. With a singleton ace of spades and no other outside entry, she was happy to play in hearts.
Cora smiled when she saw the dummy. Iris had a king, queen, doubleton of hearts. Cora didn't have the ace. In no-trump, the defenders could have knocked out her only entry, rendering the long suit worthless. Iris, trying to take nine tricks without it, would have fallen one short.
”I lose a heart and a club, making five,” Cora said, tabling her hand.
Iris Cooper looked at the cards and smiled. ”Oh. I see. Well done.”
”This round's on me,” Cora said. She looked around for a waiter.
Cora was playing penny-a-point bridge in the bar of the Country Kitchen, Bakerhaven's popular home-style restaurant. The bridge group played there every Thursday night. Cora had joined the game when she was still drinking. Somehow the transition hadn't bothered her.
Cora caught the waiter's eye. ”I'm having a Diet c.o.ke with a twist of lemon. These bad girls are drinking booze. Fill 'em up, and put it on my tab.”
The waiter was just leaving when a middle-aged man in a business suit said, ”Are you the Puzzle Lady?”
Cora didn't like being approached by fans, particularly when she was playing bridge. But the man wasn't bad-looking, and pickings had been slim. She mustered a smile. ”That's me.”
”Miss Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady?”