Wanda Beaman didn't seem happy or unhappy to see me, though her expectant expression told me she figured I'd stop for a chat despite my present activity. I did just that, curious enough to find her standing on the side of the path, not walking as most people did, but staring into the lake with a sour expression on her flat, plain face.

"Miss Fleming," she said, nodding to me. "Shame about you finding Lester Patterson's body like that. You okay?"

I wasn't ...