Following a host of we-should-have-known-better's, the Deans realized there was a silver lining in Pumpkin's hasty departure. With the jury trial continuing into the coming week-far longer than originally expected-the Dawkins clan was going nowhere, thus causing a log jam of customers in the river of incoming lodgers. Fred volunteered to temporarily move down to Martha's small first-floor room next to the Deans. With Pumpkin's unpaid-for accommodations now available, only one other incoming guest was sans quarters. Dean wondered if he and Cynthia would be camping in their pup tent in Bird Song's back yard.

While Cynthia hemmed and hawed about the most diplomatic way to suggest that the Dawkinses might billet down to two rooms from the three they now occupied, the situation cured itself. The sound of thrown objects, yells, and stomps were followed by Ginger Dawkins's terse announcement that she was moving to the Beaumont, alone, thank you. Cynthia questioned aloud if the Beaumont would have a vacancy while Dean questioned the "alone," his dirty mind assuming Ginger would be sub-letting one side of Dickinson Faust's king-size bed.

The departure left husband Joseph in an even surlier mood than usual, and he growled his way through breakfast. The Fred O'Connor Cyber Cafe was unplugged from electronic connection to the world at large, as the old gentleman was taking his sweet time moving his belongings downstairs. Dean sensed Fred had finished his own web business before unhooking and was content to let the waiting line of users cool their respective heels. He grumbled something about getting one of those "take a number" dispensers the big city post offices had, right below their self-serving signs applauding their high level of service.

In an effort to release the log jam, Dean gave his stepfather a hand with the moving. As he lifted the computer monitor, he caught sight of a paper beneath it. It was a printed e-mail. Fred peered over his shoulder as he read it. The message was dated July 3rd and was addressed to Joseph Dawkins, asking for an update on the title to the property in litigation. No name was listed for the sender, only a return e-mail address of "metalman29."

"The plot thickens, Watkins," Dean said to his stepfather as the two examined the paper.

"Sounds like a gold or silver dealer to me," Fred said.

"What's with the '29?"

"Lots of e-mail addresses are already taken, so you add a number just to be different. There's probably lots of handles of 'metalman.'" Then he thought a moment. "Wasn't '29 when the market crashed?"

Cynthia stepped into the room as Dean asked Fred, "Any way of finding out who he is?" He showed Cynthia the paper.




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