"How is...everything there?" Cynthia asked. Dean didn't want to lie, but he had no intention of causing more concern than Cynthia was already carrying.
"The cops are here to do their bit. Most of the guests are ready to check out. The place will pretty much empty out by morning. Everything's under control." He crossed his fingers on the last statement.
As he finished the conversation, Donald Ryland emerged from his room, looking as if his dog had died.
"Welcome back to Bird Song," Dean said.
"Yeah, thanks. Do you always provide a police escort?" He moved closer to Dean, out of earshot of the waiting investigators. "What did you do, waste the bastard? All these guys want to talk about is David Dean. When I heard someone killed Shipton, I was sure it was Edith, but the cops aren't even looking at her. All she does is bawl. What an effing zoo!"
Penny and the balance of the climbers stomped in the door, led by yet another suit. They too were not pleased and, to Dean's chagrin, tracked the front hall with the remnants of the piss-poor shoveling job on the front walk.
"Why don't you tell Heinrich here we don't know shit about Shipton so we can get back to enjoying ourselves?" Penny said, glaring at the officer as she tapped the handle of a sinister looking ice ax. "The Gestapo is making noises about keeping us here overnight, if you can believe it! Like some people don't have to go to work tomorrow."
"I'll see what I can do," Dean answered. He turned, and entered the parlor.
Edith Shipton was standing by the fireplace, sobbing, Ryland was ready to swing on Fitzgerald, Claire Quincy was protesting something in the corner while Effie just looked bewildered. Gladys Turnbull, all smiles, was frantically taking notes. Fred was snuggled up on the sofa, next to the only woman member of the law-folk group.
The John Wayne look-alike with the big belly was in charge and held up his hand for attention. He cleared his throat, as if ready to address a Rotary luncheon. He introduced himself as Emile Corday, with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
"Please, everyone, return to your rooms except Mr. Dean. Just wait there. We'll call you when we need you."
"Look," Mick said. "Most of us have to get on the road. How long is this going to take?"
"We'll work as quickly as possible but this is an important and serious investigation." He stared at Dean. "It depends how cooperative everyone is."
"Anyone got a good recipe for cake-with-file?" Dean asked with a smile as the others began to follow the orders to leave the room.