A DELICATE MATTER

"I know it's Halloween," Charlotte was exasperated. She'd reckoned that once the twins were in school she would have some peace and quiet. She reckoned wrong.

"Everyone is gone for the day. They're at the carnival. Why aren't you at the carnival?"

"We would be but your Mr. Edison has detained us. He is in our parlor lecturing the twins as we speak," Charlotte complained.

"I don't know Mr. Edison. He must be new. I'm just a student assistant. I'm here picking up the carnival game tickets that Principal Cameron forgot."

"I don't know what my children have done in school today but I have a delicate matter that I need to discuss with Mr. Cameron immediately. It can't wait." Charlotte insisted.

The student was breathless when he finally found Mr.Cameron and the chief of police throwing darts at balloons at one of the carnival booths.

"The widow Charlotte Hansen is beside herself because the guidance counselor Mr. Edison has gouged deep scratches in her maple kitchen chair with his artificial leg. He's in the parlor now with the twins no doubt rippin' up the upholstery beyond repair. Mrs. Hansen said she don't know how to speak to Mr. Edison about his leg because it is a delicate matter and she wants you to do it".

Before Principal Cameron could finish explaining to the student that there was no Mr. Edison employed by the school in any capacity, the police chief vanished. The Halloween carnival had been his idea. The killer with the artificial leg who tended to strike in towns where the residents engaged in unorganized, traditional trick or treating had obviously adapted and found a way to isolate his next victims.