The Mysteries of Brambly Hollow

fine hairs at the nape of her neck stiffened like thorns. She glanced to her right. Elsa was standing staring at them from the other end of the yard.
    Cal saw her too. “Time to go,” he muttered under his breath. Together the family set off, stretched out in a line as they marched up the alleyway, like four gunslingers on their way to the coral. The boys and Cal chatted casually, although Meli suspected that Cal was discreetly checking out Elsa for any weapons, just as she was. Elsa was standing, feet apart, hands on her holster, or rather hips, Meli shook herself; Tabby winding herself around her legs on tip-toe, back arched, tail like a rod. If Meli was reminded of a western, it probably had something to do with the pair of brown western style boots on Elsa’s feet, and the classy cream and mud dipped suede-like skirt. With what looked like a thermal vest stretched like a second skin across her braless top half, she gave her six out of ten for nearly co-ordinating her attire today.
    Elsa studied them with slitted eyes, then her lips inched up into a creepy smile that made Meli’s blood freeze, a smile that reminded Meli of a ravenous python eyeing its unsuspecting lunch. “Thought I had trespassers for a moment,” she remarked. She’d developed a faint lisp, possibly caused by the loss of yet another tooth from her lower gum. A worrisome thought leaped into Mel’s mind. Where would she find the other tooth? In the vicinity of the corpse? More damning evidence?
    “What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here.” Despite her smile, her eyes were chill, dark pits.
    “We lost the dog, again,” Meli told her. “He seems to like it down here for some strange reason.” As soon as the last words were out of her mouth, Meli realised how they could be interpreted. On the verge of trying to retract them, with some clever oral footwork, she decided not to risk digging herself in any further, and so remained silent. Besides she couldn’t think of anything clever to say anyway.
    Elsa’s eyes dropped down and settled on Quassi, who was watching her, his tail gently brushing over the cobbles. “Well, now you’ve found him, best go. You’re not welcome down here.” She paused dramatically, before continuing. “Don’t come here again.” There was no mistaking the threatening undertone in her voice, and her feigned smile dissipated as the yard was thrown into shadow as a cloud blotted out the sun.
    “I guess we’d better be off then,” Cal said. Shepherding his family together, he herded them in front of him. Meli could feel the heat of the old woman’s eyes on her neck as they passed by, making her blood simmer, and then boil until her eyes flashed fire.
    “You could have spoken to her about the dumped vehicles, and the cows,” Meli growled accusingly in a whisper, turning her neck to glare over her shoulder as they marched away.
    Cal flicked despairing eyes at his wife as he grabbed her arm and propelled her forwards. “I don’t think we want to antagonise her, I dread to think what she’ll come up with next. Maybe if things calm down everything will get back to normal.”
    Meli could almost see the chicken feathers sticking out from his shirt tail. What a spunkless get-out, she thought to herself, although deep down, in some distant brain cell, she knew he was absolutely right and that it was only her indignation giving rise to misplaced bravado. Suddenly the image of the bloodied SS manifested in her mind. If the boys saw him they would be so upset. Seeing her panicked look, Cal read her mind. He gave her a conspiratorial wink that told her he would take care of matters.
    As soon as they were home, Meli distracted the boys with a drink and donuts, while Cal sauntered out into the garden. He returned within minutes. He shrugged at Meli, his eyebrows drawn together in puzzlement. His expression clearly told her that apparently the little blighter must have got up and walked, because there was no sign of him now.
    They discussed it later, when the kids were out of earshot. “Maybe a cat or something came and dragged it away?” Suggested Cal.
    Meli thought about it. It was possible, she supposed. A free meal would seem irresistible for someone like Tabby. Only it couldn’t have been Tabby, as she was unlikely to have beaten them back to the lodge, let alone have time to drag away the carcass. Maybe it was one of the other neighbourhood moggies? Her forehead puckered into a frown. Was that