WHODUNIT?

Saturday night our local library board presented a snazzy mystery dinner theater production, Murder Overdue. Among those putting on their acting chops were our postmaster, a retired judge, an insurance man, and my good friend Library Lady who, in a bit of genius casting, portrayed the no-nonsense librarian, Miss Aggie. "I run a tight ship!" As Official Photographer, I snapped this photo of a frazzled Miss Aggie with the library cat, Page Turner, an opinionated pussy with a "sixth sense about those who have overdue books."

Here's the basic plot of the mystery: Snarky Will Webster, an on-line book seller, is found murdered shortly after he steals a library book that is about the size of a 36-inch television, and almost as heavy. Who is the guilty party?

Is it Dusty Ann Tomes--a bookstore owner who's in competition with Will and fights with him over books at garage sales?

Is it Debbie Webster--Will's ex-wife who's constantly nagging him for back child support?

Is it Albert Pennyworth--Will's apartment house landlord and plumber extraordinaire who is demanding his late rent payment?

Is it Miss Mattie Pryor--Will's snoopy next-door neighbor who's always harping about the loud volume on his TV?

Or, (gasp!) could it be the dear Miss Aggie, whom Will angered earlier in the day at the library?

Great for laughs and perplexing to the audience because only ONE amateur detective fingered the true murderer. And, no, the winner was not The Flaming Bore, who guessed the book seller as the guilty party, based only on the fact that Will was found next to his PT Cruiser and Dusty Ann Tomes had told the sheriff that during the night of the murder she'd gone "cruising" around town. How's that for logic?

As it turned out, most of us had overlooked the obvious. Ah-hah! Of course! You're under arrest! Hell hath no fury like an ex-wife scorned!