“YOU TOLD ME there would be no more library grant, Mr. Clark,” Ms. Chelsea said. “And then you hung up on me.”

Behind JJ, someone gasped dramatically. All the ruckus had awoken actress Fiona Fleming, so she’d joined the crowded hall that led to Mr. Barclay’s office. She gasped again, even more dramatically, just in case anyone missed the first one.

Mr. Clark looked confused. “There must be some sort of mistake. Maybe you spoke to a prankster or called the wrong number.”

Ms. Chelsea shook her head. “No mistake. I came here even after you hung up on me, Mr. Clark. I drove up on Friday morning to speak to Mr. Barclay in person. I know how much he loved books.”

“He does—did—indeed,” Mr. Clark mumbled. “This is certainly a mystery, Ms. Chelsea.” Still confused, he turned his attention to the cowboy. “Now, how about you, Mr. Buck Jones. What excuse do you have for breaking into the office?”

Buck was startled that the attention was on him all of a sudden. He was happier when everyone looked at Ms. Chelsea. “Me?” He pointed his flashlight at the desk. Papers were strewn all about. “I was looking for a document. But it seems someone was here before me.”

“Nice try blaming the librarian,” Fiona said. “Why were you breaking in?”

“For a map. A little like this one.” Buck pointed to the frame behind him. It was a map of the Barclay estate, spanning acres of Colorado Rocky Mountain land.

Mr. Clark said calmly, “You were hoping to buy the ranch you’re working on from Mr. Barclay.”

All eyes were on the butler.

Buck looked Mr. Clark in the eye. “How did you know, Mr. Clark?”

Mr. Clark replied coolly, “Mr. Barclay shared all his business dealings with me. Which is why I also would’ve known if he wasn’t planning to renew the library grant.” He darted his eyes toward Ms. Chelsea as he said this last bit before looking back at the cowboy and stroking his handlebar mustache. Penny noticed Mr. Clark was acting quite nervous. Like a man with a secret.

But no one else noticed his suspicious behavior.

“If you already knew, why did you bother to ask me why I was in the office?” Buck asked.

“Dramatic effect,” Mr. Clark replied slyly.

Buck frowned before continuing. “I was doing great—I won the state cattle-wrangling award for best lasso!”

“Congratulations!” Fiona Fleming clapped excitedly.

“Impressive,” Mr. Clark replied. “And presumably this came with a prize.”

“A big prize—I won a ton of money and I had big plans for it,” Buck continued. “I came to see Mr. Barclay on Friday, but he refused to sell me the ranch!”

“Mr. Barclay was not a very nice man,” Ms. Chelsea said to Buck.

Buck nodded in agreement.

“Now, now,” Mr. Clark said. “Let’s not speak ill of the dead. Besides, Mr. Barclay was known for his generosity.”

“Maybe you didn’t really know Mr. Barclay,” Ms. Chelsea said. She crossed her arms and looked smug. She seemed to have forgotten she was in trouble just five minutes ago.

“Very true, Ms. Chelsea,” Buck said.

“And you still haven’t explained how you don’t remember talking to me on the morning of the murder, Mr. Clark,” Ms. Chelsea said. She had sharp observation skills. Ms. Chelsea was a librarian, after all.

Mr. Clark nervously twisted the ends of his mustache.

“Maybe we should all get some rest,” JJ’s mom said. “Come on, JJ.” She turned and walked back down the hall, and JJ knew he should follow. “And no more ghost hunting either.”

“But I’ll miss the midnight hour!” JJ called.

His mom gave him dagger eyes, which told him he was out of luck.

Penny said goodbye, after scribbling notes in her book. Clues for their murder mystery.

Everyone else went to bed, even Mr. Clark. They needed their shut-eye if they were going to solve a murder, after all. And things were about to get a lot more complicated . . .