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Tim Meneely
2026-04-16 09:05:34 -04:00
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\pard\plain \tx0\tx360\tx720\tx1080\tx1440\tx1800\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\fi360\ltrch\loch {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Jake initiated the transfer of Nancy\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92s money, and was sitting in his office looking out the window when Mrs. Miller rapped on his open door.}}
\pard\plain \tx0\tx360\tx720\tx1080\tx1440\tx1800\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\fi360\ltrch\loch {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Jake initiated the transfer of Nancy\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92s money, and was sitting in his office looking out the window at his doomed tennis court when Mrs. Miller rapped on his open door. \u8220\'93Jake,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93My friend Debi Whitehead is visiting. You should hear what she has to say.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Debi was the office manager for Sam Eugene, the local member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She job-shared with her sister Donna. They\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92d been in the position for a long time and were well trusted by Sam and Punxsutawney. It was, in general, worth hearing what she had to say.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Jake stood and tried to look gracious while the two women settled into the visitor chairs the Mrs. Miller, who seemed to regard him as a local nobleman, insisted were befitting his position. Mrs. Miller briefly caught him up on Debi\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92s husband and grandchildren, avoiding the faux pas he surely would have committed if he\u8217\'92d tried, and then said, \u8220\'93Our new neighbor has been visiting Sam\u8217\'92s office.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Debi nodded and took up the narrative. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93That Hilda Kessler, prefers to be called \u8216\'91Doctor.\u8217\'92 She\u8217\'92s a visiting professor at IUP.\u8221\'94 Indiana University of Pennsylvania was thirty miles away, but had a branch campus in Punxsy. \u8220\'93Her field is analytical sociology, which she says is using math to look at what people do.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Mrs. Miller said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Dr. Kessler and her little sister Laurel are renting Edna McCall\u8217\'92s house.\u8221\'94 She gestured across the street. \u8220\'93I took them cookies when they moved in a few weeks ago. They seemed surprised. Laurel didn\u8217\'92t say a word the whole time I was there. She\u8217\'92s a tiny thing, probably less than a hundred pounds, and much younger than her sister. Maybe eighteen. Hilda\u8217\'92s forty or more, and\u8230\'85 well, I wouldn\u8217\'92t call her petite.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Debi made a tiny snort. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93}{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 Doctor}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Kessler wanted an appointment with Sam, and of course I asked the topic. She went all around the barn, didn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t understand why she should have to deal with a mere }{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 secretary}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 like me. Finally she said she\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92s been looking at Jefferson County finances going back several decades, and has noticed what she called anomalies over the last twenty years. More people are paying that occupational privilege tax than are on the tax roles, she says. We\u8217\'92re taking in too much money, she says.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Mrs. Miller said. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Not decades, though. Eighteen years. Since he\u8217\'92s been\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 she glanced at Jake \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93making sure they did their part for the government.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Debi nodded. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I don\u8217\'92t know, or need to know, everything, but Sam has told me you\u8217\'92re trying to make sure the Amish people up there\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 she nodded toward the woods behind his house \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93do their part. Sam thinks it\u8217\'92s great that they pay voluntarily.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Jake was sitting up straighter. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93What did you tell the professor?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Debi\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92s eyes went wide. \u8220\'93Well, nothing, of course. How is it her business?\u8221\'94 The administrator shook her head. \u8220\'93She didn\u8217\'92t like that, I can tell you. Seemed to think everybody should roll over and worship her PhD. I told her it was nothing to do with the Pennsylvania House, and therefore there was no reason for her to meet with Representative Eugene.\u8221\'94 She paused, biting her lip. \u8220\'93I didn\u8217\'92t realize she was renting a house in the area. That could make her into one of Sam\u8217\'92s constituents, and he prioritizes making his constituents happy, regardless of whether it\u8217\'92s his scope. It\u8217\'92s why I have a bunch of boys on retainer to shovel old ladies\u8217\'92 walks and mow old ladies\u8217\'92s grass.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Mrs. Miller said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Surely Sam wouldn\u8217\'92t\u8230\'85 well, blab?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Oh, he\u8217\'92s careful enough,\u8221\'94 Debi said. \u8220\'93I just like to keep him out of awkward situations when I can. I told the professor she might be better off talking to the county commissioners or the state auditor general\u8217\'92s office. After she left I called all of them and found out she\u8217\'92d already been all those places and nobody was inclined to help her. Anyway,\u8221\'94 she heaved herself to her feet, \u8220\'93I thought you should know.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Yes, thanks,\u8221\'94 Jake said, also standing.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Debi turned to her friend. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Thanks for the pie, Grace. Best in the county, at least now that my mother in law is gone. Nice to catch up with you, Jake. I don\u8217\'92t see you out and about very much. \u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m a homebody, Debi. I make it to church, usually. Anyway, thanks again,\u8221\'94 he said.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 After she left he turned, again giving his attention to the tennis court.}}

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\pard\plain \tx0\tx360\tx720\tx1080\tx1440\tx1800\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\fi360\ltrch\loch {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Mrs. Miller found him there a minute later, when she returned and handed him a mug of herbal tea. As the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder looking north, she asked, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93How much trouble is this going to be?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He wrapped his hands around the mug. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93For them?\u8221\'94 He nodded toward the window. \u8220\'93None. They\u8217\'92re pretty much untouchable. For me?\u8221\'94 He hoisted the mug a few inches. \u8220\'93A bit. Contributing extra money to the tax authorities isn\u8217\'92t illegal, so that won\u8217\'92t be a problem. They\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 again he nodded toward the window \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93will grumble, saying I brought attention to them for no good reason, and that they\u8217\'92d warned me.\u8221\'94 He took a sip of tea. \u8220\'93Which they did.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93What about the professor?\u8221\'94 his housekeeper asked.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Yeah, that\u8217\'92s the rub,\u8221\'94 he said. \u8220\'93It would really, really be best if she doesn\u8217\'92t get onto their radar.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93What do you think they\u8217\'92d do?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Their tradition, when somebody threatens them, is to make that person disappear.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93But you said they\u8217\'92re untouchable,\u8221\'94 Mrs. Miller pointed out.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Oh, I meant they\u8217\'92re untouchable }{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 legally}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 . They\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92re still totally fixated on avoiding human interference or even influence. If they think her interference could lead to humans encroaching into their space\u8230\'85\u8221\'94 He sipped his tea. \u8220\'93She\u8217\'92ll go poof.\u8221\'94 }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Why are the so panicked about humans finding them? I\u8217\'92ve never really understood that,\u8221\'94 she said.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Well, look at the history of powerful cultures interacting with weaker ones. All the explorers. They brought disease, they stole land and anything that could be stolen, they enslaved them. It\u8217\'92s not a pretty picture.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Surely humanity has advanced past that?\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93We\u8217\'92re more civilized than those old Conquistadors.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He raised an eyebrow. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Do you think so?\u8221\'94 He gestured toward the window. \u8220\'93I don\u8217\'92t know how many Folk there are as of today, but something like six hundred. Let\u8217\'92s say a thousand to make the math easy. Their balance sheet shows they\u8217\'92re worth, collectively, a bit more than a billion dollars\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93}{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 What?}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8221\'94 she gasped. \u8220\'93How?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93There\u8217\'92s a long history. As you said, they\u8217\'92re industrious, and there\u8217\'92s the miracle of compound interest. So that means every one of them\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he pointed to the window \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93leader, laborer, or infant, is a millionaire. How many people in Punxsy are millionaires, do you think? Other than you, me, and Nancy?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93A few,\u8221\'94 she said.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Sure, a few. But I think the rest would be very envious, wondering why these }{\f1\fs24\b0\i1 aliens}{\f0\fs24\b0\i0 should have so more than they do. But\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he held up a hand \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93that\u8217\'92s only public money. I know for sure they\u8217\'92ve been accumulating off-the-books wealth for years. Gold, silver. Drugs; I tried to get rid of the drugs, but who knows? More recently, Bitcoin. }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93For that matter\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he put his mug down, becoming more agitated \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93how much do you know about the history of Bitcoin? It involves very clever math, and was originated by an anonymous person or group that called itself Satoshi Nakamoto. Nobody has ever figured out who Nakamoto was, in spite of a whole lot of investigation. I think there\u8217\'92s a possibility that the Folk came up with Bitcoin. It\u8217\'92s actually very logical, they\u8217\'92re mathematic and computer geniuses, and they\u8217\'92re really good at keeping a secret. But here\u8217\'92s the kicker: Nakamoto has a million Bitcoin, worth something close to a hundred billion \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 with a B \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 dollars.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Oh, my,\u8221\'94 she said.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He continued as if she hadn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t spoken. \u8220\'93So disease and envy by local people are one thing, but my real fear is when rumors get started. The Folk are Satoshi Nakamoto. The Folk have more gold than Fort Knox. The Folk have drums of cocaine. Or\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he waved a hand \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93a collection of Beanie Babies, or US State quarters. Whatever. It would be a modern gold rush, people from all over the country, all over the world, overrunning them. They wouldn\u8217\'92t last a day.\u8221\'94 He picked up his mug and sighed. \u8220\'93All they want is to be left alone.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain \f0\fs24\b0\i0}

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\pard\plain \tx0\tx360\tx720\tx1080\tx1440\tx1800\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\fi360\ltrch\loch {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She was, Jake thought, the least attractive human being he\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92d ever met.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Since she was looking around, presumably assessing the house, he had a moment to look at her through the window, and he used it to question himself about that initial impression. He\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92d known people who didn\u8217\'92t, physically, have much going for them, and hadn\u8217\'92t reacted to any of them this way. He wondered why his reaction was different for her, why she repulsed him so. She was tall and broad shouldered, but no more so than Nancy, and he thought Nancy was the most attractive person he knew. }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 It was the total lack of joy, he finally decided. This woman had no light in her eyes, not even a hint of twitch to her lips. She didn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t just look unhappy, she looked determined to stay that way.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 When she began impatiently eying his doorbell he decided it was time to open the door.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Hello,\u8221\'94 he said, trying to sound pleasant.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m Dr. Kessler,\u8221\'94 she snapped. \u8220\'93Dr. Hilda Kessler. I\u8217\'92m currently an adjunct professor in computational sociology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and my sister and I have taken the house across the street. I presume I\u8217\'92m speaking to Mr. Jake Deaver?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Yes, you are.\u8221\'94 Jake chuckled. \u8220\'93Technically Dr. Jake Deaver, but as my mother used to say, my PhD didn\u8217\'92t seem to take. Call me Jake. Please come in?\u8221\'94 Holding the door, he stepped to one side.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She didn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t move. \u8220\'93Nobody told me you had a doctorate.\u8221\'94 Explanation was demanded.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Again he chuckled, though it sounded a bit forced in his own ears. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m not surprised. In a small town people think the only real doctors are the medical ones. Of course it\u8217\'92s different for you in academia.\u8221\'94 He gestured, trying to look gracious. \u8220\'93Won\u8217\'92t you please come in?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Where\u8217\'92d you get it? Your degree?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Carnegie Mellon,\u8221\'94 he said. \u8220\'93In physics, if you can believe it. Not exactly applicable to my present life.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Hmph,\u8221\'94 she said. He had a prestigious degree from a prestigious school. Her degree, the private detective\u8217\'92s report said, was from a tiny school in central Indiana that had since lost its accreditation. One step above clipping a mail order coupon from the back of a magazine, the report said, but a small step.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Since he wanted her to be friendly \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 if that was even possible \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 Jake didn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t pursue discussion of any of this. He simply waiting, holding the door with his left hand out to invite her in, and started to feel foolish.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Finally, still glaring at him as if he\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92d deceived her, she stepped inside. \u8220\'93I have questions for you,\u8221\'94 she snapped.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93About my education?\u8221\'94 Jake was now sincerely confused. }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93No, of course not,\u8221\'94 she said, waving her clipboard. \u8220\'93Why would I care about that when nobody else does? About the community behind your house. The little people, as the locals call them.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93May I get you something to drink? Ice water, or tea?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93No, no,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93This isn\u8217\'92t a social call. It\u8217\'92s academic research.\u8221\'94 }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Although the report said she was forty-eight years old, Jake would have guessed she was much older. His grandmother had acted more youthful at ninety.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He steered her to the dining room table and held a chair for her until she sat. Sitting across from her, he said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m afraid I\u8217\'92m not going to be much help to you.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Why not?,\u8221\'94 she wasped. \u8220\'93People say you\u8217\'92re the one who knows. Somebody said you make your money off this community. You and\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 she looked at her clipboard \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93a Miller family. They\u8217\'92ve been prolific.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He imagined the matriarch of that family listening at the kitchen door. At least he hoped she was, because he\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92d want to discuss the visit with her.}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93If you\u8217\'92ve been asking questions,\u8221\'94 he said while trying to look pleasant, \u8220\'93I imagine you\u8217\'92ve learned that folks around here like their privacy. Myself included. It\u8217\'92s one of the privileges of living in a rural community.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Humph,\u8221\'94 she said. Without asking permission, she stood and crossed into his parlor, to a back window. \u8220\'93You\u8217\'92ve got a big playground out here. I see people in and out all the time. What\u8217\'92s the deal with that? Some kind of public park?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He stood and walked to stand beside her. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93It\u8217\'92s not technically public, but it\u8217\'92s open to anyone from around here to use. My family has a lot of land\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 }
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Over a thousand acres!\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93That\u8217\'92s unheard of in this part of Pennsylvania. Farms are seventy acres, eighty at most.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He paused until he was sure she was done, and then continued as if she hadn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t spoken. \u8220\'93And we share these facilities with the community. It was a priority for my grandmother and my mother.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 She peered. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Tennis court, swimming pool \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 what all is out there?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He smiled. She found a way to make the most reasonable question into a rude demand. Pointing, he said, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93The swimming people is by arrangement only, for safety. We provide a lifeguard for groups. There\u8217\'92s a trap shooting range up behind that barn for which we also require arrangements in advance. The rest of it is open all the time. The court you\u8217\'92re seeing used to be tennis, now it\u8217\'92s pickleball. There\u8217\'92s a children\u8217\'92s playground, and badminton. Horseshoes and corn hole over there. Inside that barn there\u8217\'92s a ten meter range for air guns, no firearms. And over there\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he pointed \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93are two trail heads. One is gentle, about a mile without serious hills. It\u8217\'92s very pretty, with flowering shrubs and streams. Some beavers have been flirting with it, and we\u8217\'92re hopeful. The other is five miles and somewhat demanding. Then there are several acres for general use. Picnics, things like that.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He stepped away, back toward the dining room, but she wasn\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8217\'92t finished. \u8220\'93You pay to maintain all this just because you\u8217\'92re a\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 even hampered by the clipboard she made air quotes \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93\u8216\'91nice guy\u8217\'92?\u8221\'94 }
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\pard\plain \tx0\tx360\tx720\tx1080\tx1440\tx1800\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\fi360\ltrch\loch {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 Jake and Mrs. Miller stood silent for a minute, and then she asked, \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93So what are you going to do about this professor?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m open to suggestions,\u8221\'94 he said. \u8220\'93I guess I have to talk to her, but I have no idea what to say. Under other circumstances I\u8217\'92d ask them\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he nodded toward the window \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93for a script, but they\u8217\'92d say I created this problem by being too scrupulous about taxes, and now they\u8217\'92d clean up my mess. And the worst part is they\u8217\'92d be right.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Maybe you could seduce her,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93You know, wine and dine her. That\u8217\'92s what James Bond would do.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 He burst out laughing. \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m a forty year old confirmed bachelor who rarely leaves his house, hasn\u8217\'92t done more than drink tea with a woman in\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he squinted for a second, calculating \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93twenty-two years, and your first thought is of my romantic appeal?\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You\u8217\'92re not so bad,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93You\u8217\'92re rich.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93And I have a wonderful housekeeper,\u8221\'94 he added. \u8220\'93Until she decides to stay home and put her feet up.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Why would I do that? You know my husband. What are we going to do, look at each other all day? Neither of us is interested in travel, and we don\u8217\'92t have any grand \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8221\'94 She cut herself off, glancing sidelong at him. \u8220\'93Anyway, I enjoy coming here. It occurs to me that seducing the professor is unappealing, but her little sister is quite pretty and seemed much more demur.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93You said she was eighteen!\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92m probably wrong about that,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93Everybody looks young to me these days.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Well, maybe we\u8217\'92re fretting about nothing. Debi and the others have blocked her, so she might give up. Meanwhile, I\u8217\'92m going to hire that private detective in Dubois to do a deep dive on her. Maybe she can be bribed.\u8221\'94 He shook his head. \u8220\'93Financially incentivized to do something else. Offer her a million dollars to write the history of Punxsutawney Phil, or research the financial inequity of the Johnstown flood.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93I\u8217\'92d start lower,\u8221\'94 she said. \u8220\'93People get suspicious when you throw big money at them.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Good point,\u8221\'94 he said. \u8220\'93Meanwhile, let\u8217\'92s hope they\u8221\'94 \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 he nodded toward the window \hich\f0 \emdash \loch\f0 \u8220\'93don\u8217\'92t get worked up about this.\u8221\'94}
\par\plain {\f0\fs24\b0\i0 \loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af0\uc1\u8220\'93Poof,\u8221\'94 said Mrs. Miller. Then she shrugged. \u8220\'93It\u8217\'92s a solution.\u8221\'94}}

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