“Our pack of friends.” Esther giggled nervously, as she knew she needed to figure out a way to get his attention off Pearl. “Who are you talking about?” her hand shook as she tugged lightly on his jacket sleeve.
	He turned to face Esther, causing her to jump and stumble backwards slightly. Mr. Smith reached out instinctively to grab her and help her regain balance.
	Pearl seized the opportunity, to lean forward and reach into his jacket pockets quickly for a quick rummage.
	John quickly sidestepped away from the pair, carrying Pearl still with him as she tried to shake her hands free from his jacket pockets. “Exactly what is going on here?” he questioned sternly.
	“It’s your own fault!” Pearl stood her ground, as she hid the small piece of paper she found in her hand.
	John’s face proved he couldn’t believe the audacity he was now facing, “Excuse me?!” He stepped backwards now so he could face both women.
	Pearl looked him right in the eyes and demanded, “What are you hiding!”
	Esther nervously looked between Pearl and John not sure what she should do.
	John now was more concerned, he took a step towards Pearl. He was no longer worried about the audacity, he wanted to know exactly what these two bumbling sleuths knew. His words sounded more calculated and pointed now, “What ever are you talking about?” He took another step closer.
	Pearl was unafraid, you couldn’t frighten her with mere words and innuendo. She stood her ground. “I’m talking about you,” she accused, “And this!” she held out her hand with the paper she had taken from his jacket pocket.
	He stopped moving forward and glanced at the paper, then back to Pearl. “What of it?”
	Pearl was now a little unsure of herself and looked down at the paper. It was a receipt from the drugstore for lip balm and menthol vapor rub. She cleared her throat, and regained her stance. “Why do you need vapor rub, I have never seen you sick since you moved in here.”
	John’s attitude changed further, the look in his eyes got a little dark, he took another step towards Pearl. “You’ve been watching me that closely have you? Pearl Sachman, former owner Ipswitch Fix It, in Ipswitch County Montana. Married forty years to Ichabod Sachman, who died of cancer seven years ago. No children, no siblings, no…” he stepped towards Pearl again.
	Pearl’s face went ashen white, though she stood her ground she was not sure how safe she really was.
	Esther was shaken at the events, her mind was a tizzy. She reached down in a panic and grabbed a stick off the ground, then threw it as hard as she could in a direction away from the pair.
	John smith’s dog immediately snapped to attention and ran after the stick. The leash slack soon ended and pulled John Smith off balance in the direction of the dog. He turned quickly to catch his balance, forgetting his conversation entirely and went after his dog who just at the moment slipped out