I sat at my desk brooding over the Brody business; Lulu hadn't called.

"You look troubled, Tres." Daisy leaned in the office doorway.

"If this case was about dead ends I'd have it solved."

"Your client is due another report."

"I know, just do- somebody just came in." Daisy left for a minute and the returned.

"Someone to see you, Tres."

"Aah, Brother Gunn! Bless you sir. Reverend Paul Stein of the Church of Shorn Sheep!"

A tall, gaunt man, all in black with a Quaker hat, string tie and a large book under one arm strode in, hand extended.

"I understand through my flock you are interested in the recent pagan activities in our city. Well, brother, I'm here to tell you we've got trouble, I say trouble right here in BG city. It starts with a capital M-o-o-f-i . . . wait a minute . . . it's M - o-"

"Muffin?"

"Yes! That's it, Brother Gunn. Muffin. That devil's concoction of degradation."

"What about it?"

"One of my flock, Marion Frijote, witnessed what happened to the muffin the night of the sin that occurred in that alley."

I sat up and called for Daisy to bring her pad. "You say she saw what happened?"

"Indeed, Brother. She saw the man known as Brood . . . no wait . . . Broad . . ."
"Brody?"

"Yes! Brody. She saw him take a piece of the muffin that was in the alley and leave. I'm telling you, Brother we've got trouble . . ."

I stared at him and then at Daisy and suddenly felt a ripple up my spine. That was it! It all made sense. I knew what was happening! I got up and steered the reverend to the door, thanking him and waving off his request for a donation to his flock.

"Tell them the Lord bakes in strange kitchens."

"Tres, what are you so excited about?"

"I just filled in so many holes in this case I need boots, Daisy. Get me Doc Well on the blower."

***************

"Gunn, I told you I'd call if-"

"Yeah, well I called you so you can tell me about that muffin."

"I don't-"

"Ubbie, you analyzed that muffin for the ingredients and gave the results to Brody."

Silence.

"Fess up, Ubbie."

"He made me, Gunn. He threatened my family."

"Yeah, and?"

"Brody has a source for a fleet of mobile stores that will produce and sell the muffins."

"Myna Darkly's recipe."

"Yes."

"Who's the source, Ubbie?"

"Winks . . . the banker. Listen, Gunn, you won't-"

"Never even spoke to you, Ubbie. Thanks."

Daisy leaned on the desk. "What was that about Myna's recipe?"

I told her the whole story and how I believed it went together.

"Type that all up for the file and then hold Caroline's report until I get back."

What I needed to do now was alert Myna and ease her mind about the threat then speak to Lulu once more, only this time not to ask but tell.

She wasn't going to be a happy camper. It didn't prove Brody killed him but he was there and that said plenty.