Lamar stayed at Eugene’s side until the EMTs arrived. They got there two minutes before Sheriff Hoyt and Deputy Mercer pulled up in their prowlers.

Mercer was first on the scene, siren blasting, all lights on the car blinking and flashing. He parked in the street inches from the patio and bolted from his car, leaving the door open, hand on his firearm.

Hoyt parked on the opposite side of the street. He spotted Lamar in the crowd. “Who called this in?”

“I did.” Lamar gave him a quick and factual account of the situation. “The EMTs think he’s fine. They’re taking me to the emergency room for head X-rays. Don’t think they’ll find anything.”

Hoyt laughed and slapped Lamar’s back. “I expect you’re right. This sounds like a mess of paperwork, and I’ve got the job of crowning Little Miss Allegheny this year, so I’m going to hand this off to Deputy Mercer.”

I groaned.

Not him.

Anyone but him.

Luigi calmly sat at the table, checking his watch. “The Olympiad begins any minute.”

“We’ll take care of y’all.” Hoyt pointed at Mercer, who had reappeared with his little book in hand, “Pete, just get names and addresses. Don’t bother with statements. They can come by the office tomorrow. Meet me over at the bandstand when you’re through here.”

“What about the victim?” Mercer said, pointing out the gurney rolling Eugene away.

“I don’t know that victim is the right word,” Hoyt said, “but if you’re set on getting a statement, feel free to head over to the hospital once they’ve taken pictures. Enjoy the rest of the festival folks. Y’all take care.”

With a wave, he was back to the prowler. He made a three point turn, stuck a hand out the window and waved goodbye.

“Don’t anyone try to leave,” Mercer told the crowd, raising his high voice as loud as it would go. “I need information from every witness. Let’s start with the girl and the dog.”

I checked my watch. “We have to be present for Olympiad judging,” I said quietly to Lamar. “This could take forever.”

Lamar took a business card from his wallet and scribbled on the back. “Excuse me, deputy,” he said when Mercer was finished with Cedar. “We’ve got to go. Here’s my card with all my contact info. I wrote my number on the back.”

Mercer took the card. “You can’t leave until I give you permission.”

“Actually, I can. And I’m going to. Cedar and Luigi have got to get to the Olympiad, and it’s almost time for the Allegheny VFD’s turn to march in the parade.”

“I’m marching, too?” I asked.

Lamar gave my shoulder a shake. “Of course you are. You’re one of us.”

I pumped my fist. “Come on, Cedar. Luigi, you, too.”

“Hold on,” Mercer stopped Luigi. “I don’t have your info, and unless you’ve got a business card, have a seat.”

“Da-Ta!” Luigi pulled out a business card. “My pleasure.”

“This is Japanese writing.” Mercer said. “Are you trying to make a fool of me, boy?”

“The other side—“ I turned the card over. “—is in English.”

We headed out before Mercer could think of another reason to delay us, but Chigger, who usually stuck to Cedar like pine sap, plopped his butt on the patio and would not budge.

“Come on, pup.” I picked him up without a second thought. “We’re going to miss our ride.”

11

After the parade ended, I followed Cedar and Luigi to the Olympiad ceremony. Dr. K stood on a temporary stage in the small courtyard adjacent to the public library. It was an outdoor reading room, but today, the chairs were replaced by long tables, and the tables were filled with dozens of research projects.

Dr. K looked frazzled. There were dark circles under her eyes that makeup couldn’t completely mask, and her fingernails were gnawed to the quick.

She’s been chewing them, I thought. She was either nervous or very worried about something.

Luigi, Cedar, and I stood near the last row of tables, as far away from the stage was we could get so that Cedar could keep an eye on Chigger, who wasn’t allowed in the fair. So he was tied up to a maple sapling on the lawn with a chew toy and a full water bowl I had fashioned out of duct tape using Luigi’s head as a mold.

“Next,” Dr. K said into her wireless mic, “we move to the senior division of Science Olympiad, which includes undergraduate research project with a ten thousand dollar scholarship for the winner. Before we announce the awards, however, I would like to commend all of the students in this year’s competition. I must say that the quality of the work is nothing short of astonishing. Our judges were impressed, as well. It is a tad cliché, but truly, you are all winners today.”

“Just get on with it,” Cedar said, tapping a foot as she crossed her arms.

I nudged her. “Patience, young Skywalker.”

“It’s easy to relax when your keeping score in a match. But judging, that kills me.”

“And you thought ice skaters had it easy.” I turned my attention to Luigi. “How’re the breathing exercises, Zen master?”

“Americans talk too much,” Luigi said. “I do not understand why she must apologize for the competitive nature of the fair when this is a competition.”

“Good point,” I said.

Dr. K read the name of the third place winner, a girl from ACC for an experiment in using light waves to kill salmonella on vegetables.

“Second place goes to Gretchen Nunzi for—”

The applause drowned out the topic of her experiment.

“Gretchen?” I said.

“You sound surprised,” Luigi replied. “Ah, you are good at human remains, Boone-san. At human beings, not so much.”

I had to admit he was right. “That’s because bones never lie.”

“Our first place winner,” Dr. K began before she had to pause for a sip of water.

“It’s going to be some guy,” Cedar said. “A girl has never won first place.”

“Girls just won third and second place,” I said. “There’s first time for everything.”

“Finally, our first place winner is,” Dr. K said, “By A N.O.S.E: Using Synthetic Devices for Detecting Compounds, by Cedar Galloway!”

Luigi and I started clapping and whistling.

Then I realized that Cedar was clapping merrily away but not moving.

“Cedar?” I said. “They called your name.”

Slowly, she stopped clapping. “Really? Oh. Yeah. Really?”

“Really,” Luigi gave her two thumbs up. “Good job.”

I spun her around and walked her a few feet toward the stage before letting her go. She seemed to be floating. And when she bent her head to accept the gold medal, her face beamed.

“Sorry you didn’t win a medal, Luigi,” I said as he finished applauding. “I don’t understand why. Your invention is amazing.”

“Thank you, but I could not medal. I was only allowed to enter as an exhibitor.”

“What?”

“Because I am an exchange student. Olympiad is only for North Carolina residents.”

“So if you couldn’t win, why did you enter?”

“To meet hot girls.” Luigi pointed to Gretchen across the patio. “See you later, homely.”

“That’s homey.”

“That, too,” he said as he made a straight line for Gretchen.

After the announcements, parents and guests mingled around the entries to take pictures and try out some of the projects, which had been hands off before the judging.

Luigi’s wi-fi PA system was the hit of the fair, but I got to it first and quickly hijacked the signal to Dr. K’s mic.

“Attention shoppers,” I said into the Bluetooth mic, “would the owner of a pink Cadillac please move your vehicle?”

My voice filled the courtyard. On the other side near the podium, Dr. K was speaking to a group of reports. She patted her chest to check the mic. I saw her pull the mic closer to her mouth and speak, but nothing came through the system.

“This is so cool!” My voice reverberated loudly. “Sorry, Dr. K! Just testing.”