Do you realize there are only 100 more days ’til Christmas? When you think of Christmas, do you think of a snowy landscape, a crackling fireplace, hot coffee, friends gathered around? Can’t you just see an old Victorian house, porch railing draped in evergreen boughs and large, red bows? 
Can you see a friendly, gray cat on the rug in the front of the fire, light reflected from warm, wood floors, friends at the dining table, chatting about…wait! 
What did someone say? They are discussing a mystery, and the full moon on the snow, and, did I hear the word…murder?
We Three Musketeers sat at the sunroom table on Friday evening. I had decided to share with my friends my plan for baiting a trap, but instead of congratulating me for thinking of a way to flush out the ring’s owner, their faces registered dismay.
I placed the gold ring on the table. Jackie glanced at it and then at me. “Do you think that was wise, Ned?”
Feeling defensive, I said, “I thought you two would support me in this. Remember the ‘one for all and all for one’ thing? Yes, Jackie, I put an ad in the paper yesterday, saying a ring had been found and if the owner could identify it, I would give it to him. I certainly didn’t tell him my name or where to find it, just my phone number.”
Jackie nodded. “That’s a good idea not to have the person come to your house, or even to let the ring’s owner know who you are. Since no attempt has been made to claim the ring yet, the owner might not be sure where he or she lost it.”
If Pat’s eyebrows went up any farther, they would be lost under her bangs. “I still don’t like the idea, Ned,” she said. “Why not give the ring to Cade and let him take care of it?”
“If the person was up to no good when the ring was lost, do you think he’d go to the police station to claim it?” I asked.
Slowly, Pat shook her head. “No, I guess not.”
(Cade drops in and joins the group at the table. Ned pours coffee all around.)
“I’ve got some news about Pastor Williams. It’s just as well that you are all together. Pat, you’d hear it anyway from Gerald and, Jackie, you might want to tell Ron.”
“Well?” Jackie asked. “You’re keeping us on pins and needles, Cade Morris.”
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