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“Sadly, there’s little reason to believe it’s anything more than legend.”

“Since when does anyone in this place dismiss legends?” Ellery demanded.

“Since we have more important things to deal with.” Nora ducked behind the sales desk and rose with a square, flat cardboard box, which she handed to Ellery. “These are yours. To do with as you wish.”

“These are my what?”

“Your complimentary copies of next year’s Gentlemen of Note calendars.”

“Oh.” Ellery threw a nervous look at his friends and tried to hand the box back to Nora. “Maybe we should keep them here. We can sell them for the Town Council.”

Tosh and Chelsea exchanged glances. Chelsea grinned broadly, evilly.

“Gentlemen of Note calendars?” Tosh asked. “Is Ellery a Gentleman of Note?”

Kingston said diplomatically, “We like to think so.”

“Certainly!” Nora resisted Ellery’s efforts to hand the box off to her. “We already have a box to sell at the Crow’s Nest, dearie. These are for your personal use.”

“But I don’t use wall calendars.”

Nora shoved the box firmly back into his arms. “Then this is the perfect opportunity to start. Besides, I’m sure your friends would alllovea calendar.”

Tosh, never one to miss her cue, responded, “Iwould love a calendar. I’ll even pay for one.”

“It’s for a very good cause,” Nora assured her.

“What’s the cause?” Chelsea asked.

“The Widows and Orphans fund.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be covered by Social Security or something?”

Nora, mistress of the art of the side eye, offered her profile in answer.

“Is Ellery nekkid?” Flip reached for the box.

Ellery clutched the box to his chest. “No! I’m sure as hell not.”

That seemed to crack his friends up all over again.

“No, no,” Nora assured them. “It’s not that kind of calendar.”

“It’skindof that kind of calendar,” Ellery retorted.

“Nora, we’re sold. Break open your stash,” Tosh ordered.

And Nora, revealed in all her traitorous colors, did that very thing; used her trusty utility knife to slash open a second square, flat box. She began to hand out calendars and Ellery’s friends began to shell out dollars.

“It’s for a good cause, my boy,” Kingston assured him with a kindly pat on the back.

“That’s what they want you to believe, Kingston.”

Kingston chuckled.

When the calendars had been purchased, Ellery snapped Watson’s leash to his harness and shepherded his flock toward the front door. The wind nearly blew the door shut again.

“We’ll see you Saturday night,” Nora called. “Can we bring anything?”