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The Last Straw

List of Suspects:

John Hammerman
Regal Houston
Luther Simpleton
Thomas Appleton II

Rachel Appleton had arrived home after a long day in court. She found the letter from her grandfather's attorney J.A Stein in her mailbox. The letter notified her of her grandfather's death and let her know that she was his sole heir. His estate included his 500-acre farm in Harlanville, OK.

The next day she arrived in Harlanville. Jason Stein was very nice. He offered his condolences and then handed her the deed and the keys to her new home. She was excited.

She got lost on the way to the Appleton Ranch so she stopped and asked for directions at a local gas station. Everyone grew quiet and began to stare at her. It made her feel creepy. The leather-skinned, old man who ran gas station asked, "Miss are you sure you want to go there? Don't you know what happened." "Well yes", she said. "I'm Rachel Appleton and was told by my grandfather's attorney that he died at home. I am not superstitious. I don't mind living in a home where someone died."

"Yes, Miss, it is true that your grandfather died in that house. But, did the attorney tell you how he died?"

"No, is there something I should know about it?"

"They found him sitting in front of his television. His supper was on a TV tray in front of him. The doors and windows were all locked up. What got to the police officers, when they arrived on the scene, was the look on your grandfather's face. It was frozen in place. You could see pure terror all over it. The coroner believes that he was literally scared to death. The only evidence that could be found at the scene was a few pieces of hay that lay directly in front of your grandfather. Some believe it was a haunted scarecrow that dunnit."

That is a bunch of baloney. My grandfather was old. He probably died of a heart attack. Now may I have those directions please?" "OK, you continue on this road until you reach the fork. At the fork, you turn right. Go down the road a piece and you will see your grandfather's farm on the right. Please be careful Miss."

"Nonsense, thanks for the directions."

Rachel Appleton had finally arrived at her new home. She unlocked the door, turned on the light and discovered that no one had removed the supper plate from the TV tray. It must have been there for weeks. She even noticed a piece of straw close to her grandfather's chair.

She cleaned up the house and unpacked her suitcase. She changed the sheets and blankets on her grandfather's bed and then laid

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