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to regain my composure. I just happened to see that tiny skateboard in the dollhouse. I felt like leaving the house immediately, but, I didn't want the ladies in my quilting class to call me 'chicken' when I told them the story. You know how difficult peer pressure can be."

"Okay," I laughed, "But more importantly than your tough-guy image at quilting class, where did the skateboards come from?"

"Well, I was hoping you could tell me. I knew right away the big one wasn't yours, but I thought it might belong to one of your friends. Do you recognize it?"

I looked carefully at the board. It looked brand new, even expensive, but definitely not my taste. This skateboard would have to belong to someone who was a new skater. It wasn't a custom board, built especially for the skater by the skater. It showed that the board's owner seemed to be interested in skating, but didn't know that any serious skater (yours truly, for instance) would customize his board.

"Sorry, I don't recognize it. Any other problems with the dollhouse?"

"Yes. About an hour ago, I was on the back porch with Henry and his wife, Harriet. We were talking to Jim, my gardener. I was leaning against the railing to point out an area for some daisies when I heard a cracking noise. I backed away just before the railing broke totally away from the porch and fell onto the ground."

"So I guess you checked the dollhouse railing, too," I commented. I felt the railing, and sure enough, it was attached, but barely.

"Bo, two weeks ago while dusting the dollhouse, I accidentally loosened the railing, but I super-glued it back onto the porch. A day later, that railing was so firmly attached, I don't think I could have pulled it off with a crowbar. Someone wants me very scared or very hurt, or both. I told Henry about these strange things, and he called the police. It was his suggestion that I call you. Henry and Harriet are still in the back talking with Jim. Bo, I trust you, but I want you to be aware that Henry is suspicious of you. He thinks that you may be involved. I knew that if you didn't recognize the skateboard, I may be correct in some of my own suspicions."

"You think you know who is doing this?"

"Henry's father and I were always afraid that Harriet married Henry because she assumed he would have a large inheritance one day. Henry is my only child, and when his father died, he left me a good deal of money, but Henry doesn't even know that. Henry's father did not want him to know, because he wanted Henry to take

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