The Hanging Hill

117

It took several hours for Judy and Mrs. McKenna to explain to the police and firefighters what had happened.

And what they told the officers wasn’t a complete lie.

Hakeem had, in a way, killed Grimes. Calling him Exalted One. Making him think he was more special than anybody in the world. Because Hakeem’s charred carcass was discovered clutching Grimes’s skull inside the doused fire pit and because the police had the murder weapon (the meat cleaver) it was pretty much an open-and-shut case: murder/suicide.

Paramedics rolled Mrs. Stone on a gurney to an ambulance parked in front of the Hanging Hill Playhouse. She was still conked out.

“I’m riding with her to the hospital,” said Derek.

“Thanks for coming back,” said Zack.

“Yeah,” said Meghan. “Thanks! That was extremely brave.”

“Sorry,” Derek said with a wink. “Can’t do an autograph now. Catch me later!” He hopped into the back of the ambulance. Zipper barked to say goodbye. “Catch you later, Zip!”

“I’ll call the scrap metal folks first thing in the morning,” said Mr. Kimble, who was standing on the porch with Zack, Judy, Meghan, and Mrs. McKenna. “Have ’em cart away the brass statue. Melt it down to make buttons. Door knockers.”

It was nearly midnight when the last official vehicle finally pulled out of the gravel parking lot.

Meghan came over to where Zack stood and kissed him.

“Zack Jennings,” she whispered, “you’re my hero!” While Zach was totally stunned, Sassakus showed up on the front lawn.