RANSVESTIA

"From the first I knew it was likely to be someone outside of the group here," said Hamilton, watching the others, trying to devine if he would really pull out his gun. "The strength, you see, and the expertise required to kill not one, but two in a row, made it more than a lucky happening. Did Darlene Draper threaten to reveal who Jill was if she took her place in the Sisters?" The Sheriff's stricken face showed that Bud's surmise was correct. "She really went for you, too, is that right? So you conned her and treated her like a woman; but she wouldn't let Jill take over from her, would she? How far did you get with her? Or should I say, him? After all, he hadn't been operated on yet, huh, or was he just conning you with talk like that anyway?" Gantsby's eyes glittered, and Bud could see that he was on very dangerous ground. "Then, there were the visits by the Sheriff. For a man who was so bitter about the camp, you spent an inordinate amount of time here. Yes, I knew you had the motive, the opportunity and likely the means but I needed the proof. The kids who saw ..."

"And so you used him," Gantsby pointed to the disheveled youth, who was staring from one to the other in open-mouthed awe, "to smoke me out."

"Yes," said Hamilton, hearing the gasp and rustle of silk as Kim sat back on the long chair. The Sheriff's gun cleared its holster. "And," Bud pointed at the desk set, "that's why I left on the P.A. system into this building."

For a moment, rage poured through Gantsby's eyes, but then it subsided. "I see," he said finally, his shoulder drooping with resignation. He turned to the 'waitress' on the couch. "Peter?" he said, a catch in his voice. The silver-haired 'girl' stood up, smoothing out 'her' little mini-skirt, showing off her shapely, fishnet-stockinged legs. "Peter!" it was like a sob. Then, in a flash, the Sheriff was off, flinging the door open, running hard for the street.

There was a muffled shout from the street, followed by more shouts, and then shots. Kim and Jill were unable to move; only Bud, seating himself and rocking a little on the swivel chair, was fully in command when Calesi burst into the office.

"The Sheriff's dead!" he exclaimed, amazement in his voice. "He fired at us! Fired at us!" He looked at Hamilton in bewilderment. "What went on in here?"