The news of Warner Kendall Hayden’s death moved across the island. Roger Cameron heard about it at an impromptu meeting called by the mayor. He arrived to find several members of his committee on road and trail development, members of the Avalon city council and the county planning commission. One of the city planning staff announced Hayden’s demise with barely concealed jubilation. “Found dead near the bottom of the cliff below his own property. He’d apparently fallen and broken his neck.”
Roger overheard a member of the conservancy board whisper “Deliverance!” to Avalon Councilman Edgar Ruiz as a buzz of excited comments and speculation arose.
Voices rose. Inevitably, there was speculation. Roger heard the words “steep” and “drunk” and “accident.”
“Do you suppose,” one of the councilm
