The Slime Mold Murder by Ellen King Rice

Author:Ellen King Rice [Rice, Ellen King]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellen King Rice
Published: 2021-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

A slime mold plasmodium can pull back and break into tube-like bits prior to producing reproductive structures. The resulting tubular sections are called plasmodiocarps. The slime mold, Hemitrichia serpula gets the nickname “pretzel slime mold” when it forms plasmodiocarps.

Chapter Twenty-two

“Facebook blue,” Mari said. “The sky is as blue as the app square for Facebook.” She was taking the little Volkswagen down the parkway. The sky was clear and as beautiful as a September sky could be.

“That is a horrible simile,” Dylan said. “You need to get out more.” He finished his coffee and added, “And you’re wrong. Sky blue is different than cornflower blue.”

“But sky blue is not consistent,” Mari argued. “Even if the paint chip shades are standardized, the actual blue of a sky is variable.”

“Even so, Facebook blue is darker.”

The friendly bickering continued as Mari drove them to the Witecki place. She parked in front of the faux chateau a few minutes before ten.

Wade sat at the patio table, staring at a laptop and looking frazzled. He managed a wave and a hello as they came up the steps. “Either of you want jobs as zipline operators?” He sighed. “I posted the openings, and I’ve got two thousand resumes.”

Mari shook her head. “I’ll be hiking for the last week of September, and after that the semester starts. I’ve got a full course load.”

Dylan hesitated. “I’m not your best candidate. My transportation is iffy, and I don’t have ropes experience.”

“You’re right,” Wade said. “Safety and reliability have to be the top concerns.”

“Do a search and sort,” Mari suggested. “Have the computer search the resumes for mountaineering experience.”

“Or the term ‘tree canopy,’ because there’s a tree canopy club on campus,” Dylan said. “Also, ‘arborist’ might work.”

“I’m an idiot.” Wade frowned. “The company that installed the apparatus left me a criteria sheet for staffing. I didn’t read it.” He sat up straighter in the patio chair. “I need to re-group here.”

Alyson came out of the patio doors, her focus on a computer tablet in her hand. She silently sat down at the end of the table.

Her father coughed an “Ahem,” and she sat up, her head swiveling between her father and the students. “Good morning,” she said. “Something going on?”

“We’re talking about the zipline,” Wade said. “I’m learning my incompetence levels at Human Resources work.

“The attraction doesn’t have to be open all day, every day,” Dylan said. “You could sell tickets online through an app.”

Mari nodded. “Limited supply, limited access, creates desire.”

“Staff figured first,” Wade said. “Maybe I could hire some military people from the base.”

“Careful,” Dylan cautioned. “You want safe. You don’t want a drill sergeant sucking all the fun out of the ride.”

“And no ass-patters.” Mari’s voice was firm.

“I need an HR department.” Wade groaned. “And a PR department to handle the calls about yesterday’s death on the property. Tell me again, why I thought a Halloween festival site was a good idea?”

“You’re not going to cancel?” Alyson’s face creased with dismay. “It’s not our fault that Mitchell was hurt.

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