Excerpt from 'Diligence and Defiance'

Temptation for intimate encounters was an aspect at Crossbury that
was countered by regular patrols of the grounds and dwelling houses
by a bevy of assigned men and women from the community.
The patrols would be rotated in their assignments to deter any one of
them from being seduced into enabling carnal relationships, which
was a strict violation of community rules and a basis for at least a
reprimand if not outright expulsion, depending on the severity
of the offense.

Before heading to the meeting house for his weekly meeting with the
ministers, Davis stopped by the kitchen to revel in his sense of smell.
The cooks were always on the lookout for his arrival, and would have
ready a piece of pie of the season and a warm cup of fresh milk from
the morning’s milking.

Davis, although being a welcomed guest, deferred to his manners and
always knocked on the kitchen door before letting himself in. While
awaiting one of the cooks to answer the door, Davis lifted one shoe at
a time and removed a leaf or two that had become glued to his shoes,
then wiped his shoes clean.

The door to the kitchen, which was aligned to the kitchen-garden, was
quickly opened by Mrs. Perrin, the head cook. Mrs. Perrin was a portly,
stout woman, who nibbled more than her fair
share of food scrapes over time. “Essential tasting,” she called it
whenever she was asked about her nibbling habits.

“Good morning, Sergeant Davis!” said Mrs. Perrin, letting out a smile
while puffing out her chest. “How have you been? Do you have any juicy
crime solving tidbits to tell us about?” she added.

Davis was a handsome fellow in his own right, a man on the cusp of his
fortieth birthday, who sported a handlebar mustache.

Mrs. Perrin, a long-time resident of Crossbury, hailed from the most
provincial of parts in New York State. Davis reminded her of the folksy
sheriffs that paraded around her former town.