Things had settled down at the Timberdale Retirement Center ... or, at least, they were as calm as they ever get. Of course, Mrs. Judith Epperman, Timberdale's manager, was still channeling Cleopatra, Maude Thuringer was looking for a crime to solve, Francie Blake was still making eyes at Aaron Lassiter, and Laura Michaels was still working on her degree, working with the residents, and working at keeping Aaron's eyes off Francie. Then the JiffyGrub convenience store opened just down the narrow wooded road below the Retirement Center, and everyone thought it was really neat. Violet Mayberry, seventy-seven, said, Great A place where I can buy cigarettes after my son comes and takes my carton from me every Sunday. Unfortunately, on the morning Violet set off to take advantage of this convenience, someone found it convenient to hit her on the head. Things were no longer calm: Laura had to keep some kind of order, Maude had to interfere with the investigation Aaron was trying to conduct, Mrs. Epperman had to make certain there were no lawsuits, and whoever hit Violet had to ensure that no one else discovered why. Mysterious red lights in the woods and several more assaults make it obvious that there is something more deadly than cholesterol, calories, and nicotine at the end of the road.