my uncle my mother 's brother died while fishing from a canoe , and my mother made it clear she did n't want to see me in a canoe . '' `` congratulations on your new job and have a nice trip . '' therefore ; theyll want only their best people on the case . `` i chose the right stool , is all . she swallowed ; her throat was dry . he went to the bathroom and washed his face and put the coffeepot on . half of chris 's lips twitch up in a grin . 