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while, I heard a familiar voice and looked up to see that Sheila and her husband were now standing with Schmidt. Sheila looked amazing as always, her diamond laced fingers pla nted securely on her rich hubby’s arm.
    “Richard, we’re here for you if you need anything, anything at all,” Sheila cooed.
    “Thank you. It’s wonderful to have such good friends at a time like this.”
    I continued to watch as Judge Reiner and his wife approached the group. Madeline Reiner closed the distance quickly and embraced Schmidt in a warm hug. After the hug, she kept her arm wrapped tightly around his waist as if to keep him from falling over.
    “Amanda was a wonderful woman. We’re all going to miss her,” Madeline said.
    “She was,” Sheila agreed. “She was involved in everything and so dedicated to her community. I’m not sure what we’ll do without her.”
    Schmidt heaved a heavy sigh, nodding his head.
    “You poor man,” Madeline soothed, rubbing comforting circles on the small of his back. I watched intently, noting with interest Madeline Reiner’s familiarity with Schmidt. Seeing them together confirmed my suspicions about another woman, and that woman was Madeline Reiner. The whole scenario was becoming clear:  Madeline Reiner and Schmidt carried on an affair for years. Amanda discovers their relationship. She asks for a divorce and threatens exposure. Schmidt realizes that the political fallout will be enormous, the future Mayor of Naperville and a judge’s wife. My, my, my...
    “Any new leads on finding the scum bag that did this?” Judge Reiner was asking Schmidt.
    “No.”
    “What about that homeless woman?” Madeline asked. Sheila’s well-waxed brow shot up. I held my breath.
    “That’s no longer a viable lead,” Schmidt explained.
    I let out a sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t told his cronies all about Sean Panelli’s crazy girlfriend and Sheila seemed to remain tight-lipped.
    “But,” Schmidt continued. “I can’t help thinking that if I hadn’t gone back into the office … if I had just stayed home, Amanda would still be here.”
    He leaned into Madeline, who continued rubbing his back, stroking away his guilt. “Now, you can’t talk that way, Richard. None of this is your fault.”
    What a cunning man, I thought. How could anyone beat someone to death, then go back to work, and act as if everything was normal?
    Madeline suddenly stopped rubbing, her focus shifting across the room. I glanced in that direction and caught sight of Greg Davis approaching.  The sight of him, wearing a black suit tailored to fit perfectly to his body, caused my heart to beat just a bit faster.
    “Thank you, Greg,” Schmidt was saying after Greg grasped his hand warmly and whispered his condolences. “I know how busy you are, Amanda would like it that you’re here today.”
    “That’s right, Greg.” Sheila perked up in his presence. “Amanda sang your praises wherever she went. I hope you realize that she was personally responsible for at least fifty percent of your referrals.”
    “Well, what I do know was that she was one of the easiest to please clients that I’ve ever worked with. Designing and constructing your home was truly a pleasure, Richard. I only wish that you and Amanda were able to make more happy memories there.”
    “Yes, Amanda did love our house. She had so many plans for decorating…”
    Schmidt’s voice trailed off and suddenly I noticed that he was looking straight at me with a mixed expression of curiosity and confusion, as if he were trying to place my face. Soon, the entire group was studying me. Sheila’s eyes registered instant recognition.
    Knowing that Sheila was about to expose my identity, I made a beeline for the door. As I zigzagged through clusters of mourners, I could hear Sheila excusing herself from the group, no doubt in hot pursuit.
    I had just cleared the back entrance when Sheila grabbed my arm and spun me around. “Unbelievable, even for you