Read Online Silence Of The Hams by Jill Churchill - Free Book Online

time. I burst into tears when Tony told me you were here. I knew I could count on you. Such good friends.”
    She folded Jane into an embrace scented with a perfume Jane didn’t recognize, but guessed was terribly expensive. Then, still holding Jane’s hand tightly, Rhonda hugged Shelley. “What would I do without you two,“ she said.
    Rhonda Stonecipher was, as always, beautifully dressed. Today it was cream linen slacks with a matching blouse and summer weight sweater. Her hair looked freshly set, her makeup flawless, and she even had on exquisite earrings and a coordinated bracelet. Jane tried to accept this as normal, even though she could vividly remember the day after her own husband had died. Jane recalled standing at the closet door and staring blankly at the contents as if she’d never seen clothing before and had no idea what to do with it. Expertly matching jewelry to a stylish outfit would never have crossed her mind.
    But then, it seldom crossed her mind in normal circumstances either unless Shelley reminded her.
    “We’re so sorry about your loss,“ Jane said.
    “It was a terrible shock,“ Rhonda admitted. “But everyone’s been so kind. Dear Tony has been helping me with the arrangements for the funeral.“ With that, she let go of Jane and Shelley and transferred her grip to Tony, who looked a little startled, but pleased. “Tony helped me decide on the coffin. Such a terrible word, coffin. And such a terrible thing to have to decide about. And the funeral people asked me all sorts of things that I never gave a thought to. Like things for the obituary in the paper, for example. Robert’s degrees and professional organizations and exact dates. Tony had it all in a file. No wonder Robert was so pleased to have him for a partner.”
    She was babbling, but she was entitled to, Jane figured. “Sit down and rest,“ Shelley said. “The coffee’s done and you really should eat something. Jane and I will bring it out to you.”
    Dabbing at the corners of her eyes, careful not to mess up her makeup, Rhonda let Tony lead her away to the sofa grouping in front of the enormous fireplace in the sunken living room. Shelley gave Jane a quick look that silently said, “We already have things to talk about.”
    When they joined Rhonda, Tony had disappeared again. “He’s making some phone calls for me,“ Rhonda explained without prompting. “The state bar association and some old friends and neighbors. Oh, dear—it doesn’t seem possible that this has happened, does it?“
    “It’s a terrible shame,“ Shelley said. “And it must be very hard on you.“
    “Yes, but it could have been much worse for Robert.“ At their perplexed expressions, she added. “You see, he had an absolute horror of illness and a lingering death. He was so active—so enormously active. Physically, mentally, socially. To have been rendered inactive would have been hell for him. At least his death was very, very quick. I know if he’d had a choice, that would have been his preference.“
    “Do the police have any idea what happened?“ Shelley asked innocently.
    “They’re not telling me anything,“ Rhonda said with what would have been called a pout in other circumstances. “Just asking questions. Terribly personal questions, some of them.”
    Tony Belton had come back into the room. “—which I keep telling you you’re under no obligation to answer,“ he added.
    “But Tony, I have nothing to conceal. And I want the person who did this awful thing apprehended as soon as possible.”
    Tony didn’t comment, but held out the list of names and phone numbers. “Rhonda, I think one of these is wrong. I keep getting a pizza restaurant.”
    The doorbell rang and Tony started to get up. Shelley stopped him. “I’ll get it. In fact, Jane and I need to be moving along. We’ll come back later on and help with the food, or tidying up or whatever you might need.”
    They went to the door, where two more neighbors stood.