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One had a box of pastries from an expensive bakery. The other had a foil-covered casserole in a raffia basket. Shelley showed them in, and as she was closing the door, they could hear Rhonda saying, “Martha! Nancy! How wonderful of you to come help me out at this awful, awful time. I knew I could count on you. Such good friends.“
    “Hmm. Why does that sound familiar?“ Shelley said.

7

    “Why are we rushing off?“ Jane asked.
    “Because she’s not a real person. She’s a recording. She’s not going to say anything interesting or useful. Not unless you’re willing to be patronized for days on end while you wait.“
    “But did you see the looks she was giving Tony Belton?”
    Shelley nodded. “That’s a woman who is either having an affair or wanting to have an affair.“
    “I agree. There was something hungry and greedy in the looks, the little touches, the sad but provocative smiles. I wonder if Mel has seen them together. Do you think a man would pick up on that?“
    “Even if he did, it wouldn’t be evidence—“ “But it’s sure a nice motive, isn’t it?“ Jane said, getting into the car. “The wife and partner could get all the benefits of his business, his investments, everything—and without the bother of having him around. Which has to be a relief to both of them on general principle. A person like that can’t be easy to live with or do business with.“
    “Do you really think we ought to go to visit Sarah in the hospital?“ Shelley asked.
    “Why not?”
    Shelley shrugged. “I’d feel perfectly all right about it if she were in for surgery, but a mental breakdown? What do you say to somebody who’s gone off the deep end?“
    “The same things you say to anyone. Hope you’re feeling better. Chat about neighborhood news—well, maybe not. Let’s deliver the flowers and ask at the nurses’ station if they think she’d like company. She probably doesn’t. And if she does, we’ll just be cheerful.”
    They stopped at a florist shop and got a couple sprays of fragrant pink lilies in an especially pretty clear vase. “We’re bringing these for Mrs. Baker,“ Jane said at the nurses’ station when they finally found the right floor. “Should we leave them with you, or—“
    “Yes, dear. Leave them here. Mrs. Baker is only authorized to have family visitors. You aren’t family, are you? Oh, here comes her sister. She might want to take them in for you.”
    Grace Axton, looking very tired, had just come out of a room down the hallway. “Oh, how lovely of you,“ she said, when she saw them standing there with their flowers. “I’ll just take them to her room. She’s sleeping right now. She’ll be so pleased.”
    Jane and Shelley waited patiently for Grace to return. “You look exhausted,“ Shelley said when Grace rejoined them. “Let us buy you some lunch. I’ll bet you didn’t get any.”
    Grace smiled. “I don’t think I have eaten, come to think of it. But not here. The food in this place makes me think of that old movie Soylent Green. There’s a pizza place across the street.“
    “You’d eat pizza?“ Jane said in amazement. “On purpose?”
    When they’d walked across the street and were seated on remarkably uncomfortable rigid plastic chairs, Jane asked, “How is your sister doing?”
    Grace lifted her shoulders. “Still sedated. The doctor thinks it was just exhaustion, topped off by that awful man dying in the storeroom. He says a couple days of enforced rest ought to put her right.“
    “Meanwhile you’re doing her work and yours,“ Shelley said.
    “The work’s not bad. I’m not much of a cook and Conrad found someone to help him from a restaurant that’s shut down for renovations. It’ll really screw up our budget, but mainly I’m concerned with Sarah.”
    Jane said, “Is there anything we can do for her? Bring her magazines or newspapers or some kind of craft project to occupy her?“
    “I can’t think what,“ Grace said. “Certainly not