Grime and Punishment

back-to-school nights at the grade school? That time he went to help her with a flat tire—had he been fumbling around with her blouse buttons instead of the car jack?
    She heard a car engine approaching and sat up, furiously wiping her eyes.
    The minivan cast a shadow Jane recognized. Shelley opened the passenger door of Jane’s station wagon. “May I come in?“
    “If you don’t mind being seen with a woman whose mascara is all over her chin.“
    “You aren’t wearing mascara. You can’t fool me.“ She got in and closed the door. “For whatever it’s worth, Joyce looks worse than you do. Here.“ Shelley had unearthed a travel pack of tissues from her purse and handed them to Jane. “Mop up, honey. Got any car pools you want me to pick up this afternoon? It’s almost that time.“
    “No, thanks, I’m off today. Did you get her out of my house?”
    “Yes. She actually got so hysterical I had to slap her. Just like in the movies. I’ve always wanted to do that, but I never thought I’d enjoy it so much.”
    Jane smiled weakly. “I wish I’d had the chance. Shelley, the truth—did you know before?”
    Shelley hitched herself around sideways and looked at Jane with a horrified expression. “Good God! No, of course not. Do you think I would have let that happen to you? I’d have hated telling you, but I’d have done it. Even if I only suspected.“
    “How did you find me here?“
    “I just guessed.“
    “You did not. You’re a terrible liar.“
    “No, I knew you came here a lot last winter. I saw your car a couple of times when I came to the shopping center.“
    “This was a Christmas tree farm. That fir by my patio came from here. Why would he want her? Her?“
    “I can’t imagine and neither should you. It was insanity.
    “Male menopause. But why somebody just as old and busy and ordinary as me? I thought it was some nubile young thing who wore crotchless panties every day and still had her breasts up under her chin, where ours started out.“
    “Madness, Jane. You can’t explain it. Nobody can.“
    “Now that I think about it, I wonder why she considered it. Steve wasn’t such a noticeable treasure. He wasn’t any better-looking than her husband, and he certainly didn’t have as much money. I have the feeling the Greenways are rolling in it.“
    “Maybe she just wanted the attention,“ Shelley said. “You know her husband never has time for anything with her or the family. Steve was good about that.”
    Jane tilted her head back so the tears wouldn’t run down her face. “He was. That he was.”
    After a long moment, Shelley said, “You got her off the hook with Edith, you know. That’s why she was blackmailing her—threatening to tell you about her and Steve. You’ve done the bitch a favor.”
    Jane started chuckling, then laughing. Shelley joined her. Finally, when they’d both calmed down a bit, Shelley said, “I don’t suppose she’d have killed the woman to keep it from you.”
    Jane looked perplexed. “‘That was how it started, wasn’t it? I’d completely forgotten about the murder. I don’t suppose she would have killed Edith. But, Shelley, I don’t care anymore. You were right when you said it was the job of the police to figure it out. I’m not doing any more snooping. God only knows what else I might find out!“
    “Couldn’t be anything much worse. Not that I’m encouraging you to pry into any more secrets. The next one might be something that would drive me to this parking lot. Jane, there is something you need to think about, though. How are you going to resolve this?“
    “With Joyce? What’s to resolve? It’s over. Steve’s dead and neither of us have him. God! No wonder she’s been so damned sweet and concerned about how I’m getting along without him! It was sheer guilty conscience. And remember what a mess she was at his funeral?“
    “Yes, we talked about it. How she was a better friend of yours than we knew—to be so upset on your behalf. It wasn’t you she was sorry for. It was herself!“
    “Do you suppose her husband suspects?“
    “Probably not. He might not care if he did. For what comfort it might be, that must have crossed her mind as well. But, Jane, to get back to what I was trying to say. You’ve got to think out what your attitude toward her is going to be.“
    “I don’t understand.“
    “Well, if you’re going to make a point of hating her in a public way—which I wouldn’t blame you for—people are