Silence Of The Hams

estrogen, I’d probably have his beard by now,“ Patsy said. “Still, it’s worked out pretty well as a committee philosophy. And if you ever tell anyone but Mrs. Nowack that I said this, I’ll deny ever speaking to you,“ she added with a smile.
    “This is your last child graduating this year, isn’t it?“ Jane asked.
    Patsy nodded. “Last of five. I’m going to start backing off and spend more time on my own business, which is coming along nicely.“
    “You do all this and have a business, too?“
    “Yes, with four of the kids gone, I was driving my husband crazy trying to reorganize him,“ she said with a laugh. “So I started a billing company. Saves small businesses the cost of a full-time employee for what is really a half-a-day-a-week job. I haven’t gotten into medical offices because that’s too complex, what with Medicare and insurance, but I have a florist, an office supply store, a secretarial service, and an attorney. Well, I had an attorney until yesterday, but he died.“
    “Was that Robert Stonecipher?“
    “Yes, it was. Did you know him?“
    “No, but my son works at the deli where he died and I was there.“
    “Terrible thing to have happen,“ Patsy said. “I hear he was killed.”
    Mel hadn’t told Jane the information about Stonecipher having died of natural causes was a secret, but she still didn’t feel it was up to her to blab.
    So she kept quiet and Patsy went on. “I can’t say I’m too shocked, though. I think the man’s life was in terrible disarray.“
    “What do you mean, disarray?“
    “With all due respect to the dead, Robert Stonecipher was a nut case. So discontented and angry at everything. None of us can remake the world to suit ourselves and that’s what he seemed to be trying to do. All those ‘causes’ of his! And he always took the line that it was for somebody else’s own good. I think most people are like me—they want to make their own decisions about what’s to their own benefit, not have some priggish holier-than-thou jerk tell them. He tried it on me. Once! Tried to slither into a discussion about how much healthier I’d be if I lost weight.“
    “No!”
    Patsy smiled. “Oh, by the time I got through with him, he knew better than to ever mention it again. I have children to provide me with gratuitous personal critiques. I don’t need them from others.”
    Patsy and Shelley are going to be soul mates, Jane thought.
    “And his personal relationships were just as bad, it seems,“ Patsy went on. “You know, I presume, that his wife had filed for divorce.“
    “I saw the notice in the paper.”
    Patsy was quiet for a minute, then said, “You know, I’ve been wondering about something—it’s pure gossip, which I don’t approve of unless I’m the recipient, but since you’re dating that detective, I wonder...”
    This hesitancy was unlike her. “What’s this about, Patsy?“
    “I’m only telling you this so you can pass it on to your friend the detective, you understand. I went in Stonecipher’s office Thursday afternoon to pick up some checks, and he and Emma Weyrich were having a terrific row. I guess they didn’t hear me come in and nobody else was around.“
    “What was the row about?“
    “Them. I came into the middle of it and left as fast as I could, but it was about his divorce. I had the impression from what I overheard that he and Emma had been having an affair and she thought now that he was going to be free, she’d be the next Mrs. Stonecipher. He brushed her off.“
    “I’d heard he had a girlfriend,“ Jane said. “It never crossed my mind that it was Emma. But it should have. So she was taking the news badly?“
    “Very, very badly. Apparently he’d strung her along for years and years. It was really ugly, Jane. I don’t like to run off and be a tattler myself, but I wonder if the police ought to know—?“
    “I’ll pass this along to Mel, but I don’t think you need to worry.“
    “Good. I didn’t want to be one of those old biddies who look like they’re out to get somebody. I’ve never liked Emma, but I don’t want to go around sounding like I think she killed him. She was mad, but not that mad. At least, I don’t think so.“
    “Patsy, you were right to pass this along and I’ll tell Mel about it, but I think I can assure you that it won’t matter.”
    Patsy gathered up the party bible and rose. “Thanks, Jane. I’ll give you a call Monday about getting together with you and Mrs.