Silence Of The Hams

like you to organize all the information,“ she added with a smile.
    “I hear she was blackmailing people,“ Patsy said.
    “Where did you hear that?“ Jane said, surprised.
    “Oh, here and there,“ Patsy said with a smile. “I have my sources. Actually, the police must have been asking people about some kind of file folders. File folders contain information and information is a saleable commodity. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make the connection.”
    Shelley had been quiet. Now she said, “I was surprised to see Grace Axton at the funeral this morning. You’d think as much grief as Stonecipher had given them, she’d have just been glad he was gone.“
    “Grace feels strongly about appearances and manners,“ Patsy said. “Some Puritan strain in her. Most of us would have thought we should show up and then thought up excuses not to. But Grace doesn’t give herself excuses. She’s a tough lady. Tougher with herself than anyone else. At least since her divorce, which was about the same time we met in an accounting class. She had to be strong to get out of that marriage in the first place, and then make a life and profession for herself. I really admire her.“
    “How long ago was the divorce?“ Shelley asked.
    “Oh, a good ten years ago, I think. Maybe only eight or nine. And she was just starting out with her accounting business when Sarah went to pieces. She had to drop everything. Grace’s ex-husband had disappeared and wasn’t making the house payments like the settlement ordered. Grace gave up the house, her fledgling business, and everything to go to her sister. That’s how she ended up living with her grandmother when it was all over. But I never once heard her complain.“
    “Poor Grace. And poor Sarah,“ Jane said. “I can’t imagine having only the one child and never even getting to take it home.”
    Patsy looked at her curiously. “What do you mean, never take it home?“
    “Wasn’t it born with brain damage? That’s what Grace said.”
    Patsy shook her head. “I think you misunderstood. The baby was born normal. He was a year old when he died.“
    “Oh. I guess I did.“
    “I misunderstood, too,“ Shelley added. “But now that I think about it, Grace just said they had a child who was severely brain damaged. She didn’t say it was born that way. What happened to the child?“
    “It drowned in the bathtub,“ Patsy said. “Well, didn’t quite drown. Sarah had forgotten and left something on the stove, smelled it burning, and dashed to turn off the burner. She was only gone a few seconds, but it was long enough. The paramedics did their job too well. It would have been better if they hadn’t revived—oh, well. Not for me to say, I guess. Anyway, the baby never regained consciousness, was on life support. It must have been horrible. About the only thing in its little brain that didn’t die was whatever triggered convulsions.”
    Jane was appalled. “Oh, that’s so much worse than I imagined. And it goes a long way toward explaining why Sarah is still unbalanced. It wasn’t just fate, it was her fault. How unutterably awful.“
    “I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have told you,“ Patsy said. “It’s horrible even knowing, but it does explain Sarah’s condition. And Grace’s concern.”
    Shelley stood up and came around to the cat’s box. “I need to cuddle a kitten,“ she said.
    “We all need to,“ Patsy said with a smile. “Shelley, you know you’ve fallen in love with them. Why don’t you just admit it to yourself?“
    “No way,“ Shelley said, stroking the mother cat. “I don’t like cats. Never have. What’s her name?“
    “Abby,“ Patsy said. “Not very original.“
    “Don’t feel bad. Shelley’s got a French poodle named Frenchie,“ Jane said. “She may be my best friend, but I have to say she’s not good at names. I’ve always been sort of amazed that she didn’t name her children Boy and Girl.”

18

    “You know you’re going to cave in,“ Jane said as they drove home.
    “No, I’m not,“ Shelley said. “Those kittens just cast a temporary spell over me. Now that I’m away from them, I’ll get over it in no time.”
    But she still had a dreamy, goofy look on her face.
    Jane glanced at her watch. “There’s supposed to be a soccer practice at four. I imagine it’s canceled.“ “Why?“
    “Won’t Tony Belton still be tied up with funeral stuff? You don’t suppose Rhonda will let go of him so he can