Silence Of The Hams

Conning people out of a few lunches is a long way from being greedy enough to actually kill a rival for the sake of money. If all Rhonda wanted was a richer husband, there are a fair number of available older men with money.“
    “But they all want young bimbos, Jane. It’s a tough marriage market for middle-aged women, no matter how well-preserved they may be. Oh, well. Maybe I’m just obsessing on money because I had to pay the quarterly taxes today.“
    “Shelley, you know I’m not one to discount money as a good motive for practically anything, but I just don’t see the tie-in. I wish I could. I know Mel doesn’t believe I had anything to do with this, but I absolutely hate the fact that my name and private business is in a file folder in a police evidence room, or safe, or whatever. If this case isn’t solved, every few months or years, somebody will go back over all the available evidence, come around asking questions again, and I’ll never hear the end of it.”
    Shelley nodded. “True enough. If the murder had something to do with money, Patsy Mallett would be the one who knew the most about the firm’s income.“
    “And she’d never tell us,“ Jane said. “I have the feeling she probably has unbendable rules about discussing her clients’ business.“
    “But she’d tell the police,“ Shelley said.
    Mike came through the room again, having showered and changed his clothes. “I’m off, Mom,“ he said, eyeing the last cookie.
    “Go ahead and take it,“ Shelley said. “There are more.“
    “Where are you going?“ Jane asked. “Wherever the four winds take me,“ he said, striking a pose.
    “Oh, good answer!“ Jane said with a laugh. “A lot more poetic than some others I’ve heard over the years. Don’t be late,“ she added automatically.
    “I don’t have to work tomorrow so it doesn’t matter,“ Mike said. “Scott’s starting deliveries at the deli tomorrow and I get the day off because I worked Saturday.“
    “Oh, fair enough. Is that the doorbell?”
    “It’s probably Scott,“ Mike said, but a moment later Mel VanDyne came into the living room.
    “Sorry to drop in without warning,“ he said, “but I’ve been trying to call you for half an hour. If you don’t get your daughter her own phone line, I’m going to.”
    Shelley ran home to restock the cookie supply while Jane made a fresh pot of coffee. When they were all comfortably resettled in the living room, Jane said, “Mel, did you talk to LeAnne Doherty about Emma?“
    “Oh, yes. And before I was halfway through my first question, she confessed.”

20

    “LeAnne confessed!“ Shelley and Jane yelped in unison.
    “Hold it! You didn’t let me finish,“ Mel said, alarmed.
    “Either she confessed or she didn’t,“ Jane replied. “You said she did.“
    “Not to murder. To being at Emma’s apartment. She was, as you said, a bundle of nerves. She says Emma called her Friday night, told her she was to come by at noon Saturday. Emma told her she had some confidential information that your friend LeAnne might be happier if other people didn’t know about. So she went.“
    “And?“
    “And they argued. Mrs. Doherty cried. In the end, Weyrich misjudged badly and demanded so much money that there was simply no way the Dohertys could have paid it even if they wanted to.“
    “I don’t imagine you’re going to tell us what the blackmail threat was?“ Jane said.
    “You’re right, I’m not. It wasn’t anything illegal, just embarrassing. Anyway, Mrs. Doherty says she realized the situation was beyond her control, that they’d already weathered a lot of grief and would just have to get through some more if Emma shot off her mouth. Mrs. Doherty claims she told Weyrich to go to hell and left.“
    “I’ll bet she felt relieved,“ Jane said.
    Mel looked at her strangely. “That’s exactly what she said. How did you know?”
    Jane shrugged. “There’s a sort of euphoria when you burn your bridges. Or just accept that things are as they are, can’t be changed, and aren’t worth thinking about anymore. Even if you don’t like the decision you have to make, it feels good to make it and have it over with. Don’t you think?”
    Mel nodded. “I never looked at it that way, but I guess you’re right.”
    Shelley spoke up. “But that all changed when she found out Emma had been killed and someone might have seen her at the apartment.“
    “Right,“ Mel said. “I think if I hadn’t gone to