The Accidental Florist

me.“
    “That’s understandable, isn’t it?“
    “Of course it was. I’m not complaining. Jim’s perp was in jail and is about the only person who couldn’t be the perpetrator. It’s impossible for him to have killed Miss Welbourne.“
    “So what do you know so far?“
    “Not much. The pathologist said at first that she’d been hit on the front of her head. He’s not even sure whether she was alive or dead when it happened. If she’d had a stroke or a heart attack within a moment of the attack it would be hard to know. What is clear is that she didn’t get the injury by herself. She wasn’t found near anything that she could have struck her head against in a fall. No sign of blood on any piece of furniture. No weapon found nearby, or near the site.“
    “Thanks for letting me know. You’ll solve it, of course.“
    “Or the pathologist will find more evidence of the cause of death.“
    Jane called Shelley and reported what Mel had said.
    “It’s a shame that someone who taught women to protect themselves had to die. Was it a natural death?“
    “Mel said they didn’t know yet. The pathologist hasn’t determined yet if she had a stroke or heart attack before or after someone hit her in the head.“
    “So if she could have survived the stroke or heart attack, and someone found her quickly enough, she might have lived. Otherwise it’s murder,“ Shelley said bluntly.
    “I suppose so.“
    “I wish we could at least see her notes of what she meant to talk about today. It had to be more interesting than the last session about traveling to foreign countries.“
    Jane said, “I’d guess every scrap of paper in the room has been seized, and is unavailable to us. At least for now.“
    “Ask Mel about it, would you? Not right now but later.“
    “Will do.“
    Jane had barely put the phone down when she had a call from her mother-in-law, Thelma.
    “Jane, I’d like to get together with you at some nice restaurant the day after tomorrow to talk about your wedding. I’ve already picked out a nice place.“ She gave the name of the restaurant and directions and set a time and told Jane that she’d make the reservation momentarily.
    “And dress well, if you would,“ Thelma added.
    Jane was tempted to scream, but said calmly, “I always dress nicely to go to good restaurants.“
    “I’ve seen you at nice restaurants wearing blue jeans.“
    Jane had to laugh. “Thelma nobody but you calls them `blue’ jeans anymore. If I wore jeans, they’d be expensive designer jeans. And by the way, where did you see me in jeans?“
    There was a moment of silence, then Thelma said, “It wasn’t really me who saw you. It was a woman from the church who knew you when you were still going to church.“
    Another criticism. Two in a row.
    “I’ve written it down in my date book. I’ll meet you there.“
    Jane immediately called Shelley hack.
    “You’ve finally decided on what you’re wearing to the fake wedding?“
    “No. Nothing like that. I just had an unpleasant call from Thelma.“
    “Aren’t all Thelma’s conversations unpleasant?“
    “Yes, but this one has me worried. She’s up to something that’s sure to be really nasty. Let’s go to a restaurant for lunch,“ Jane suggested.
    They’d made sure to sit far away from the other diners so they wouldn’t be overheard. Jane repeated what Thelma said.
    “Dress well!“ Shelley exclaimed. Then she sat back a bit from the table, thinking. “I don’t buy the story about the church lady seeing you.“
    “Neither do I.“
    “A private detective?“
    “Exactly what I guessed,“ Jane said. “But why?“
    “Just general snooping?“
    “Thelma doesn’t spend money out of sheer curiosity.“
    “Trying to find out something bad about you?“
    “I assume so. But what good would it do her? I’m not aware of doing anything absurd or illegal in a restaurant or anywhere else in public. What’s she hoping to learn about my private life?“ Jane mused.
    “I guess you’ll have to show up to find out. Jane, she’s up to no good, that’s for sure. By the way, you need to make a decision soon about what you are wearing for the fake wedding. Have you invited Thelma to either or both?“
    “Informally. I told her there would be a civil ceremony and another in a church or hotel. I didn’t explain why, but said she would be welcome to come to either or both.“
    “And she said?“
    “That she’d think about it when I sent her a proper