The Class Menagerie

that.“
    There was invitation in her tone, but Jane didn’t accept it. Jane knew how to encourage people to talk and recognized when the ploy was being used on her. “It’s such a pity about Lila, isn’t it?“ She started stripping the bed.
    “Nobody should come to a violent end,“ Beth said tactfully.
    “What was she like as a girl? With the rest of you, I think I can guess what you must have been like, but not with her.“ Jane was determined to prod information or genuine opinion out of Beth, just for the challenge of the thing. Her brief confession of having her feelings hurt proved it could be done.
    “Lila as a girl....“ Beth said, “Smart, certainly. A bit snobbish, but she did come from a very old, respected family. I believe she was ambitious, but without any specific focus of ambition, if you know what I mean.“
    “I think so. But most of us are like that. You’re an exception.“
    “Me?“
    “The others say you knew you wanted to be a lawyer even in high school.“ Jane shook out a fresh sheet and started making the bed.
    “1 suppose that’s true. It’s all so long ago—another life, almost. Another person.“
    “You feel you’ve changed so much?“ Jane asked, surprised. From what the others had said, Beth seemed to have changed the least.
    “Of course! Everybody does. Why, look at yourself. Try to remember how you felt about yourself, your parents, and your friends when you were eighteen. You probably don’t feel the same way about any of them anymore.“
    “That’s true. But I’m inclined to think people stay the same more than they change.“
    “Basic character traits, you mean? Maybe. And some, like Kathy, try desperately to stay the same.“
    Jane felt dizzy from the circular conversation. Beth wasn’t going to let down her guard again. It probably only happened every ten years or so. Maybe shock tactics—
    “It must be very difficult for you, staying here where Ted died.“ There was a shocked, offended silence. Then surprisingly, Beth answered. “Not as much as I thought it would be. Teenage suicide can be devastating to everybody involved. It was horrible at the time, but as I got older, I realized it really had nothing to do with me. Suicide is always the sole responsibility of the person who commits it. It’s characteristic of human nature that we wish to blame others for our problems, but in the end, our problems, or at least the way we deal with them, are our own. Even when they’re very severe. Why in this case I’m studying—well, never mind. I didn’t mean to get philosophical,“ she added with a laugh. “I’d better get out of your way.“
    And before Jane could say anything else, Beth had picked up her papers and left the room. Don’t be disappointed , Jane told herself. She didn’t get where she is by gossiping with the hired help .

    “A notebook? Belonging to the victim?“ Mel asked. “Why in the world didn’t you tell me about this sooner!“ He was really angry.
    “I kept meaning to and forgetting.“
    “You say she left it in your car?“
    “Yes, Crispy had one just like it, and wanted to see what was in Lila’s book, so she traded them somehow and got Lila’s out of my car later.“
    “What was in it?“
    “I have no idea. You’ll have to ask Crispy.“
    Crispy was duly summoned. She looked smashing in a pink workout suit and understated pearl earrings. That’s a sweat suit that’ll never get sweated on , Jane thought.
    “The notebook? Dull as dishwater,“ she said, not the least abashed at not having turned it over to the police. “Some numbers in a sort of chart that looked like she’d been pricing car insurance. A recipe for hummus. Some grocery coupons. The address for a jeweler in New York. Let’s see—some airline times. Her flight, I believe. Nothing useful.“
    “Maybe you’d like to let me judge that for myself,“ Mel said stiffly.
    “I’d be delighted to, but I can’t. It disappeared.“
    “What!“‘
    “I put it in with the lingerie I brought back. I left the bag on my bed to put things away later. And when I came back to my room, it was gone. Not the clothing. Just the notebook.“
    “Why didn’t you say anything?“ Jane asked, angry now too.
    “I just forgot. Believe me, the notes in it were useless. Just the sort of stuff you’d jot down on the back of grocery lists and stick in your purse.“
    “If it turns up, you will turn it over to us,“ Mel said.
    Crispy bounced to her feet.