The Class Menagerie

hadn’t deserved it, but a judge who had gotten an education predicated in part on a forged document would not only fail to get to the Supreme Court, she’d probably be disbarred. But there wasn’t any way to prove it. Judge Francisco was dead now. Still, there were handwriting analysts who could prove the case without him. Even if it were never proved, the scandal would destroy her life’s work.
    Jane had to tell Mel tight away.
    She turned and found herself face-to-face with Beth.
    “I think we better go outside,“ Beth said calmly.
    She had one of Edgar’s carving knives in her hand and touched the tip of the blade to Jane’s sweater.
    “You forged the recommendation, didn’t you? That’s what all this has been about!“
    “Is that what was on those little yellow papers you were carrying around? Crispy was stupid to tear them out and leave them around for a busybody like you to find. Hand them over.“
    “I don’t have them.“
    “Then let’s go outside and you can tell me where you put them.“ Her voice was eerily calm.
    If she gets me outside, I’m dead , Jane thought. I have to stop her inside. But how? An idea skittered through her brain and she latched onto it. It wasn’t a good idea, but it was the only one she had.
    Hector, unaware of the danger, was stropping himself against Jane’s legs.
    “You could have,“ she stopped. Coughed. “—have paid her off, (cough, cough) you know. Even if you didn’t, it would have ruined your career, but you (cough) wouldn’t have gone to jail (cough, cough, cough) for forging the recommendation.“
    “Pay her off for the rest of my life? Let’s go outside and discuss this in the carriage house. Now!“ She pressed the knife through the sweater and into Jane’s skin just beneath her breastbone.
    Jane gritted her teeth. The carriage house!
    It wasn’t just forgery , she realized. It was more. Far more! Had Lila figured that out? Or had Beth only feared that she would eventually? Faking the cough wasn’t so hard now. She could hardly breathe for fear. “When you broke up (cough, cough, cough) with Ted, he was humiliated and threatened (cough) to tell his father, didn’t he? (cough, cough) You couldn’t afford (cough) to have that happen. You’re the one who started the car (cough, cough) after he fell into bed (cough) dead drunk. You killed Ted.“
    “Why, you’re smarter than you look. Now, move!“
    “Wait! I’ll (cough, cough) tell you where the notes are. Just let me (cough) get a (cough, cough, cough) drink of water. It’s that cat (cough). I’m allergic. Please.“
    “Make it fast!“
    Still hacking and coughing, Jane cracked the refrigerator door, shoving Hector out of the way with her foot at the same time. The door opened toward Beth. Jane glanced inside and gasped in horror.
    Instinctively, Beth leaned forward to see what Jane was looking at, and as she did so, Jane jerked the door open with all her might. It swung around, hitting Beth squarely in the face.
    The knife clattered to the floor as Beth fell backward, her hands to her face. Blood was pouring from her nose and she was making a gurgling, screaming sound as she hit the floor and started scrambling for the knife.
    Jane dived for the floor, too, and got to the knife first. Beth swung at her, blood splattering everywhere.
    Doors flew open and the room was suddenly full of horrified witnesses. Shelley did a running long jump over Beth to reach Jane.
    “My God! Jane is this your blood?“ she asked, squatting down on the floor next to her.
    Jane took a deep, trembling breath and hung onto Shelley. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.“ Mel had pushed through the crowd and was holding Beth’s arm and mechanically advising her of her rights, but he was looking intently at Jane.
    Jane looked at Beth, whose face was twisted with
    fury and despair. “In a way, it’s Ted’s blood....“

- 25 -

    “Not the cream puffs again,“ Jane groaned. “I’ve probably gained a ton this week. No, Edgar. Set them a little closer to me, would you?“
    It was Sunday evening. The bed and breakfast was Ewe Lamb-less, except for Shelley. Edgar, who should have been taking a well-deserved rest, had insisted on serving a big dinner to Jane and her family, Shelley and her children, and Mel. The meal consisted almost entirely of leftovers from the night before, but Edgar’s leftovers were better that Jane’s first-timers, as she told him.
    Dinner was over now and the children were in