“I don't think there was any.”

Jane got up and went toward Meow, still perched on the fence. She waved her arms, and the cat jumped back onto the field side. "I used to try to save the snakes," Jane said as she returned to the patio table. "But then I realized that the more snakes Meow kills, the fewer my chances are of ever finding one in my washing machine again."

“I thought I was going to have to get out the sewing machine and whip up a straightjacket for you the time that happened," Shelley said.

“Shelley, I've got to go in a minute, but the reason I asked who you think killed him is this: when Mel said the guy's wife and business partner were both there and knowing that his secretary was there, too, it made me start thinking. Aren't there all kinds of statistics that murder victims are usually killed by somebody they know really well? And who knows somebody better—"

“—than his wife, partner, and secretary," Shelley filled in. "Still, most people aren't as heartily disliked as he was by so many other people. And while you and I might not think a fight over a zoning problem or the finances of a divorce are motives, it's probably because we haven't been the target of them. Imagine if he was threatening your very livelihood, or your children's future. Think how you'd feel if he'd taken all your money and you couldn't send Mike to college because of it.”

Jane nodded. "You could be right. But I, for one, want very badly to know who did this — because of Mike's job." She glanced at her watch and suddenly stood up. "I've got to go."

“Where?"

“To drop Katie off, then help decorate the school for the big graduation party tonight. Katie—!”

Several years earlier, after three tragic graduation night accidents, the high school PTA had decided to accept the fact that the new graduates would stay up and party all night the evening of graduation, and it was better to provide them a place than to let them roam around in vehicles. From a modest beginning, the PTA-sponsored party had assumed gigantic proportions.