“I don't know, Jane! It just sounds nouveau riche and trashy. The rest of the house is gorgeous though. Did you get a load of the dining room table? I priced those when I was shopping for my new table, and they're damned near as expensive as a car.”

Jane lowered her voice to a near whisper. "Wouldn't you think if you had that kind of money, you'd be contented?”

Shelley shrugged. "I guess people tend to be either happy with life or not. But if I had a house like this, you'd never get me out of it.”

Although the Stonecipher house was larger than its neighbors, it gave no hint from the outside that it was so elaborate inside. An old house, it had undergone tremendous renovations. The living room, dining room, and kitchen had been large rooms and had been rendered enormous-looking by the removal of most of the supporting walls, which had been replaced with graceful pillars. The floor levels had been changed as well. The living room was a huge sunken area with a pale peach-tinged marble floor showing in small patches between the many fine Oriental rugs. The dining room and kitchen were up two steps. The walls of the entire large area were done with a light-colored grass cloth that added to the spacious impression. When Tony Belton had gone to rejoin Rhonda, he had passed through large double doors at the far end of the dining room, presumably to rooms beyond the "public" area.

“Wouldn't you love to explore?" Jane said. "I'll toss you for who gets to take them coffee," Shelley said with a grin.

But this plan was doomed. The funeral director and his assistant departed before the coffee could brew. Rhonda showed them to the door, then approached the kitchen area. "Jane! Shelley! How wonderful of you to come help me out at this awful, awful time. I burst into tears when Tony told me you were here. I knew I could count on you. Such good friends.”

She folded Jane into an embrace scented with a perfume Jane didn't recognize, but guessed was terribly expensive. Then, still holding Jane's hand tightly, Rhonda hugged Shelley. "What would I do without you two," she said.