“But she's shy, and as a former shy person, I can tell you it's not a happy state."

“I'll never believe this story that you were a shy kid."

“I got over it," Shelley said firmly. "All of which is beside the point. We set out to dig up information about Robert Stonecipher's death, and never talked to Grace about it at all."

“I know. As detectives, we're pretty lousy. We haven't learned anything today, except that Rhonda Stonecipher is a fake person with excellent taste, a lot of money, and the hots for her deceased husband's law partner, and she had a good motive for getting rid of him. And that motive — the desire to be a rich widow — was a given anyway. All we've added to the mix is the part about Tony Belton and we aren't going on anything but instinct on that."

“I'm not sure motive is all that important," Shelley said. "Well, it's important of course, but think about it — if you wanted to bump off your husband so you could get your hands on his money and his protege, wouldn't you plan it better? If you were Rhonda, I certainly think you would. She doesn't leave anything to chance."

“Hmm. You've got a point. But why would you choose unfamiliar territory, a really weird 'weapon,' and do it in the midst of a mob of people, any one of whom might walk in on you and catch you?"

“For that matter, why would anybody commit a murder that way?" Shelley added.

“Nobody'd plan one that way, so it had to be spontaneous, didn't it? The heat of passion? Hot words, flouncing around, maybe some shoving."

“And anybody might succumb to the passion of a moment.”

Jane rummaged in her purse for her car keys. "Almost anybody but Rhonda. I can't imagine she has an ounce of passion in her. She can probably make love and polish her nails at the same time.”