“All that is boring, boring, boring. I need some mental stimulation.”

“What do you think may have happened, Mrs. Morgan?” Maria asked.

“Don't egg her on,” Albert said.

“Daaad,” Sandra said. “I'd like to hear, too.”

Winston added a series of dadas from his highchair.

“Well, of course I don't know what happened,” I said, “but I think there may be more to this than meets the eye. Suppose somebody at Silver Acres did know about Gerald's allergy to shellfish. Suppose that person had it in for Gerald…”

“What motive could there be?” Sandra asked.

“Well, as you know, single men are at a premium at Silver Acres. Gerald did have his groupies, and as nearly as I could tell he played the field, not settling on just one. Perhaps Susie Smith decided he wasn't paying enough attention to her, and if she couldn't have him no one else could either. The shellfish was well disguised. Maybe it was made that way on purpose.”

“Sounds weak,” Albert said.

“Jealousy weak?” Maria said, her eyes wide. “Jealousy is one of the most violent emotions. In Mexico many people have been murdered by men-and women, in jealous rages.” She looked meaningfully at Albert, but he busily speared a scallop with his fork.

“What about the 13 diamonds?” Sandra asked.

“Well…” I hesitated.

At that moment the microwave timer sounded and Winston, who was very microwave-oriented, pointed to it. This distraction gave me a few seconds to think while Sandra pulled my rolls out and served them. Then she asked me about the 13 diamonds again.

“Maybe the deal was fixed. Maybe they were a signal of some kind,” is all I could come up with.

“Then there would have to be at least two people involved,” Albert said. “Besides, it was too late. He had already eaten the shellfish.”