Jane had to start clearing the table to hide her smile.
“Gotta go, Mom. Everybody,' Mike said.
“Mike! You're not wearing Bermuda shorts to graduate, are you?' Jane exclaimed.
“It doesn't make any difference. We're all wearing those silly long black dresses anyway, and the party after graduation is casual.”
When Mike had gone, twirling his cap and carrying the hated gown as if it were a lab experiment gone wrong, Thelma said to Katie, 'When I graduated from high school, we wore long white gowns and carried roses. It was girls' school—”
While Thelma told her story, which Jane feared would make Katie think going to an exclusive private school might be fun, Jane and Uncle Jim finished clearing the table.
“Sorry your folks aren't here, honey?' he said as he rinsed the dishes and handed them to her to put in the dishwasher.
“Not at all. We've got you,' she said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
“You've raised a good boy, Janey.'
“I've had a lot of help. And if you say one more nice thing, I'll burst into tears and have to be led, sobbing uncontrollably, to the graduation. I'm having a real sappy week.”
9
The graduation was marvelous. It had all the sentimentality such occasions deserved. The valedictorian gave a talk that relied much too heavily on a thesaurus and was virtually incomprehensible, but had the virtue of relative brevity. The school orchestra, even without the seniors playing, did a more than credible 'Pomp and Circumstance.' A local minister gave a short inspirational talk that managed to suggest prayer without actually indulging in it. The teacher who read the graduates' names had done her job well, and as far as Jane could tell, didn't mispronounce a single one. She even breezed through the exchange students easily.
The graduates all looked beautiful, even the oily-haired, pimpled ones. It was that kind of event.
Todd was bored senseless; Katie was enthralled; Thelma watched like a hawk for glitches and found precious little to criticize. Mel, who met them at the stadium at the last moment, merely looked glad to sit down. Jane's sister-in-law Dixie Lee, who had no children, but had recently suffered a second miscarriage, cried more than Jane. And Ted, normally an extremely quiet, reserved man, astonished them all, including himself probably, by yelping approval when Mike's name was called out.
The system for keeping all the graduates sober and safe meant they were all funneled directly from the ceremony into the school building. Thelma was indignant until Jane explained that families could go into the school to congratulate their own — if they thought they could find them in the melee. Ted and Dixie Lee offered to wait in the car for her, but were persuaded instead to take Todd and Katie home. Jane's Uncle Jim volunteered to accompany Thelma on her quest and drive her home. Considering that he could hardly stand to be in the same room with her, it was a credit to his devotion to Jane's family and his gentlemanly instincts — or perhaps to his long military training in coping with the enemy and a longing to brush up his skills — that he made this offer.
As they headed toward the building, someone put a hand on Jane's arm. She turned, and it took her a moment to place the woman speaking to her. It was Emma Weyrich, the aerobics instructor who had also been Robert Stonecipher's paralegal.
“Emma, what are you doing here?' Jane asked. 'Do you have a child graduating?”
This was the wrong thing to say. Emma was too young for that and took offense. 'Of course not. My sister's daughter graduated tonight. My
“Sorry. Of course. I was just surprised to see you. I'm sorry about your boss.”
Emma's normally pretty features hardened. 'Yeah, well. It was a surprise.”
“Oh? I can't now.'
“I didn't mean here and now. How about tomorrow?'
“Okay, but late in the day.'
“What time?'
“Four?' Jane suggested. 'Want to meet somewhere?'
“No, come to my apartment,' Emma said curtly. She took a little notepad out of her pocket to write an address and handed it to Jane. 'Be prompt,' she warned Jane, handing her the slip of paper before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
“What was that about?' Mel asked. He'd gone ahead a ways before realizing he'd lost her.
“I haven't any idea, but it was rude. I've been summoned to her presence. Four o'clock tomorrow and I'm not to dawdle around and be late. She probably noticed the way my skirt fit and wants to harass me into more exercise,' Jane said, trying to make light of her anger.
“Don't go,' Mel said.
“Why not?”
Mel sighed. 'I'll tell you later. When we have some time to talk.'
“She's a suspect! You think she killed Stonecipher!'
“Shh. Keep your voice down. No, she didn't kill Stonecipher.”
It took Jane only a moment to absorb the implication of this statement. 'If you know she didn't, then you must know who did. Has there been an arrest?'
“Jane, keep quiet. Later.”
She knew that tone. She stopped asking questions.
Even though she'd worked on the decorations, Jane was astonished when she saw the final transformation of the school. By half-closing her eyes, she could imagine she was in a fancy resort hotel. The materials might be sheets, crepe paper, and dime-store glitter, but the overall look was glitzy and fun. After an hour or so when all the grandmothers, uncles,and little sisters had left, the kids settled in to have a good time.
Someone had thoughtfully provided comfortable chairs at the door Jane and Mel were to guard, and the two of them settled in. They were, unfortunately, just across the hall from the room where the country music band was playing. Jane wasn't much of a fan of country music and decided she'd either be a convert or a raving maniac by the time the night was over. She told herself to remember that it could have been worse. They could have been cheek by jowl with a rap group. Mel slouched and took a nap despite the noise and bustle around them. This performance amazed Jane.
She'd brought along a book to read — one of her many-times-reread Dorothy Sayers mysteries. Comfort books, as she thought of them. None of the kids showed the least interest in trying to go out the door, and she was soon immersed in Lord Peter's adventures.
A little before midnight, the band took an hour break, and the hallway emptied. The quiet woke Mel up. He roamed away in search of food and eventually came back with chicken salad sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks. They ate in silence, and when they were done, he said, 'You're being awfully patient. It's sort of scary.”
Jane wiggled her fingers as if barely re? straining herself from strangling him. 'Mel, I can't stand it anymore. If Emma Whatsername didn't kill Stonecipher, who did?'
“Nobody,' Mel said.
“What do you mean? I saw him. He was dead. His wife is getting ready to bury him.'
“He died of a heart attack. Natural causes.”
Jane sat staring at Mel for a long moment. 'But — but if he died of a heart attack, why did somebody make it look like he'd been murdered? Mel, that can't be right! He must have had the heart attack when the rack was pushed over on him. That caused it.”
Mel shook his head. 'Nope. The coroner was very sure. He had been dead for at least ten minutes, possibly longer, before the rack went over. I got the word just before I left the office for the graduation.'
“How — why—?'
“You sound disappointed. I thought you'd be pleased to know,' Mel said. 'You've been in such a froth about
