“Well . . .” Margie blinked several times. “It seems
like a motive for such an attack, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose,” Judith said. “Did you hear about the
other homeless people who were also victims of stabbings?”
Margie shoved her hands in the pockets of her
smock and avoided Judith’s gaze. “Did I? Yes, I suppose I did. On the news. Or in the paper. I forget exactly.” She back-pedaled out of the room. “I’ll go up to
the fourth floor right now and see what I can find out
about your husband.”
“Weird,” Renie remarked, wiping egg yolk off her
chin.
“Yes,” Judith agreed. “Everything about Margie
SUTURE SELF
263
seems weird. When is the funeral for Bob Randall
being held?”
“Saturday, I think,” Renie said, unfolding the morning paper, which had arrived just minutes earlier.
“Let’s see if there’s anything in here about Joe.”
Judith leaned closer, her nerves tingling at the mere
thought of hearing the account of her husband’s attack
in cold black type.
“It’s pretty brief,” Renie said. “There’s about two
inches in the local news roundup in the second section.
Shall I read it out loud?”
“Yes,” Judith said, steeling herself for the worst.
“Please.”
“ ‘A Heraldsgate Hill man was stabbed yesterday at
Viewpoint Park,’ ” Renie read. “ ‘According to police,
Joseph Flynn was allegedly attacked by one of the
homeless persons who have set up a temporary camp
in the park. Flynn, who apparently wandered onto the
site without realizing that it was occupied, was taken to
Good Cheer Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. Two days ago, a homeless man was stabbed to
death in the same vicinity. No suspects have been
found in either attack.’ ”
Judith shuddered. “How odd. They give Joe’s name,
but not his previous or current occupation.”
“The police don’t want to broadcast Joe’s activities,”
Renie said.
“Maybe,” Judith allowed, deep in thought.
“Addison Kirby might be able to read between the
lines,” Renie suggested as her phone rang. Once again,
she smiled broadly as she heard Bill’s voice on the
other end.
Judith started to listen to her cousin’s half of the
conversation, but was interrupted by the arrival of Dr.
264
Mary Daheim
Alfonso. He was upbeat about her progress, and assured her that she’d be able to manage a shower.
