Clam Wake by Mary Daheim Page B

it.”
    â€œDo you live nearby?” Judith inquired. No comment about finding the corpse was necessary. In fact, it felt redundant.
    Katie shook her head. “No, we live just north of the city. My husband, Greg, teaches at the local high school. That’s where I met him. I mean, I taught there, too. Now that we have kids, I do some tutoring.” Her freckled hands clenched into fists. “Why? Why would anyone stab Dad? He was the nicest man in the world. It must be some crazy person. Maybe an escapee from an institution or someone on drugs.”
    â€œThat’s possible,” Judith allowed as Renie finally came into the room with the heating pad. “How is your mother holding up?”
    Katie sighed. “She’s a fairly strong person. If it had been a heart attack or something like that, it’d be bad enough. But murder?” She shook her head and couldn’t seem to go on.
    â€œDo you have siblings?” Judith asked to change the subject.
    â€œYes, a brother. Dave lives in Denver. He’s flying in tomorrow.” Katie rubbed at her forehead. “I’m sorry, I’ve been trying to be brave for Mom. Greg’s a big help. He actually likes his in-laws. His own parents died young, before we met.”
    Renie had sat down next to Judith. “Are your kids here?”
    â€œYes. The boys are four and two, but they loved Grandpa. Greg and I figured they’d be a comfort to Mom. I don’t think they understand what’s happened.”
    â€œProbably not,” Judith agreed. “Having young children around helps. It demonstrates the cycle of life. And death,” she added more quietly. “Your father must’ve had a lot of friends in this community.”
    â€œHe did,” Katie declared. “Dad got to know so many people here, especially after he retired. We’re not sure if we should have the funeral on the island or in the city. He had lots of friends there on the Bluff.”
    Judith knew the neighborhood well, since it was adjacent to Heraldsgate Hill. “That’s a nice area,” she remarked.
    Katie nodded in a distracted manner. “They had a nice house there—nothing fancy like some of the mansions.”
    â€œYes,” Judith said, not daring to look at Renie. Several years had passed since the cousins had helped host a party at one of those mansions. A relative by marriage spoiled the festivities by getting shot to death. “That neighborhood really grew after World War Two,” she continued. “Wonderful views of the Sound.”
    Katie struggled to get to her feet. “I must go. Thanks for the heating pad. I hope the pills the doctor prescribed will help Mom sleep.”
    â€œWho is the doctor around here?” Judith asked as she and Renie walked their visitor to the door. “Our aunt and uncle have remained patients of their longtime GP in the city.”
    â€œHis name is Dr. Payne,” Katie said, wincing. “With a y . He’s retired, too. Thanks for the heating pad. Good night.”
    Renie sighed. “Let’s lock up. I’m not in the mood for more company. Our guests tend to be on the grim side.”
    Judith retrieved her suitcase in the hall. “I’ll make sure the back door’s locked. If I’m not back in sixty seconds, call the sheriff.”
    Flipping the switch to turn on a couple of lights on the pine-paneled walls, Judith gazed around the spacious bedroom with its adjacent half bath. In all the years they’d visited the Webers, she’d never spent the night. As a kid, Mike, as well as the three Jones offspring, had stayed with Auntie Vance and Uncle Vince for a few days every summer. None of them had minded their great-aunt’s rough tongue, even when she disciplined them. They instinctively knew how much she loved entertaining children. Vince was a sport, too, at least when he managed to stay awake.
    To Judith’s relief, she saw no