Shelly frowned. “No, that wasn’t her at all. All I ever heard from people she helped were thank-yous. She was a busy lady, and she liked getting other people up off their butts. She got so much more done in a day than normal human beings, I used to wonder if she slept four hours a night or something. She kept the store going, she was involved in her church, she did a lot of volunteer work, yet she never complained about being tired. Or not a whole lot, anyway. She inspired me, so now I teach and I work part-time in the store and I’m on this one committee.” She grinned, a little embarrassed. “I will say, once this committee’s work is done, so am I. Christmas is coming, and there’s enough work in that for me.” She consulted her watch. “Oh, gosh, I’ve got to get home and feed the kids.”

Betsy said, surprised, “I didn’t know you had childen.”

“That’s what I call the dogs. My husband got the boat, the Miata, and the condo in Chicago; I got the summer home here in Excelsior—which was my grandmother’s to start with, so big deal—the Caravan and ‘the kids’—two goldens and a miniature schnauzer bitch who bosses us all. Still, I figure I came out way ahead; he has the Cubs to contend with.”

While the dogs were wolfing down their evening meal, Shelly dialed Hud Earlie’s home number.

“Today Detective Mike Malloy came in and read Betsy the riot act. Remember you told me you heard she thinks Joe Mickels did it? Well, you were right. And Mr. Mickels complained to the cops and the cops are leaning on Betsy, hard.”

“Yeah, well, if Betsy had said something to me, I could have told her Mickels casts a long shadow in Excelsior.”

“Shoot, any of us could. But you know something? Even after he said he’d arrest her if she didn’t lay off, she was asking me who Margot’s enemies were.”

“So you think she won’t lay off?”

“You can’t stop a person from thinking about something, but I don’t know if she’ll go around accusing people anymore. You could ask her tonight.”

“What makes you think I’ll see her tonight?”

“Aren’t you coming to that fund-raising committee meeting tonight?”

“Oh, that. Was she invited?”

“Sure, she’s on the committee, isn’t she?”

“I thought she was only an add-on of Margot’s. Not really official.”

“Hmmm, well, I was there when Jamison called, and he asked her. Maybe they’ll try to put Margot’s mantle onto her.”

“It won’t fit.”