Stabbing Stephanie by Evan Marshall Read Free Book Online Page A

whatever you decide on will be available?” Barbara was screaming again.
    â€œIf it isn’t,” Jane said evenly, “I’ll choose someplace else.”
    There was a brief silence. “All right,” Barbara said in tired resignation, and hung up without saying good-bye.
    Shaking her head, Jane dialed the police station and asked for Stanley Greenberg. Buzzi, the desk sergeant, told her Greenberg was out but that he’d give him the message. A moment after she hung up, Daniel buzzed and said Greenberg was on the line, calling from his car.
    â€œSo which enchanted isle have you decided on?” he asked when she picked up.
    â€œNot you, too!”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNever mind. How are you?”
    â€œFine. Busy today.”
    â€œBusy? Yes, Shady Hills is a regular hotbed of crime. What happened, did some little old lady drive through a store window?”
    â€œDon’t laugh,” he said seriously. “That really happened once.”
    â€œI know, you’ve told me. Sorry, I was only teasing. What’s going on?”
    â€œWe’ve had some break-ins. One on Oakmont, two on Christopher, way up.”
    Jane sat up, alarmed. “Rhoda’s on Oakmont, and Doris is on Christopher,” she said, referring to two members of her knitting club.
    â€œIt wasn’t either of their houses. Totally different part of Oakmont. But the one up on Christopher, that was actually a few doors down from Doris.”
    â€œWho do you think is doing this?”
    â€œSome kids,” he said easily. “Probably looking for drug money.”
    â€œIn Shady Hills?”
    Now it was his turn to laugh. “Yes, in Shady Hills. We are part of the real world.”
    She shook her head, then remembered he couldn’t see her. “Nah, I bet it was kids from—I don’t know, Paterson or something. What did they take?”
    â€œSmall stuff. Jewelry, some cash. We’re pretty sure of who’s doing it. There’s a kid we’ve had a lot of trouble with before. And believe it or not, Jane, he lives right in the heart of idyllic Shady Hills.”
    Jane was afraid for Doris, who was elderly and lived alone, as well as for Rhoda, now alone with the children after her divorce from David. Then it occurred to Jane that Florence was also alone in the house most of the time. Maybe Jane should have an alarm put in. She’d give it some thought, ask Stanley for his advice.
    â€œNow that we’ve discussed my day,” he said, “how’s yours been going?”
    â€œOkay,” she said, feeling uneasy though unsure why. Instinctively she glanced out her front window. It had begun to rain, a light mist she could see only against the darkness of the evergreens at the far end of the green. Ivor was nowhere in sight. “Stanley,” she said thoughtfully, “do you know about this homeless man, Ivor, who’s been hanging around on the green?”
    â€œNot you, too,” he said with a groan. “Yes.” He was clearly trying to be patient. “He’s completely harmless. Came out from New York on the train a few weeks ago.”
    â€œMm, sleeping in the train station.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œGinny told Daniel. She speaks to Ivor.”
    â€œRegularly?”
    â€œProbably. You know Ginny, she’ll make friends with anyone. And she does work right here on the green. She told Daniel the poor man’s quite gentle. I thought so, too.”
    â€œYou’ve talked to him, too?”
    â€œOnce,” she said hesitatingly. “He . . . asked me for some money. He seemed very nice, spoke in a refined sort of way.”
    â€œAnd that surprised you?”
    â€œWell, yes. Why are you using that amused tone?”
    â€œBecause you’re a snob, my girl. You don’t think vagrants can be educated people, any more than you think burglars can live here in Shady Hills.”
    â€œI am not a