Who's Kitten Who? by Cynthia Baxter Read Free Book Online Page B

good role. Not a major one, but at least you have a few lines. It sounds like a great way to get started.”
    Just then, a cell phone burst into song. As I was wondering who was insensitive enough to keep a cell phone turned on in a funeral home, the shiny woman snapped open her beige purse. It was emblazoned with the name
Prada
in large enough letters that just about anyone would be able to read it, even without glasses.
    “Damn,” she muttered, pulling out her phone and checking the caller-ID screen. “I thought everyone knew I was coming to a wake today.”
    “Apparently not,” her escort muttered, looking embarrassed.
    “Yes, Harvey, what is it?” she snapped into the phone, stomping toward the other end of the coffin and stopping when she reached Simon’s feet.
    “You’ll have to excuse my wife,” the man apologized, stepping away from the coffin to allow other people to drift over to pay their respects. “She’s been under a lot of stress lately.”
    I moved away, following him. “People express their grief in different ways.”
    He laughed. “You’re much too kind.”
    “It sounds as if you and your wife were close to Simon.”
    “We were business associates,” he said. “Not that we weren’t fond of him. We both were. But we were planning to produce
She’s Flying High
on Broadway.” He extended his hand. “I’m Sheldon Stone. And that’s my wife, Gloria.”
    My eyebrows shot up involuntarily. Even I recognized those names. Sheldon and Gloria Stone weren’t just Broadway producers. They were
the
Broadway producers. Long before I’d joined the theater world, Betty had talked my ear off about how influential the couple was. At the moment, they had no fewer than four phenomenal hits on and off Broadway.
    “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Stone,” I said sincerely, wanting him to know I knew who he was. “I’m Jessica Popper.”
    “I’m pleased to meet you too. And call me Sheldon. Or Shel. Tell me, what do you do when you’re not onstage?” he asked with a kind smile.
    “I’m a veterinarian. I have a clinic-on-wheels, and I travel all over Long Island, treating animals.”
    “How fascinating!” he exclaimed. “You must find that rewarding. I admit, I’m an animal lover myself. In fact, my wife and I happen to be owned by an extremely engaging bull terrier.”
    Just then, Gloria came bustling over. “Shel, you’re not going to believe the games Harvey’s lawyers are playing. He just told me—”
    “Gloria,” Sheldon Stone said calmly, “we’re at a wake. I suggest we behave in a manner that’s appropriate for this sad occasion. You can conduct all the business you want once we’re on our way back to the city.”
    She cast him a scathing look but refrained from finishing her sentence. Instead, she set her mouth into a thin straight line that convinced me that later on she’d have more to say about being chastised in front of someone else—even a
suburban
someone else.
    “I just noticed Sutton and Nathan over by the front door,” Gloria said abruptly. “No doubt they’re here because they’re still hoping
She’s Flying High
will go to Broadway. Not that either one of them is even remotely right for the show. But I should go over and say hello anyway. I mean, they did come all the way out to the sticks just to impress me.”
    “Be my guest,” her husband replied. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
    As she stalked off, he smiled at me woefully. “I should be off as well. Good luck, Jessica. I’m sure you’ll be terrific as Anita Snook.”
    “Nice meeting you,” I called after him.
    He’d barely disappeared into the crowd when Betty joined me, her eyes clear and her face dry. “I see you were talking to Sheldon Stone,” she commented. “Is he as nice as people say he is?”
    “He seems to be,” I replied. “Too bad I can’t say the same for his wife.”
    “Yes, I’ve heard that Gloria Stone is as nasty as her husband is charming. But apparently she’s