ThirtyAlice saw the report on the television almost at the same time as the doorbell rang. She had been cooking food for 'Tiny' when he came around for dinner. She'd already prepared the light starter, just a simple thing of corn and Salerno ham fritters on a bed of mixed lettuce. The sauce had been a problem, but she had finally cheated and gone to the supermarket to pick up some ready-made Béchamel. She'd wandered into the lounge for a break to watch the television, take a small sherry. Keith was in his study. She could hear him, wheezing, cursing, rustling papers. He seemed to spend more and more time away from her, almost as if he were trying to prepare her for the day when he would be truly gone. For good. That didn't concern her unduly. The only concern she had was how much the insur
