I phoned the widow of the first suicide victim and asked if I could cometo see her. She was intrigued as to why I wanted to speak to her. It hadbeen t...ree months since her husband had committed suicide and this wasthe first interest that the police had shown, since the first two daysafter the suicide. She wanted to know if it was anything to do with theinquest. She had been told that the inquest would not be for another fourmonths. I informed her that I wanted to ask her some questions that. Mummy was staring admiringly at Ruth. "You've done such wonders with him- I mean 'her' of course. I always wanted to dress her properly, but sheused to get all quarrelsome and naughty every time I tried." But what about that all-girl party of Susan Smith's when he was akid?" Ruth asked. "When he wore that adorable pink party dress? Did hevolunteer for that?"Mummy giggled. "Well, not exactly. He was about thirteen and absolutelycrazy for a bike, so I bought him a really nice one, but he refused. I think she’s jealous of my abilities and my success… What should I do? The only thing I can do. Warn people about her. There are many folks on the college campus who think she’s the nicest person in the world. Yet underneath it all she has shown herself to be abusive. Mean-spirited. Cruel. All the traits of a sociopath. I guess the scorpion has come out from behind the dove. Like all women, she is designed to betray. And that’s what she will do. What took her so long? For years and years, she. "Suppose there is some guy upthere that gives you grief! What'll you do then without me?"I slowly turned. "Alan is already pissed at me." He already knows I've been up there. Besides, if he gets pissed atanyone, it'll be me for not cleaning toilets." He scrunched his face."I freakin' hate cleaning toilets!"There was no way around it: I had to bring Gary along. Safe roads ornot, the kid could protect me. "We don't attack anyone," I clarified tohim just before we left Mariel's. "We only.