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feel about it.”
    Surely Tony wouldn’t ignore Kirsten’s wish unless…unless he had a reason? But what? A crime needed motive, method and opportunity. Sure, spouses had opportunity because they lived together. But absent motive and method, scratch opportunity. Why in the world would Tony want Kirsten dead? Could their behind-the-scenes life differ that much from the façade they presented?
    Without a body, Jennifer realized, nobody could investigate external evidence like bruising or internal evidence like poison. EMS techs might not see signs of trauma because they saw Kirsten clothed except for her chest, but ER crews had a full-body view.
    Then she chastised herself. What kind of disloyal tangent was this? Both Donnegans were long-time, trusted neighbors and friends.
    Jason tapped her on the arm. “Jen, you have that thinking-look, a look that makes me uneasy.”
    “Jay, he’s making a terrible mistake.” She picked up the phone. “I need to set him straight.”
    Jason gently eased the phone from her hand and put an arm around her shoulder. “Honey, it’s too late. The funeral home cremated her thirty minutes ago.”
    A tear spilled onto her cheek. “How could he? Why would he? Something’s wrong. She told me they discussed this. He wanted cremation but she didn’t. What’s going on here, Jay?”
    “Look, I don’t know the answer. Maybe she thought they discussed it but they didn’t? Or she said it but he didn’t hear it. Or he’s so upset and confused with her sudden death he forgot that conversation? Or he accidentally checked the wrong box on the form at the funeral home? Whatever the explanation, it’s over, Jen. There’s no undoing it. Should you torture him with recrimination by telling him he made a terrible mistake or should you let it go?”
    “Oh, Kirsten, I’m so sorry this happened to you,” Jennifer whispered to her departed friend.
    “Jen, Kirsten’s problems are over. She’s gone. Does it matter now what happens to her remains?”
    “It’s not right. When we make our funeral plans in advance the way you suggested, let’s write it all down. Please promise me you’ll respect my wishes.”
    “Honey, you know I will. We trust each other. We love each other. You’ll follow my choices and I absolutely promise to follow yours. Now, let’s dry those tears and think good thoughts.”
    She sniffled but changed the subject. “I guess you’re right.” She busied herself in the kitchen. “By the way, I rushed off early to the estate sale and only scanned the classified ads. Any big news in the morning newspaper?”
    “Mainly more terrorism attacks around the world, mostly the Middle-East and Europe this week. At least the powder keg hasn’t exploded in the U.S. again since 9/11. McLean’s probably one of the safest places around, with the CIA and Homeland Security right here.”
    He thought a moment before adding silently to himself, or the most dangerous....
    11
    Thursday, 4:16 pm
    Still uneasy about Kirsten’s cremation, Jennifer tried to shift focus. She scanned The Washington Post Jason handed her and picked up on his comment about terrorists attacks. “Why don’t Muslims follow their religion and just let others do the same?”
    “Some do, but it seems to me every religion’s fundamentalists concentrate on the word rather than the spirit. In poor, desperate and illiterate populations, the masses are easily guided by whoever interprets holy writings for them. Islam has no corner on that. Fundamentalists tend to be fanatics or extremists, convinced that if they’re right, everyone else is wrong. They see a them/us power struggle ending in a mandate to convert or dispose of them. Without separation of church and state, religious brain-washing starting with toddlers is reinforced by their churches or mosques, schools, government and social culture. They know nothing else.”
    He paused, noted his wife was still listening intently—a behavior he counted on—then finished