The first contact was made twelve days before, from a personal address, under his own name.

He had asked one of them a question that Margaret has never been able to read without having to put the page down.

He asked how quickly a cremation could normally be arranged in a case where the death had been medically certified as natural and the family did not want a delay.

The funeral home answered helpfully and courteously within four hours.

They had no reason not to.

People plan.