“Keep your eyes to yourself.”

“Children.” Mother’s voice held a warning.

“The one thing Sumner wanted, the one thing Graham refused to give her, was a baby.”

“And he got his mistress pregnant.” Charlie shook his head. “I bet she was livid.”

“Mad enough to kill,” I agreed. “She used the gun she’d stolen from the Brandts to shoot Graham.”

“How long was Graham dead before you found him?” asked Charlie.

“He was still warm,” Anarchy replied.

Mother’s cheeks went pale.

Charlie shook his head. “She was cold-hearted enough to shoot her husband, then go for a run?”

“Yes. And she took the gun with her. Buffy saw her with it.”

“Buffy saw her?” Libba’s brows rose. “She swore to me she was asleep in her cabin.”

“She lied. She followed Bill to make sure he didn’t have an assignation with Misty.”

“Misty gets around,” said Mother.

“There was nothing between Misty and Bill.” Misty wasn’t blameless, but she had not taken multiple lovers.

“Let’s get to the fight,” said Libba.

“Hold your horses. Where was I?”

“Buffy followed Bill,” said Anarchy.

“May we come in?” Liz stood in the doorway with Perry, who held an enormous floral arrangement.

Mother looked with approval at Liz’s ensemble—linen pants and a white camp shirt paired with low-heeled sandals and a Gucci shoulder bag. Then her gaze swung my way. I wore a wrinkled sundress with cowboy boots, and my hair was caught in a messy bun.

I swallowed, looked down at my boots, and noticed the toe was dotted with blood.

“Sit,” Mother insisted. “I’ll arrange for more chairs.”

When the orderlies brought more chairs, and everyone was seated, there was no room to move.

“Ellison,” said Mother. “You may continue.”

“Ellison was just telling us why Sumner killed Graham and Buffy.” Libba grinned at Liz. “Apparently, you gave her the clue.”

“Me?”

“Something about knowing and suspecting,” Libba replied.

Liz frowned in confusion.

“Never mind, Liz. I was just saying Buffy followed Bill and saw Sumner.”

“Who had my gun?” Trust the lawyer to follow the thread.

“Yes.”

“Wait a minute.” Charlie held up his hand. “Why didn’t Buffy tell Anarchy she’d seen Sumner?”

“The fool woman might be alive if she had,” said Mother.

“Buffy had a certain amount of sympathy for Sumner’s role as a wronged wife.”

“The fight,” said Libba.

“What is it with you and the fight?” I asked.

“It’s just so out of character. I have to know more.”

“Fine. When I figured out Sumner was the killer, I worried she might hurt Misty, so I went to the kitchen.” I sounded blasé about a run that had left me panting.

“Was she there?” asked Grace.

“No, but I looked outside.” I refused to mention the talking crates. “And I spotted her by her van. Sumner had a shotgun pointed at her.”

“Where on earth did she get a shotgun?” asked Mother.