“Maybe Dr. Maroni’s been talking to him,” Benton considers. “I don’t know. He’s like a phantom.” He means the captain. “All over the damn place. I don’t trust him.”

“Maybe I’m the one you don’t trust,” she says. “Maybe you should say it and get it over with.”

“I don’t trust him at all.”

“Then you shouldn’t spend so much time with him.”

“I haven’t. I don’t know what he does or where. Except I think he came to Charleston because of you. It’s obvious what he wants. To be the hero. To impress you. To make love to you. I can’t say I’d blame you. He’s handsome and charming, I’ll give him that.”

“Why are you jealous of him? He’s so small compared to you. I’ve done nothing to warrant it. You’re the one who lives up there and leaves me alone. I understand your not wanting to be in this relationship anymore. Just tell me and get it over with.” Scarpetta looks at her left hand, at the ring. “Should I take it off?” She starts to take it off.

“Don’t,” Benton says. “Please don’t. I don’t believe you want that.”

“It’s not a matter of what I want. It’s what I deserve.”

“I don’t blame men for falling in love with you. Or wanting you in bed. Do you know what happened?”

“I should give you the ring.”

“Let me tell you what happened,” Benton says. “It’s about time you knew. When your father died, he took some of you with him.”

“Please don’t be cruel.”

“Because he adored you,” Benton says. “How could he not? His beautiful little girl. His brilliant little girl. His good little girl.”

“Don’t hurt me like this.”

“I’m telling you a truth, Kay. A very important one.” The light in his eyes again.

She can’t look at him.

“From that day forward, a part of you decided it was too dangerous to notice the way someone looks at you if he adores you or wants you sexually. If he adores you and dies? You believe you can’t endure that again. Sexually wants you? Then how do you work with cops and DAs if you think they’re imagining what’s under your clothes and what they might do with it?”

“Stop it. I don’t deserve this.”

“You never did.”

“Just because I choose not to notice doesn’t mean I deserve what he did.”

“Never in a million years.”

“I don’t want to live here anymore,” she says. “I should give you back the ring. It was your great-grandmother’s.”