“That’s fine with me.” Once Andrea had left, Hannah turned her attention back to the scene. Dean was getting a glass of cream soda champagne from one of the waitress and when he turned around to face the camera, she had all she could do not to gasp. He looked glassy eyed, as if he’d been indulging in strong spirits for hours. The illusion of extreme inebriation was embellished even further as he made his way unsteadily through the crowd to approach the antique partner’s desk where Lynne was sitting.

The adult Amy was deep in thought, staring down at the tray of Mini Cherry Cheesecakes that a waitress had left on the top of the desk without really seeing them. Hannah knew Lynne was supposed to be remembering what had happened on the night of her father’s suicide.

“Well, how about that

it’s Li’l Sis,” Dean said, stumbling slightly and catching himself on the corner of the desk. “Mind if I sit down?”

“Oh, Jody. You’re drunk! You’re just as drunk as Dad used to get whenever he threw a cocktail

” Lynne stopped and put both hands to her head, as if she could stop the memories from emerging. It was a perfect gesture and Hannah was impressed.

“You’re thinking about the night he did it?” Dean asked, slurring his words.

“Yes.”

“He was drunk that night, too. And you know what always happened whenever he was drunk.”

Hannah watched as Lynne gave a delicate shudder. Her face actually paled and Hannah could see the tears well up in her eyes. “I know, Jody. I remember.”

“I couldn’t let him do that again, Li’l Sis. No way. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Lynne said and she looked profoundly sad. “It’s all right, Jody. Nobody else has to know what happened that

”

“But I know!” Dean interrupted, and Hannah almost jumped as he leaned forward over the desktop, coming very close to touching Lynne.

“I’ll never tell,” Lynne promised, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I promise, Jody. I’ll never tell a soul.”

“’Course not. Wouldn’t expect you to. But that doesn’t help a whole lot, Li’l Sis. I never wanted you to figure it out, but it really doesn’t matter anyway. He looked at me right before I shot him and I keep seeing that look in my dreams. It’s haunting me and I just can’t take it anymore.”

Dean pulled out the center drawer of the desk and grabbed the gun. He rose to his feet and was raising the revolver to his head when Lynne started to scream. Her scream wasn’t audible over the sound of the music and laughter from the merrymakers at the cocktail party. No one reacted in the slightest.

“No!” Lynne sounded positively panic-stricken. “I love you, Jody! Don’t do this to me!”