“Somewhere around twenty million US dollars is the estimate they gave me,” the lieutenant said. “It’s a hell of a good reason to pull the trigger.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms, Keegan’s pistol pouch still tucked under one arm. “Hell, I’ve got a couple of uncles I’d bump off for that kind of payday.”

“It’s in a family trust,” Keegan said. “It doesn’t go to Eve. It all goes to her mother.”

The lieutenant looked surprised and then checked himself. He watched Keegan closely a few seconds before he spoke. “Where did you hear that?” he said. “I thought you barely knew the girl.”

“The widow,” he said. “She’s a little worried about her prospects. I guess none of the money is coming her way.” At least that part of his story would check out if the lieutenant pursued it.

The lieutenant nodded. “And what did the widow tell you about Eve’s mother?”

“Nothing,” Keegan said. “Why? You think she’s next on the hit list?”

The lieutenant smiled. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Don’t know what?”

“The mother’s got a month or two left on her calendar,” the lieutenant said. “Some kind of cancer. She’s in a wheelchair. Getting vitamin shots from some quack down from Montreal. She’ll be lucky to see Halloween.”

A dark flicker of misgiving shivered through Keegan.

Moore studied Keegan’s face. He nodded, as if he’d just learned something. “Your girlfriend didn’t tell you that detail, I take it.”

Without waiting for an answer, the lieutenant turned to leave. He crossed the floor and pushed open the screen door. He turned and pressed the door shut behind him and glanced back at Keegan grimly as he did so.

“Watch your step with her,” he said through the door’s mesh. “She’s smarter than you and me put together, Jimmy.”

With a couple of steps, Moore vanished into the darkness outside.

CHAPTER SIX

Saturday, August 18, 1962

KEEGAN TOOK NORA to the office, knowing the place would be quiet and cool on a Saturday. It felt good to be alone in the nearly empty building. The dog was asleep now on the other side of his desk, curled on the leather chair reserved for clients.

The call came in just before noon. He’d had all morning to think of a story, but he’d come up with nothing that sounded right. He rested his hand on the phone a few rings before he picked it up. Without Mrs. Dodd there, he could have pretended the office was empty, but what was the point of postponing what was inevitable?

“I’m sure you know why I’m calling,” Moore said. He didn’t seem surprised to find Keegan in his office on a weekend.