Judith added, “Victoria put some property in my name and I found out about it after the fact. I was furious—I felt used and manipulated. She told me it was a mistake, but I didn’t believe her. I can’t imagine why she needed to use my name. It’s what we were arguing about before—before she died.” She looked down at her empty bowl. “I wish I could take back everything I said. I loved my daughter, even when I didn’t understand her.”

Grover reached over and took her hand. “She knew that, Judith.”

Max had an idea … but it would take time and research.

But she knew exactly where to start.

She thanked Grover and Judith for their time, then headed straight for the Kerr County Recorder’s Office.

Chapter Thirty-three

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Nate and JJ Young had left Mexico with Ricky before dawn and arrived at St. Catherine’s just after one in the afternoon. Lucy met them there.

She’d already talked to Father Mateo, who ran the boys home attached to the church, and he understood the situation. He had experience working with boys who had witnessed violence.

JJ Young planned to stay with Ricky for the afternoon, to make sure that he settled in. Nate pulled Lucy aside. “Ricky talked. He didn’t want to, but he talked about everything until about halfway through the trip, then slept for the last four hours. That kid is tough, but what he heard when he was nine scarred him. He’s not going to just assimilate back into a normal family. He’s still processing that we know that his family was killed and that he can trust us.”

“So much has happened in the last two days, Nate, and we have work to do. Do you think he’s going to stay put?”

“If there’s a chance that he’s going to bolt, JJ will stay here with him. If JJ thinks that he’s settled okay, he’s going to bring Joe and Ginny to visit tomorrow. Maybe seeing his friends will help him adjust to being back home.”

“Abigail isn’t happy and we might get in trouble for this. She’s calling CPS tomorrow but will try to keep him here or find him an FBI-controlled safe house. Because he’s a minor it’s a whole different set of rules. She also wants him to make a formal statement to a judge and then decide what’s in his best interests.”

“Not today. We have the information we need, he can talk to the damn judge on Monday.” Nate was heated, but he stood firm. “Let me tell the kid what we’re doing.”

While Nate went back inside the house, Lucy returned Max’s call. She’d left her three messages that morning.

“Hello,” Max said. “Busy, I see.”