Lucy said, “Max Revere was run off the road this afternoon because she was investigating your son and Harrison Monroe. She could have been killed. As it is she has a concussion, cracked ribs, and a broken ankle.”

He closed his eyes. “She asked today if we wanted the truth, the good and the bad. We told her yes. We told her we needed to know or we couldn’t put this chapter of our lives behind us.”

“That’s what Max does. She finds the truth. This time, the truth got her hurt. She learned at the recorder’s office that both Simon and Harrison profited when Kiefer lost the federal public works project. She didn’t know what everything she read meant, and she was bringing it down to the FBI for further analysis when she was run off the road.”

“She’s okay, right?”

He was genuinely concerned.

“Yes,” Lucy said. “Her boyfriend took her back to her hotel. You should also know that we have another suspect in Victoria’s murder.”

Judith came down the stairs at that point. “Who?” she asked.

The woman looked frail, especially in a bathrobe and slippers. Grover helped her down the last few steps. “Are you sure you want to hear this, sweetheart?” Grover asked his wife.

“Please, tell us the truth,” Judith said. “I can take the truth. I can’t take any more lies.”

Grover kissed her on the head and escorted her to a chair in the formal living room. He motioned for Nate and Lucy to take a seat.

It was generally not wise to tell family who a suspect was if that suspect was not in custody, but this time she made an exception.

“We have evidence that points to Faith Parker Monroe,” Lucy said. “SAPD hasn’t made an arrest, but she will be questioned shortly. However, we are also looking for your son Simon.”

“Simon? He wouldn’t—couldn’t—kill anyone, especially Victoria. His own sister.”

“He’s not a suspect in her murder, but we believe that he has information about the Albright family.”

Grover looked stunned, then tears fell from Judith’s eyes.

“Where might Simon go if he wanted to get away for a while? Is there a property we might not know about? We checked every property that he owns.”

Judith nodded. “We have a cabin in Horseshoe Bay. He would often go there to get away, usually alone. To think.”

“I’ll get the address,” Grover said heavily. He rose slowly, then turned back to Lucy and Nate. “Are you certain? Did he … he didn’t kill those children, did he?”

“I don’t know,” Lucy said. “But based on what we’ve learned, he knew at least after the fact.”

And she knew then exactly how to get Simon Mills to talk.

Chapter Thirty-seven