“I understand your suspicions. Your brother is concerned about your safety. His lawyer met with Max last night and showed him the visitor log. You were with him for a full hour late Sunday morning. Stan asked Max to make sure you were safe before he spoke to her. Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

“It would be easier to talk face-to-face.”

She finally opened the door but didn’t invite him in. Marie was petite and fidgety. “What do you really want?”

“Exactly what I said. To make sure you’re safe. We believe that your brother asked you to leave town for your safety, but here you are.”

It was a guess—an educated guess—that she’d left her boys at the house in the photo and returned to San Antonio alone.

She eyed him suspiciously and said, “Talk fast or I’m calling the police.”

“Marie, can I please come in?”

“I’ll give you five minutes, Mr. Rogan.” She held his card up, which was already bent in her shaking hands.

He stepped in and she crossed the room, keeping her distance. Yes, she was nervous, but she was also curious. “Talk,” she said.

“I work with Maxine Revere. She’s an investigative reporter looking into your brother’s case. Max came here last night—close to midnight—and you weren’t here.” He held out the photo in the evidence bag. “She found this on your front porch.” He decided to avoid telling Marie that Max had retrieved the photo through the mail slot.

Marie approached, took the clear envelope, and stepped back. She stared, mouth open, and in a low, weak voice she said, “What game are you playing?” Her question ended in a squeak and she stepped back again.

“Where is that house?” Sean asked.

“My mother-in-law. In Lake Charles. How did you get this?”

“Someone left this here so you would know that they know where your children are. Why is your brother concerned about your safety? Do you know something about Victoria Mills’s murder?”

“Stan didn’t kill anyone. He doesn’t have it in him.” She sounded stronger now but put her hand to her mouth as she stared at the photo.

“When Stan first confessed, you left town for a couple of days. Why?”

“He told me what he was doing. Wouldn’t explain. I was confused, but he was worried about the media talking to me, the boys. He even called my ex-husband, and they don’t really get along. Johnny took emergency leave to come home and help us through that awful week. He wanted me to move in with his mom, but the boys have school here and I have a good job and Stan needed me. He needs my support.”

“And when you talked to him on Sunday? What did he say to you?”