“Yes, it does. For a claim to be filed, the death must be of natural causes, or if there are questionable circumstances, those concerns must be addressed first. Seeing as there are remaining concerns, the current claim would be null and void until those have been handled by law enforcement. If Mr. Horne’s death were then deemed acceptable, Everlife’s three-month window would then begin with the filing of the updated claim.”

“Acceptable death?” Mr. Walsh asks with a furrowed brow. “Could you explain that?”

Neilhouse adjusts his glasses, nodding.

“Mr. Horne’s life insurance policy has exemption clauses for various reasons, including suicide or foul play by a beneficiary. Standard industry terms for this level of contract. In those situations, there would be no claim payout of any kind.”

Mr. Walsh spins, giving Mr. Monroe a triumphant look before sitting down.

Judge Hopkins looks at Monroe and says, “I’m sure you have questions.”

“Yes,” Mr. Monroe answers as he stands. “Mr. Neilhouse, so what I’m hearing is that it benefits Everlife to find a way to make a death questionable to avoid payment.”

Mr. Neilhouse chuckles, unbothered by the accusation. “Obviously, we would prefer to not pay claims if they’re fraudulent in some way.”

But Mr. Monroe is gathering steam. “Fraudulent in some way?” he repeats with the added twist of bitter sarcasm. “And if the claim is valid, you attempt to undermine it by whatever means necessary—including having employees like Blake Hale dig through trash, question doctors, and harass law enforcement and coroners. Using any means to not pay a rightful claim.”

Mr. Monroe spreads his hands wide, as though Everlife is in the habit of refuting claims this way.

Jeff sighs, and when I look to him, he meets my gaze with sad eyes.

“Sorry, Zoey,” he whispers.

“What?” I murmur in confusion.

Why is he apologizing? What is he sorry for?

Jeff’s eyes go hard and flinty as he turns away from me, giving Blake the full power of his laser focus. Blake doesn’t look my way, but his chin lifts an extra inch and the muscle in his jaw is working furiously. Too slowly, new puzzle pieces begin to slide into place, parts of a much larger puzzle I didn’t even see. Too focused on the invoice, too focused on Yvette Horne, that I didn’t even see it until now.

By any means?

Like coming to see me in the morgue about a case . . . questioning the autopsy report and labs . . . investigating to find an explanation that would lead to enough doubts to deny the claim?

Could that be what Blake has been doing all along?

That first time he came to the morgue about Yvette Horne’s case, it was Holly who pushed him into going for drinks.