A Loudon County Police cruiser was positioned at the foot of the O’Connors’s driveway when Sam and Nick arrived. He rolled down the window.

“Everything looks fine,” the young officer said. “The house is dark and buttoned down for the night. I walked all the way around but didn’t see anything to worry about.”

“Thanks,” Nick said. “We’re just going to take a quick look and then be on our way.”

“No problem. Have a nice evening.”

As Nick drove slowly up the long driveway, Sam studied him with new appreciation. He’d handled the young cop with aplomb—thanking him for checking but letting him know they were going to take their own look—without insulting the officer. “Smooth,” she said.

“What?”

“You. Just now.”

“You sound surprised that I can actually be diplomatic when the situation calls for it.”

She snorted with laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are when you get all indignant.”

“I’m not indignant.”

“Whatever you say.”

They pulled up to the dark house, and Nick cut the engine. “I want to take my own walk around.”

Sam retrieved a flashlight from the glove box and reached for the door handle.

“Why don’t you stay here?” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

“The way you stay put when I tell you to?” She flipped on the flashlight in time to catch the dirty look he sent her way. “Let’s go.”

They walked the perimeter of the house, finding nothing out of the ordinary. In the backyard, Sam scanned the property. “Seems like everything is fine.”

“I want to see them to make sure.”

“Nick, it’s two-thirty in the morning, and their son’s funeral is tomorrow.”

He scowled at her. “Do you honestly think they’re sleeping?”

Realizing he was determined, she followed him to the front door and cringed at the sound of the doorbell chiming through the silent house.

A minute or so later, Graham appeared at the door wearing a red plaid bathrobe. His face haggard with grief, Sam deduced that he hadn’t slept in days.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Nick said, his voice infected with a nervous stammer. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but there’s been some trouble tonight. I wanted to check on you and Laine.”

Graham stepped aside to invite them in. “What kind of trouble?”

Nick told him about Tara and the Jordans.

“Oh God,” Graham whispered. “Not Natalie, too. And Noel…”

“We think it’s Patricia,” Sam said, gauging his reaction.

Graham’s tired eyes shot up to meet hers. “No… She couldn’t have. She loved John. She’d loved him all her life.”

“And she’d waited for him—fruitlessly—for her entire adult life,” Sam said.

“We think he told her he was running for re-election,” Nick said.

“So she assumed he was choosing his career over her and Thomas,” Graham said.