“Thank you.” Nick had such admiration for the aura of dignity the older woman projected even in the darkest hours of her life.

“No, thank you, for everything this week. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”

“It was no problem.”

Laine shook Sam’s hand. “Thank you for coming today.”

“The service was lovely,” Sam said.

“Yes,” Laine agreed. “I thought so, too.”

“Any developments?” Graham asked.

“A few,” Sam said. “I’m heading into work shortly, and I hope to know more by the end of the day. I’ll keep you informed.”

“We’d appreciate that,” Graham said. “Nick, look me up in half an hour or so, would you?”

“Sure.” With his arm around Sam, Nick steered them through the crowd toward one of the bars in the corner. “I know you have issues with them, so thank you for that…just now.”

“This isn’t the time or the place.”

“Do you plan to do anything about them lying to you?”

“What would be the point? If they had told me the truth, it would’ve saved me some time. I don’t have anything to gain by going after them.” She glanced over at the O’Connors who were greeting the senior senator from Virginia and his wife. “In fact, I kind of pity them.”

“Because of John?”

“That, too, but also for what they’ve missed out on with Thomas. And for what?”

“I wonder if they regret what they did,” Nick said as he accepted coffee for himself and a soda for her.

“They will if we can prove Thomas’s mother murdered John.”

Nick shook his head. “What a tangled web.”

“It amazes me that people think they’re going to get away with trying to hide a baby. A secret like that is a time bomb looking for a place to detonate.”

“True. I see it all the time in politics. The stuff people try to keep hidden usually blows up in their faces during a campaign.”

Sam took a measuring look around the room. “I wonder where the cops who are supposed to be protecting the O’Connors are. I don’t see anyone.”

“Could be undercover.”

“If there was a cop in this room, I’d know it.”

Lucien Haverfield, the O’Connor family’s attorney, approached them.

“There you are, Nick. I’ve been looking for you.”

“Lucien.” Nick shook hands with the distinguished older man and introduced him to Sam. “Nice to see you.”

“Fine job you did today at the funeral.”

“Thank you.”

“The will is being read tomorrow at two at the O’Connor home. I need you to be there.”

“Why’s that?” Nick asked, surprised.

“You’re a beneficiary.”

“But he left me money,” Nick stammered. “Insurance money, and a lot of it.”

“Can you be there at two?” Lucien asked, clearly not willing to shed any light in advance of the reading.

“Yes, of course.”