“Josh, I’ve got to be honest with you. This isn’t looking all that great for you. You were missing for a couple hours this afternoon, around the time the medical examiner estimates your father was murdered. There was no sign of forced entry, which leads us to believe he knew the person who attacked him or the person had access to the house. And when I told you the man who raised you was murdered, you laughed. Can you see how this might be a problem for you?”

His eyes went wide with what looked like shock. “You think I killed him?”

“I think you had opportunity and possible motive, which are two factors we look at closely in homicide investigations.”

“Let me save you some time and trouble. I didn’t do it.”

“If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard those words, I’d be rich.”

“This time, they’re actually true. I wanted nothing to do with him. That house was the last place you’d ever find me. Ask anyone who knows me. I haven’t been there in years. I had nothing to do with him being murdered, but I’m not sorry he’s dead. He was a narcissistic asshole who made my life a living hell. You won’t see me crying at his funeral.”

Strangely enough, Sam believed him, but they’d still have to establish his whereabouts for the missing hours to eliminate him as a suspect. “I need to get in touch with your mother. Can you tell me where she might be?”

“I take it she wasn’t at home?”

“There was no one there but your father.”

“I don’t know where she is. I haven’t talked to her in a couple of weeks.”

“Would you mind calling her now?”

As he reached for his phone on the coffee table, the Secret Service admitted Farnsworth, Malone and Hill.

“Don’t tell her your father is dead. We’ll take care of that. I just need to know where she is.”

While he made the call, Sam got up to greet the others. “He says it wasn’t him, he hasn’t been to the house in years and won’t cry at the funeral. I asked him to reach out to his mother, which he’s doing now.”

Listening to his side of the conversation, Sam deduced that his mother was relieved to hear from him.

“I don’t know what medication he was talking about,” Josh said. “I’m not on anything.” After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know, but who ever knows with him? What’re you up to?” He listened. “Is she okay?” Another pause. “It’s going around. I know some other people who’ve had it.” He wrapped up the call, telling his mother to tell his grandmother he hoped she felt better and saying he’d call again soon. “Love you too.”