“Her name was Danielle. I can’t recall her last name off the top of my head. It was a long time ago.”

Avery exchanged glances with Farnsworth and Malone.

“In a conversation with Josh about your husband’s career, it came up that you all once lived in Knoxville,” Avery said. “But Josh was adamant that you never lived there. Do you know why that would be?”

“We... Troy and I... We had some marital problems during those years. It was a difficult time in our lives, so we rarely talked about living there. That’s probably why.”

Avery found that explanation curious, to say the least. “Have you been with your mother all day today, Mrs. Hamilton?”

“Yes, since she called me this morning to tell me she was feeling poorly.”

“And your other children are where?”

“Mark is in Chicago, and Maura lives in Boston. Why?”

“Establishing the whereabouts of the immediate family is routine in a homicide investigation,” Malone said. “Do you know if they’re both at home today?”

“I... I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to them.”

Hill produced a notebook and pen. “We’ll need their phone numbers.”

She took it from him with hands that were trembling more violently now. “You don’t honestly think they’d harm their father? They adored him!”

“We have to explore all possibilities, ma’am,” Malone said.

“Why isn’t the Bureau investigating?” she asked. “In light of recent events, I’m not sure I trust the MPD to handle it.”

To his credit, Farnsworth didn’t react to the insult. Rather, he said, “We have jurisdiction because of where the crime occurred, and it would be a conflict of interest for the FBI to investigate the murder of its director.”

“Is that true, Agent Hill?”

“It is.”

“Dustin will need to be notified. Troy would want him involved.”

“I have a call in to the deputy director, ma’am,” Hill said. “If you could please write down the contact information for your children as well as a number where we can reach you, I’d appreciate it.”

With her jaw set in a stubborn expression, she did as he asked and handed over the notebook. “What happens now?”

“The director’s body is with the city’s Medical Examiner, who will perform an autopsy. When that is completed, the body will be released to the funeral home of your choice. The ME will call you when she has completed her work.”

Mrs. Hamilton nodded.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Malone said. “We’ll be in touch.”

She saw them out the door and shut off the porch light, the dead bolt clicking loudly.

When they were in the car and on their way back to the city, Farnsworth said, “Did anyone else find it interesting that she didn’t ask how he was murdered?”