Springer seemed surprised by the question. “Our other four children have keys.”

“Are they local?”

“Two of them are.”

“Their names and addresses?”

“I don’t understand why this is relevant.”

“Just being thorough,” Sam said. “I assume you expect us to be thorough in investigating your son’s murder.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Sam saw the chief’s brows rise in reaction to her comeback. What did Springer expect? He was bitching they weren’t doing enough, but when asked about his own family he clammed up?

“My son William Junior is local, as is my daughter Clarissa.”

“Their addresses?” Sam asked a second time. She wasn’t surprised to hear they both lived in the Georgetown area. “And where were your other two children on Friday night?”

“Connor was with us in Aspen, and Margaret is in Boston with her fiancé for the holiday week.”

“You and your wife were due to be away all week?”

He shook his head. “Only until Wednesday evening. I had a conference to attend in Aspen, so my wife came with me to spend some time at the Aspen house. Our son Connor lives there.”

“And where did you think Hugo would be during your trip?”

Springer ran a trembling hand over the stubble on his jaw. “He told us he’d cleared it with Michael’s mom, and it was okay for him to stay there.”

“You didn’t follow up with Mrs. Chastain to make sure that was true?”

“He’s never lied to us before, Lieutenant,” Springer said sharply. “We had no reason to doubt he was telling the truth.”

Sam wanted to laugh in the guy’s face. Hugo had never lied before? Based on what she’d seen in the Springers’ basement on Friday night, she suspected it was more likely he’d never been caught before.

“I know what you’re probably thinking,” Springer said, his posture losing some of its rigidity. “What seventeen-year-old boy doesn’t lie to his parents to suit his own agenda? But Hugo wasn’t that kind of boy. He was a good boy.” Springer’s voice broke on those last words.

Sam wondered what he’d say when he learned that his “good boy” had been involved in the gang rape of her niece. “Can you think of anyone who might’ve had a beef with Hugo or Michael or Todd or any of the other kids who were killed?”

“I didn’t know any of the girls. The boys were popular kids with a lot of friends. I can’t imagine anyone would hate them enough to kill them.”

Sam handed him her card. “If you think of anything, even the smallest thing, please call me.”

“I will. And you’ll keep me apprised of the investigation?”

“To the best of my ability.”

“Thank you.”

“Lieutenant, I need you to brief the media before you head out,” Farnsworth said.