“We haven’t positively identified the victims yet,” Sam said, although her words were little comfort to a mother who knew the grim truth even if Sam couldn’t yet confirm her worst fears. “When was the last time you heard from Michael?”

“Around ten. He called to say he was staying with Hugo.”

“Did you know Hugo’s parents were out of town?”

“No! I had no idea. I never would’ve allowed him to come here if I’d known that.”

“From what we were able to ascertain from the Springers’ maid,” Freddie said, “Hugo told his parents he’d be staying with you and your son while they were away.”

“I never heard from Marissa about that,” she said, wiping tears off her face.

“And would you have?” Sam asked. “Normally?”

She nodded. “Hugo has stayed with us before when his parents were away. That’s not unusual. But Marissa wouldn’t leave town without talking to me first. I don’t understand.” She looked up at Sam with heartbreak in her eyes. “How could this have happened?”

Sam wasn’t about to tell a grieving mother that her teenage son had pulled one of the oldest tricks in the book to get a night alone with his friends.

“The maid, Edna, she’s been with the Springers for years. She would know my Michael. Did she say he was here? That he was...”

Sam glanced at Freddie, who nodded.

“I’m afraid Michael was among the victims the maid was able to identify. We were coming to tell you this morning.”

Mrs. Chastain broke down again, and Sam did her best to offer comfort to the grieving mother.

“We’re so sorry,” Sam said. “We’d like to figure out what happened here, and to do that we could use your help. I know this is so intrusive at such an awful time.”

“I’ll tell you what I can.”

“Where does Michael go to school?” Sam asked, using the present tense intentionally. She’d learned from experience that family members who’d just been informed of a loved one’s death weren’t ready yet to refer to them in the past tense.

“Wilson. He’s a senior this year and planning to go to college. He’s a good boy. He’s never been in any trouble.”

“And where does Hugo go to school?”

“Sidwell Friends.”

The prestigious Quaker day school on Wisconsin Avenue was well known in the capital region.

“How do Michael and Hugo know each other?”

“They were our next-door neighbors in Friendship Heights until Bill’s career took off. They moved here and sent Hugo to private school, but the boys have remained close friends. Even more so since they’re both driving now and can see each other any time they want.”

“Do either of them have girlfriends?”