“How long have you been aware of your brother’s orientation?” Jeannie asked Austin.

“Always.”

“And your parents have no clue?” Jeannie asked.

“I’ve gone to great lengths to keep my private life private,” Devon said.

“Did your uncle know?” Sam asked.

“Yes,” Devon said softly. “He was the only one in my life who understood. In a lot of ways, other than my brother, Julian was my best friend.”

Austin rested a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulder, the two of them united in their grief.

Sam stood up, and Jeannie followed suit. “Is your roommate home at the moment?”

Panic-stricken, Devon looked up at her. “No, why?”

“We need to confirm your alibi. A formality. Can we get his name and number?”

Reluctantly, Devon got up and wrote down the information. Handing the piece of paper to Sam, he said, “You don’t need to tell him I told you about us, do you?”

“I don’t see any need to mention it.”

“Thank you,” he said, relieved.

Austin handed her a sticky note with his girlfriend’s name and number.

“One other question,” Sam said. “Were you Julian’s heirs?”

“Yes,” Austin said. “We’ll each inherit half his estate.”

“I know I speak for my brother when I say we’d give up every dime we stand to gain to have him back,” Devon said.

After witnessing their devastation, Sam believed him.

Outside, Sam released a long deep breath. “Wow. I don’t envy that kid the road he has ahead of him.”

“Me either. That mother is a piece of work.”

“I’d like to dig a little deeper into Diandra Sinclair’s background. We also need to take a closer look at Julian’s cell phone and e-mail records. He had arranged a late-night meeting with someone. I want to know who it was.”

“The cell records didn’t show any activity after he arrived at the senator’s house for dinner, so whatever he was up to, it was planned before he went to dinner.”

“Let’s find out what it was. I also want to know why the Secret Service saw fit to offer him protection.” Sam checked her watch. “Damn it. I don’t have time to do much of anything before that stupid hearing. I guess I’ll run by and check on Cruz real quick.”

“I’ll go with you.” When they were in the car, Jeannie looked over at her. “I hope you know everyone thinks this thing with IAB is totally bogus, Lieutenant. Stahl is out for revenge because they gave you his command.”

Sam’s stomach kicked into gear when she thought about the hearing. “He’s had it in for me long before now. And let’s face it, I handed him a gift by hooking up with Nick in the middle of O’Connor.”

“It’s going to be fine.”

Sam wished she could be so confident.