“Mom’s book is coming out.” Preston fumbled over his words. “She’s getting her own show. She’s worked so hard. Everything she’s ever wanted is finally within reach. I couldn’t let them ruin it for her. She was afraid they’d ruin it for her.”

“I never said anything about Devon!” Diandra repeatedly slapped Preston’s face.

Austin grabbed her from behind, pulling her off his father. “Leave him alone. For God’s sake, Mom. Hasn’t he done enough for you? Haven’t we all done enough?”

Preston descended into broken-hearted sobs.

“I’ve certainly heard enough.” Sam stepped out of the crowd and nodded to Freddie who cuffed Diandra.

“What’re you doing?” she cried, fighting him. “I didn’t shoot anyone. He did! I was with you when he shot Devon! You know that!”

“Mrs. Sinclair, you’re under arrest for accessory to the murder of Julian Sinclair,” Freddie said. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

Realization seemed to settle on Diandra all of a sudden. “You fucking bitch,” she seethed at Sam. “You motherfucking bitch!”

“You have the right to an attorney,” Freddie continued. “If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”

“Fuck you.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Sam turned to Preston. “Mr. Sinclair, you’re under arrest for the first-degree murder of your brother, Julian Sinclair, for the attempted murder of your son, Devon Sinclair, and for the murder of Tucker Farrell.” She repeated the Miranda warning as Freddie cuffed him. “Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Preston said wearily.

He was so defeated that Sam felt her heart go out to a murderer for the first time in her career.

“Detectives Cruz and Gonzales, please escort Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair to central booking.”

After they were gone, with Diandra shrieking and fighting the whole way, Sam turned to Austin. “I’m sorry.”

“I just can’t believe he shot Dev,” he said, the shock echoing through his voice. “She had him so under her control that he honestly thought that’s what she’d want.”

Sam rested her hand on his arm. “Your brother needs you to be strong for him. If he recovers, he’ll need you to help him through this as well as the loss of Tucker.”

Austin seemed to make an enormous effort to shake off the stupor. “Yes, you’re right. I’ll see about getting an attorney for my dad.”

“What about your mother?”