A series of locks disengaged and the door opened to reveal a woman who looked much different than the one they’d met yesterday. Judging from her puffy eyes, red nose and disheveled appearance, she was clearly in the throes of grief and hadn’t slept at all.

“What’re you doing here?”

“We need to speak with you again,” Sam said. “Could we come in, please?”

“Um, sure. I guess. I’m not really dressed.”

“We won’t take much of your time.”

Jamie stepped aside to admit them. The living room was simply furnished with a sofa, love seat and small entertainment center. No pictures, knickknacks, nothing of Jamie. Sam wondered if this was one of those places that came already furnished.

She and Hill took seats on the sofa while Jamie curled her legs under her on the love seat. “Have you found out what happened to Willie?”

“Not yet,” Sam said. “We’re still working on it. That’s why we wanted to see you.”

“Why me?”

“We’ve heard from several people associated with the team that you and Willie shared a particularly close relationship.”

“So? I told you that yesterday. We were good friends.”

“From what we’ve heard from others, it was common knowledge that you and Willie were... How shall I say it? Closer than friends.”

Jamie’s face went blank for a second and then a flush of anger flooded her cheeks. “They’re saying we were having an affair.”

“There is some speculation to that effect. Yes.”

Jamie stared straight ahead and was quiet for a long moment. “Do you know what drives me crazy?”

“What?”

“That men and women can’t be friends without people jumping to all sorts of incorrect assumptions.”

“So you’re saying there was no affair?” Sam asked.

“I said yesterday there was no affair.”

“That was with your bosses outside the door. We were hoping you’d be more forthcoming away from work.”

“There’s nothing to say! We were friends! Colleagues. We worked closely together all season and then later when he was trying to stay healthy enough to finish out the postseason. I don’t understand how that becomes an affair.”

“People see two people spending a lot of time together, and they jump to conclusions,” Hill said.

“There was no affair. He was devoted to his wife and children. He was my friend, and I loved him. As a friend. Nothing more.”

Sam was beginning to believe her. “Did he speak to you about his wife or his family or any issues they might’ve been having?”

“Here and there. I knew about the situation with Carmen’s brother. That was weighing on him. He wanted to give him the money, but he was afraid he’d be throwing it into a bottomless pit. It had to stop somewhere, you know? He’d given him a lot of money.”

“Do you know how much?” Sam asked, running on a hunch.