“Right? She ended up very unhappily married to him for four years. The biggest mistake I ever made in my life was not going to find her to ask why she never called me back. I regret that we lost so much time together because of that. So everyone makes mistakes, even me and even professional ballplayers.”

“One of the kids at the old house used to say ‘shit happens.’ I know that’s a swear word we’re not supposed to say, but...”

“It’s true. Shit does happen, and sometimes there’s no good reason for it, such as that ball sailing over Willie’s head last night.”

“And now he’s dead, probably because of it.”

“Sam would tell you it’s easy to jump to that obvious conclusion, but who knows what really happened?”

“I’m glad she’s the one who’s going to find out. If anyone can do it, she can.”

“I agree. I have to ask you a favor—you can’t talk about what happened to Willie until the police make it public. Sam and I decided I should tell you so you wouldn’t hear it somewhere else. I’m sure it won’t be long before the entire city is talking about it, if they aren’t already.”

“I understand. I won’t say anything.”

Nick patted his back and kissed his forehead. “I hated having to tell you that.”

“I know.”

“You want to finish the ice cream?”

Scotty shook his head. “I don’t feel like ice cream anymore.”

“Neither do I.”

* * *

Hill was waiting for her when Sam pulled into the VIP lot. When he came over to open the car door for her, she wanted to tell him to knock it off. But he was a Southern gentleman down to his bone marrow and probably didn’t think a thing of opening a car door for a woman, even if she was perfectly capable of opening her own damned door.

“Get any sleep yet?” he asked.

“Nope. You?”

They flashed their badges to security and were waved in.

“Nope. Helluva thing, huh?”

“What’s the word for beyond insane?”

“Outrageous.”

She kept an eye out for any sign of the Crime Scene Unit, but didn’t see anyone yet. They were probably gathered on the other side of the building. “That’s a good word.”

“Guy misses a fly ball, and he’s dead twelve hours later? Makes me wonder what kind of world we live in.”

Before he could hold another door for her, she snatched it open and strolled into the palatial foyer. “You and I know all too well what kind of world we live in.”