“I need to take some time off.”

“I’d agree with you there. You’ve been up to and over your head for months. She’s an interesting woman, Phillip. There’s more to her than you see, or than she knows. I hope when the times comes you’ll listen to her, really listen to her.”

“What are you talking about?” He held up a hand, palm out. “Why am I asking you what you’re talking about when you’re not here?”

“I’m hoping that the pair of you will stop analyzing the steps and stages and accept what is.” Ray shrugged, slipped his hands into the pockets of his Orioles fielder’s jacket. “But you have to go your own way. It’s going to be hard. There’s not much time left before it gets a lot harder. You’ll stand between Seth and what hurts him. I know that. I want to tell you that you can trust her. When it’s down to the sticking point, Phillip, you trust yourself, and you trust her.”

A new chill skidded down his spine. “What does Sybill have to do with Seth?”

“It’s not for me to tell you that.” He smiled again, but his eyes didn’t match the curve of his lips. “You haven’t talked to your brothers about me. You need to. You need to stop feeling you have to control all the buttons. You’re good at it, God knows, but give a little.”

He drew in a deep breath, turned a slow circle. “Christ, your mother would’ve gotten a kick out of this place. You’ve done a hell of a job with your life so far.” Now his eyes smiled. “I’m proud of you. I know you’ll handle what comes next.”

“You did a hell of a job with my life,” Phillip murmured. “You and Mom.”

“Damn right we did.” Ray winked. “Keep it up.” When the phone rang, Ray sighed. “Everything that happens needs to happen. It’s what you do about it that makes the difference. Answer the phone, Phillip, and remember Seth needs you.”

Then there was nothing but the ringing of the phone and an empty office. With his gaze locked on where his father had been, Phillip reached for the phone.

“Phillip Quinn.”

As he listened, his eyes hardened. He grabbed a pen, and began to take notes on the detective’s report on the most recent movements of Gloria DeLauter.

NINE

“SHE’S IN HAMPTON.” Phillip kept his eyes on Seth as he relayed the information. He watched Cam lay a hand on the boy’s rigid shoulder, an unspoken sign of protection. “She was picked up by the police—drunk and disorderly, possession.”

“She’s in jail.” Seth’s face was white as bone. “They can keep her in jail.”

“She’s there now.” How long she would stay there, Phillip thought, was another matter. “She probably has enough money to post bond.”

“You mean she can pay them money and they’ll let her go?” Beneath Cam’s hand, Seth began to tremble. “No matter what?”