“Not quite yet. Your father’s silence worries me. Why the hell won’t Tom talk to you about his nurse’s death?”

“I’m not sure.”

“But you have a theory.”

After several seconds of hesitation, I outline the possibility that Lincoln might believe that Dad is his father, and that this—more than forensic evidence—may be what pushed Shad toward a murder charge.

“Did Tom have an affair with Viola?” she asks bluntly.

“I don’t know.”

“You haven’t asked him?”

“No. I’m going to see him again later. But he already told me he’s willing to take a DNA test to establish paternity. He sounded confident.”

Thankfully, Annie calls up the stairs to tell us supper is getting cold.

Caitlin closes her eyes, inhales deeply, then exhales slowly. Then she opens her eyes and says, “We’re going to have to postpone the wedding.”

I walk to the bed and take her hand. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. We have to make sure Tom is safe. We’re not getting married with that cloud hanging over our heads. The wedding’s going to be everything we planned, and your father sitting in jail is not part of that picture.”

“Annie won’t like it.”

“Let me handle Annie. That’s a girl thing.” Suddenly Caitlin’s hand goes to her mouth. “Does your mother know any of this?”

“I think Dad’s telling her about it now.”

“Ahh. I talked to her just a few minutes ago, and she didn’t say a word about it. She must not have known.”

“Not necessarily. Mom could put on a perfect bridge party with a riot going on in her backyard.”

Caitlin nods thoughtfully. “Whatever Tom’s hiding, he’s more afraid of it than of being arrested for murder. That can’t be good.”

She slips off of the bed, takes my hand, and pulls me toward the stairs. “Come on. You tell Annie about the legal trouble, and I’ll explain the wedding.”

At the top of the stairs, she stops suddenly, her jaw set tight.

“What is it?”

“Shad Johnson,” she almost spits. “What’s his fucking problem? Doesn’t he realize what you could do to him with that dogfighting photo?”

I give her a sheepish look. “Actually, I gave him back the original. In exchange, he promised he wouldn’t run for reelection.”

Caitlin lowers her chin and raises her eyebrows, peering into my eyes with irresistible intensity. “Bullshit. If you did, you kept a copy.”

I try to play out the bluff, but she sees through me.

“Where are you guys?” Annie calls from downstairs.

“Coming!” Caitlin yells down the stairwell.

“Getting Shad disbarred could be counterproductive,” I tell her. “Better the devil you know, you know? There’s no telling who might be appointed to take his place.”