“Stuff a sock in it, Mom. She already told us the whole story. How you told her to close her eyes and think of diamonds, Queen Victoria.”

“You have no idea what I’ve been through myself.” She forced a sniffle. “Riley didn’t go through anything I haven’t gone through.”

Was she telling the truth? Perhaps. Unfortunately, any sympathy I might have had for her had been snuffed out long ago. “Then you, of all people, should have protected your daughter.”

“Yes, I suppose I should have.”

“Quit bucking for sympathy, Mom. The fact is that you didn’t, even when you knew damned well what was going on. We all know why you didn’t.”

“Do you? Do you really know why?”

“Of course we do. You let it all happen for the money.”

She fake sniffled again. “You truly don’t know me. None of my children do.”

“Stifle it. We know you better than you know yourself. I’m not falling for this fake crying bullshit. If you truly went through something as horrible as Riley went through, I’m sorry. I don’t wish that on anyone. But you gave up your right for us to care long ago. None of that is why I’m here, anyway.”

“Why are you here, then?”

“I want you to tell me,” I said, “about Dad’s first wife. Irene Lucent.”

43

Zee

I jerked my eyes open.

Moira stood over me, gently shaking my shoulder. “Zee, honey. I’m ready to leave for the day.”

Where was I? Right. Moira’s office. I’d fallen asleep after that horrible questioning from Detective Morgan. “What time is it?”

“It’s four o’clock. I’m leaving early because I have an appointment. I suppose you can stay in here if you’d like, but I figured you wouldn’t want to be alone.”

I sat up. “Right. I don’t want to be alone.”

“Can I call someone for you?”

“Yeah. Reid, please.” I wiped the sleep out of my eyes. Several hours had passed, and they’d seemed like seconds to me. I’d slept hard.

Moira walked to her desk and tapped a button. “Henny, could you get Reid Wolfe for me, please? Thank you.”

A few seconds passed.

Then, through the intercom, “I’m sorry, Moira. Mr. Wolfe isn’t answering.”

“Try his cell.”

“I did. He didn’t answer that either.”

“All right. Thank you.” Moira turned to me. “I can find someone else. Lacey, maybe?”

I nodded. “Lacey’s fine. Riley would be better.”

“Riley doesn’t work here, but I’m sure Lacey is around. Let me check.” She called Henny on the intercom once more.

“I’ve got Mrs. Wolfe,” Henny’s voice came through the intercom.