‘‘Because he’s got a right to know.’’ Ethan spoke quietly. His temper had leveled off, and he was able to think clearly again. ‘‘He’s got a right to know what he might have to fight. If you know what’s after you, you’ve got a better chance. And because,’’ he added, ‘‘the letter was addressed to the Quinns. He’s one of us.’’

‘‘I’d rather burn it,’’ Phillip muttered. ‘‘But you’re right.’’

‘‘We’ll all tell him,’’ Cam agreed.

‘‘I’d like to do the talking.’’

Both Cam and Phillip stared at Ethan. ‘‘You would?’’

‘‘He might take it easier from me.’’ He looked over as Seth came through the door. ‘‘So let’s find out.’’

‘‘Mother Crawford put on extra hot fudge. Man, she just poured it on. There’s about a million tourists up on the waterfront, and . . .’’

His excited chatter trailed off. His eyes went from gleeful-to wary. Inside his chest, his heart began to drum. He recognized trouble, bad trouble. It had its own smell. ‘‘What’s the deal?’’

Anna took the large bag from him and turned to set the plastic-topped dishes of ice cream out. ‘‘Why don’t you sit down, Seth?’’

‘‘I don’t need to sit down.’’ It was easier to get a head start running if you were already on your feet.

‘‘There was a letter came today.’’ It was best, Ethan knew, if hard news was delivered fast and clean. ‘‘From your mother.’’

‘‘She’s here?’’ The fear was back, sharp as a scalpel. Seth took one quick step in retreat, going stiff as a board when Cam laid a hand on his shoulder.

‘‘No, she’s not here. But we are. You remember that.’’

Seth shuddered once, then planted his feet. ‘‘What the hell did she want? Why’s she sending letters? I don’t want to see it.’’

‘‘Then you don’t have to,’’ Anna assured him. ‘‘Why don’t you let Ethan explain, then we’ll talk about what we’re going to do.’’

‘‘She knows Ray’s dead,’’ Ethan began. ‘‘I gotta figure she’s known right along, but she’s taken her time getting to it.’’

‘‘He gave her money.’’ Seth swallowed hard to gulp down the fear. Quinns weren’t afraid, he told himself. They weren’t afraid of anything. ‘‘She took off. She doesn’t care that he’s dead.’’

‘‘I don’t suppose she does, but she’s hoping for more money. That’s what the letter’s about.’’

‘‘She wants me to pay her?’’ Fresh and bright fear exploded in Seth’s brain. ‘‘I don’t have any money. What’s she writing to me for money for?’’

‘‘She wasn’t writing to you.’’