Liam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The skeleton of a ten-year-old boy has been found near where Erik Berglund’s body was found.” Kimberley made a sound and Alexei pulled her in tight.

Liam pulled a small, heavyweight manila envelope from his pocket. He unwound the string that secured the flap and produced a glass tube with a swab inside. “You are, I believe, his nearest living relative?”

“Yes,” Alexei said, staring at the tube. “Both our parents are dead.”

There had already been one unwelcome surprise revealed to this family from DNA this year, and Liam was sorry to have to foist a second on them, but it was the only way. He held up the tube. “If we could have a sample of your DNA, the medical examiner could test it against that of the skeleton’s. Then we would know.”

Alexei appeared hypnotized by the sight of the tube. “How long will it take?”

“One to three days, depending on how backed up things are at the lab.”

“And then we’ll know.”

Liam nodded. “Yes.”

Alexei looked from the tube to Liam. “How did he die?”

Liam could feel himself stiffening, and made an effort to relax. “I’m sorry to say he did not die of natural causes.”

“He was murdered.”

It wasn’t a question, but Liam answered it anyway. “Yes.”

“How?”

Liam could have made the standard answer, that the case was under investigation and the details were confidential until that investigation was concluded, but he could not bring himself to do so to this man who had lost his only brother thirty years before. “Blunt force trauma. A blow to the head.”

“It would have been quick, then.”

Liam sure as hell hoped so. “I believe so.”

“Who kills a kid?” Alexei said, his face contorting. “Who the hell kills a ten-year-old kid out beachcombing on a sunny summer day? And leaves another one for dead?” He bent his head for a moment, blinking. Kimberley put her arm around his shoulders and tucked her head beneath his chin.

When he looked up again he was dry-eyed and determined. He jerked his chin at the tube. “What do I do?”

Now, on Monday morning, Liam looked down at the square, dissatisfied all over again. The square thing always worked. He willed it to do so again.

Alexei and Kimberley Petroff were cleared, as Sergei Pete had confirmed.

Domenica Garland’s Zoom meeting had checked out, too. It was the first time Liam had direct-dialed Europe. Her boss had sounded as if he were in the next room.

Gabe McGuire had Len Needham for an alibi, although that was dicey since Len was also a close relative. But McGuire had zero motive. Liam had contacted the relevant authority at the borough and Gabe’s petition to vacate the right of way was on track to being approved and had been before Erik Berglund was murdered.

Hilary Houten might have had motive but he came and left with Blue Jay Jefferson and let’s face it, the guy was in his eighties and he couldn’t get around without a honking big cane to hold him up. He wasn’t going to pick a physical fight with anyone.