“It wasn’t?” Hannah put her hand on Cain’s face, and Emma smiled.

“You have to understand that it was her mom and dad who asked her to do that. That wasn’t a nice trick they asked her to play with you, but we’re not mad. Do you promise to tell me if she asks you something like that again?” Cain winked at Hannah and tickled her.

“Yes,” Hannah said, her tears and upset forgotten.

“Good. Now forget about that for tonight and have fun with Grandpa and Abuela.”

Hannah jumped off Cain’s lap and ran out like the normally carefree child she was. The smile on Cain’s face disappeared as soon as Hannah left the room. Emma moved her hand over Cain’s fist and nodded. “I know you’re mad, but remember something else you always tell me.”

“What’s that?” Cain sounded winded.

“There’s a time for everything, and right now it’s not time for whatever’s going through your head. Not that I don’t agree, but you need to find out exactly what this is.” She moved closer and leaned against Cain. “This isn’t what it seems, and you can’t go in blind.”

“Everyone with honor knows that children are off-limits.” Cain looked at her when she framed her face with her hands. “Hannah is an innocent, but so is Lucy.”

“I know that, but who can we ask about what Lucy told her? And what did Hannah mean when she said if she didn’t do this, Lucy’d have to go back to bad people? That isn’t something a mother tells her child no matter what she’s after.” She caressed Cain’s cheeks with her thumbs and understood perfectly the rage that she could see in Cain’s features. “We already knew they weren’t who they pretended to be when Taylor left a bug in the house. I thought Lucy was real, though. Now maybe that’s not true. Maybe she’s adopted.”

“It has to be the feds. No one we’re having problems with deals with state-of-the-art listening devices. The crew outside must be lowering their standards, because Taylor came to visit, and we found it after she left.”

“They never had standards to begin with. Barney Kyle tried to kill you while he was their boss. That told me all I needed to know about that.” She kissed Cain like they didn’t have to go out, but it was the only way to make them both feel better. “Now take me out and show me a good time, honey.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay in?” Cain’s hand had crept up her leg, and she laughed.

“I’m positive. If we make this a big deal, your kid will think it’s a big deal. She’s happy, so let’s go.”