While her testimony absolved Odessa of any wrongdoing, due to the lack of a disciplinary hearing, Odessa was never formally cleared, and therefore her good reputation could never properly be restored. Her service weapon was reissued to her, but she was not returned to regular, active investigative duty. She was instead offered special assignment status, her position to be determined.

To Odessa, this reminded her of Earl Solomon’s unique and unusual arrangement with the Bureau throughout his career. She was resistant to this assignment, and determined she would voluntarily resign from the FBI.

Linus encouraged her not to do anything rash. “Give it a couple of days,” he said. “Then decide what’s right for you.”

Odessa appreciated him standing by her through the entire process. But she couldn’t help but think about what that old woman told her in the back room of that botanica.

He is a good man, and devoted. He has genuine feelings for you. You are his one true love. But he is not yours.

A few days later, while she was home alone trying to figure out her next life step, Mr. Lusk appeared at her apartment door. She was surprised by the sudden rush of excitement she felt at his visit.

“Blackwood?” she said, assuming. “He wants to see me?”

“Oh no, Ms. Hardwicke,” said Mr. Lusk, in his theatrically mannered way. “I am here because of a legal matter.”

She shrugged. “What would that be?”

“Specifically, the estate of Earl Solomon.” Mr. Lusk furnished a sheaf of papers secured with a large black clip. “You have been named his executrix.”

“I never…?” She flipped through the top pages. “I never agreed to that.”

“Well, it’s most convenient, in any event. Seeing as you are the sole beneficiary of his estate.”

He handed her another sheaf of papers. She was shocked.

“His estate?” she said. She flipped to the final pages of the will, signed in Solomon’s shaky hand, dated just a few days ago. The man whose life she had ended. “This doesn’t seem right.”

“I assure you, it is.”

“So his house…I own a house now?”

“Once it goes through probate. But that should be essentially clerical. Good luck, Ms. Hardwicke!”

Mr. Lusk started back down the hallway. “Wait,” she said, holding the door open with her foot, leaning out after him. “What about Hugo Blackwood?”

“Yes?” Mr. Lusk looked confused. “What about him?”

“Uh…nothing, I guess. Tell him I say hello.”

“I will, certainly. If I see him.”

And with a smile he was gone.

Odessa let herself into Earl Solomon’s one-story house in Camden, New Jersey. She stood quietly inside the door for some moments, reflecting on Solomon, a man she barely knew, yet felt she knew so well. There was so much she didn’t understand.