She nodded and turned to her father. “Well, now that that’s settled,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “How about we go to the family room? There’s a fire going. Would you like a coffee?”

“I’d love one.”

The room was large, but with several intimate seating areas, it still felt cozy, with its warm oriental rugs and river stone fireplace. Over the mantel hung a Turner landscape, a work that had been in Kate’s family since the 1800s.

“I always enjoy this room,” her father said, walking to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He headed to the deep cushioned sofa facing the fire and sat at the far end from Kate, casually resting his arm on its back. Kate looked at her father’s strong profile, the nose that was straight and proud. His dark hair had never lost its thick waviness, but the gray had taken over when he was in his early fifties. He was a great bear of a man, and she pictured her parents dancing together as they often had, her mother like a slim goddess in his muscular arms. He took a sip of coffee and placed the cup on the table in front of them. “So.” He turned to look at her. “You sounded upset on the phone last night. What is it you wanted to talk about?”

She braced herself before she dove in. “I was upset. Still am. Detective Anderson was here last night. He told me things that don’t make sense. Things about you.”

His eyebrows drew together, and the frown lines between his eyes deepened. “What kind of things?”

“Did you and Mother have a big argument the day she died?” He said nothing, so Kate pressed him. “A shouting match, actually?”

“It’s nothing for you to worry about,” he said.

She looked at him incredulously. “But I am worried. He said Molly came to them. Said she heard you and Mom arguing. Screaming at each other. Is that true?” She watched his face carefully to see his reaction. Why was he being so evasive? He was behaving oddly, and she wondered if it had to do with more than just his grief.

“It’s none of Molly’s business.”

“Did you send her away?”

His eyes widened in surprise. “What? Why would you ask me that?”

“I called her house, and her nephew told me she was out of the country.”

“Good for her.”

“Good for her?” Was he kidding? “What’s going on?”

“Nothing is going on. She’s been with your mother and me for ages. I can’t move back into the house yet. I don’t know if I ever will. But I couldn’t put her out of work. I paid her a year’s severance. I imagine she took that trip to Europe she’s always wanted to take.”

Kate didn’t remember ever hearing Molly talk about going to Europe. “It looks a bit suspicious, Dad.”