Gavin set the report down on the table. His eyes were on Val’s. He wasn’t reading anymore. “Any further attempts to question Gabrielle about that day was halted by the Morgans. The only thing emphasized in this report is that Gabrielle did acknowledge she was babysitting the twins since it was the nanny’s day off. She got lost in a game she was playing and when she went to check on them, they weren’t in their room, where she’d left them and told them to stay until she returned. After searching the house, she went outside and found them in the pool.”

“The Morgans are rich. Didn’t they have other staff in the house that day?” Val couldn’t believe this. “There must have been some other adults in the house.”

“No, the kids were alone.” Gavin exhaled deeply. “The Morgans aren’t as wealthy as we think they are. They’re not poor by any means but the Morgan company has had its problems. They filed for bankruptcy protection twice.”

“Jesus, I didn’t know that.”

“Not many do.”

“So for Gabrielle, a kid gets lost in a game and forgets the time. A tragedy occurs…” Val said. “Could be why she was so protective of Adam. Why she wouldn’t let him out of her sight. The twins drowned because Gabrielle wasn’t watching them. She doesn’t make that mistake again,” Val said. “Mourning, pain, and regret all last a lifetime.”

Gavin’s pause told Val otherwise. “There’s one more thing that’s important about the 911 call.” His eyes were on Val.

“What’s that?”

“Gabrielle was lying.”

“Holy shit! About what?” Several other diners glared at Val with her outburst and she mumbled quick apologies.

Gavin picked up the report and began reading again. “It is of interest to add the suspected time of death is estimated to be up to an hour before the 911 call. This was based on liver temperatures.” Gavin looked up. “At an hour after death there was no rigor yet, so there was no reason to doubt Gabrielle that the accident recently occurred. Could be why emergency crews even attempted CPR.”

“If Gabrielle found them after they had been floating for a while she might not have known how long they were in the water,” Val tried.

“That’s not what she lied about,” Gavin’s gaze remained locked on Val. “The twins were already out of the water when she called 911. Probably about thirty minutes out of the water by that time.”

Val’s eyes opened wide. “Are you sure?”