“Thirty-three years. I was hired to take care of Bridget, just before she was born and then the subsequent children as they came along.” Claudia sat straight in her chair, legs crossed. She seemed remarkably well composed.

“You stayed in this position mainly because of Bridget?”

“Yes. I am the household manager now, but a large portion of my duties are still with Bridget. She needs a lot of care and I know how to manage her.” Her hands rested on the table, fingers casually interlocked.

“Do you medicate her? Is that how you manage her?” Warren asked.

Mr. Cooper tossed his pen down. “Detective, stop with the bullshit or I’ll stop this interview right now. My clients are here today as a favor to you. Have I made myself clear?”

“Bridget knows me,” Claudia said calmly. “And I know her.”

Gavin showed her the picture of the angel’s trumpets from her bedroom. “These are pretty flowers. Mrs. Morgan told Valentina Knight that you have a greenhouse on the Morgan property.”

Claudia cast her eyes down to the photograph and then looked back up at Gavin. “I didn’t grow those.”

“How did you get them, then?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“We’d rather you did,” Warren said.

Claudia shifted in the chair and glanced towards Mr. Cooper. He nodded that she could answer.

He’d better damn well nod, Gavin thought.

“They were given to me.”

“By who?” Gavin asked.

“Mr. Morgan.”

Gavin wasn’t expecting this. He assumed an affair… the flowers, he thought for sure Claudia had them deliberately. “Why would Mr. Morgan give you angel’s trumpets? Do they have some significance for you?”

“None at all. I didn’t ask for them.”

Maybe she didn’t need to ask for them, not if he knew what kind of flowers she might have liked, Gavin thought. “Why would he give you flowers at all?”

Claudia shrugged. “He’s a nice boss and he does thoughtful things.”

“Like give you a greenhouse?” Gavin asked.

“It was a very kind and thoughtful gift.”

What a beautifully rehearsed response. “Claudia, were you having an affair with Mr. Morgan?” Gavin asked bluntly.

Claudia did not answer. She looked at both lawyers. They glared at Gavin and he knew he was treading on very thin ice. Sometimes when questioning a suspect an unanswered question speaks volumes.

“How long were you having an affair?” he asked.

The lawyers didn’t toss their pens on the table this time, they threw them against the wall. Both men rose. “We’re done here. I warned you about this and I don’t give second chances,” Mr. Cooper said. “My clients came here in good faith, and you decided to subject them to bullshit. Without a subpoena they will not be talking to you again.”

Mr. Nunez patted Gavin on the shoulder. “Good luck in getting that.”