“And yes, I was in a frame of mind to murder that piece of shit,” he went on. “Will almost died, and Ajax was as much to blame as the boys who beat him up. Darrell, you have children, so you know what it feels like. And Rebecca, you’re going to have a baby, so very soon you’ll understand, too. When your child is at risk, you will do anything to save them. You will walk through fire. You will steal, cheat, lie, and yes, kill, without so much as a second thought or a single regret. There is not a sin in this world you won’t commit. You’re going to love your child the way I love mine, and that means you’ll sacrifice anything to protect them. You’ll give up your life, your future, everything that matters to you. Which is what I would happily do for Will.”

Instinctively, sweetheart, I closed my hands around my stomach. Norm was absolutely right, and it wasn’t even a question of waiting until you were in this world. I was already protecting you. You were the one thing in the world for which I would give up everything. I was a little blackbird willing to go up against a hawk to protect my baby in the nest.

I was a mother.

Norm sighed and sat back down in the chair. “But I didn’t kill him, Darrell. Yes, I had every reason in the world to want him dead, and I had the time and opportunity, but I didn’t do it. Search whatever you want. Home, office, car. Look for bloody clothes, or knives, or whatever else you’re hoping to find. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

I knew Darrell wasn’t inclined to believe that his friend was a murderer. I didn’t believe it, either.

Then again, you never know.

“Can you think of anyone else who might have killed Ajax?” I asked.

“Other than Ruby? I mean, you know how badly he treated her.”

“Are you talking about abuse?”

“No, just the constant cheating.”

“Ruby thought there might be someone special this time,” I said. “A woman he was serious about.”

“If there was, they must have been discreet. I didn’t hear rumors, and it’s the kind of thing the plaintiffs and their families would have been gossiping about.”

“How is the litigation going?” I asked.

“It’s progressing,” Norm replied, with a lawyer’s caution. “The new partner handling the case for the mine is a cool customer. Have you met her? JoAnne Svitak. She’s every bit as ruthless as Brink. Maybe more so.”

“Ruby is a key witness for the mine. Could that be a motive?”

“Well, she’s important to the case, but I can’t see anyone taking it out on her husband.”

“Was Ajax involved in the lawsuit himself?”