Tad and his video games, she thought amusedly. He had a space one that he was crazy about. It was good that he was, because one game was all she could afford to buy him for their used gaming console, which had belonged to Morris. The game had been on the discount shelf. It was gently used, but Tad didn’t mind. Most of his electronics were second or even third hand. They couldn’t afford much in the way of entertainment.

Clancey had been delighted that the benefits package she got with her new job was even better than the plan she’d had when she worked for Hollister at SAPD. Medical and dental were included. Medical expenses were the arrow in her knee. She had health problems that weren’t apparent, but they could be expensive from time to time. It was nice that she didn’t have to try to treat herself. She could afford to go to a doctor and be treated. There was a small co-pay, but she could manage that.

She was sorry Tad was so vehement about the military. It was probably just a wild dream anyway, she thought. They were unlikely to let her in. But on the off chance, she’d gone by the Army recruiting office before she picked up Tad at school and got some literature about joining. She’d mentioned her health issue to the soldier in charge, who grimaced, but said they did occasionally make exceptions, and she was welcome to try anyway.

She didn’t want to make life even more complicated for her little brother. But when Morris got out, what were they going to do? Compared to living in a homeless shelter, the Army looked good. It looked very good.

She picked up her grandfather’s guitar, sat down with it and began to play.

TWO

Colter Banks was discussing his cold case with the detective who’d worked the original case.

“Very peculiar,” the detective replied, after he’d scanned the file. “The old man, Dalton Reed, didn’t come home from work. There were no viable suspects, except his stepson, Morris Duffy, and we couldn’t prove that he even had cause to kill the man. Reed had no enemies, unless it was someone he’d arrested during his career as a peace officer, but hardly anyone who was interviewed seemed to dislike him. Quite the opposite. His family seemed to care for him deeply. Well, there was the assault issue...”

“What assault issue?”