“Different how?” Luke asked.

“He made Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller look like he had ADD.”

“That exciting?” Luke asked, a smile in his voice.

“More so.” She straightened as the three stopped in front of her. “Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce you to Special Agent Papadopoulos and Assistant District Attorney Al Landers. This is Dr. Fink, Dr. Grim, and Mr. Grant.”

The old men nodded politely. “Miss Susannah.” Dr. Fink took her hand. “I didn’t get the chance to express my condolences at your parents’ funeral.”

“Thank you, Dr. Fink,” she said quietly. “I appreciate that.”

The next man brushed a kiss against her cheek. “You’re looking lovely, my dear.”

“And you’re looking well, Mr. Grant.”

“We heard the news about Daniel,” Mr. Grant said, worried. “Is he improved?”

“He’s still in intensive care, but his prognosis is excellent.”

Mr. Grant shook his head. “I can’t believe twenty-four hours ago he gave me a volume of poetry, and now… But he’s young and strong. He’ll pull through.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The third man was studying her intently. “You’re looking peaked, Miss Vartanian.”

She straightened again. “I’m just tired, Dr. Grim. It’s been a long few weeks.”

“Are you taking B-twelve? You haven’t forgotten the importance of vitamins, have you?”

“I certainly could never forget the importance of vitamins, sir.”

Dr. Grim’s face softened. “I was so sorry to hear about your mama and daddy.”

Susannah held back the flinch. “Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.”

“Excuse me,” Luke inserted, “but I’m sure you gentlemen have heard about the death of Dr. Granville yesterday.”

All three grimaced. “It’s a terrible shock,” Dr. Fink said. “Before I retired, my dental practice was next door to his clinic. I spoke to him every day. I’d have lunch with him sometimes. My daughter took my grandkids to him for their shots. I had no idea…”

“He was one of my students,” Mr. Grant said sadly. “A brilliant mind. Skipped two grades to graduate early. What a waste. Fink’s right. It’s a shock to all of us.”

Dr. Grim looked most devastated. “He was my star pupil. Nobody absorbed biology like Toby Granville. Nobody knew he had such evil in him. It’s unbelievable.”

“I understand,” Luke murmured. “You three must see a lot that goes on in Dutton.”

“We do,” Dr. Fink said proudly. “At least one of us is on that bench at all times.”

Susannah lifted her brows, surprised. “I thought you had to sit there, nine to five.”

“Well, we don’t leave unless there’s a good reason, of course,” Mr. Grant said. “Like my weekly therapy on my knee or Fink’s dialysis or Grim’s-”

“That’s enough,” Grim said roughly. “He didn’t ask our daily routine, Grant. Do you have a specific question, Agent Papadopoulos?”

“Yes, sir,” Luke said. “I do. Did you notice Dr. Granville talking to anyone unusual?”

All three men frowned and looked at each other.

“Like a woman?” Fink asked. “Are you asking if he was having an affair?”

“No,” Luke said, “but are you saying he did?”

“No,” Grim said. “To say he was a God-fearing man seems ludicrous, but I never saw him in an inappropriate situation. He was the town doctor. He talked to everyone.”

“So he didn’t have anyone he was especially friendly with, or did business with?”

“Not to my knowledge,” Mr. Grant said. “Fink, Grim?”

The three men shook their heads, curiously unwilling to speak against a man who was now known to have been a rapist, killer, and pedophile. But their reticence could also be due to a general mistrust of outsiders, Susannah thought.

“Thank you,” Luke said. “I wish we could have met under different circumstances.”

The three gave Susannah a stern glare, then started back for their folding chairs.

Susannah let out a breath. “That was interesting. I would have expected them to be cool to Al, just because he’s a Yankee, but not to you, Luke.”

“I’m glad I didn’t say anything then,” Al said, mildly affronted.

Her mouth curved a little. “Sorry, Al, but the older generation still holds a grudge.”

“I didn’t expect them to be happy with my questions,” Luke said. “Granville’s scandal is a shock and reflects poorly on the whole town. Who’s the woman with the camera?”

“That’s Marianne Woolf. Her husband owns the Dutton Review.”

Luke let out a low whistle. “Daniel said she was voted most likely to do everyone. Now I understand. Whoa.”

Susannah quashed the spurt of jealousy. Men had always had that reaction to Marianne, and the years had been good to her. Susannah wondered if the plastic surgeons had been good as well, but dismissed the thought as petty.

“Marianne must be covering this for the Review,” she said. “Jim Woolf and his brothers aren’t here. His sister Lisa was buried yesterday.”

“Lisa Woolf was one of O’Brien’s victims, too,” Luke said for Al’s benefit.

Susannah didn’t want to think about Mack’s victims. That they were dead too closely tied to Simon, which too closely tied to her. “The man next to Pastor Wertz is Corey Presto. Mr. Presto owns the pizza parlor where Sheila worked and was killed.”

“Presto I know. I was at the scene with Daniel after Sheila was shot.” Luke lifted his head to scan the crowd and Susannah felt cold again. “Two-thirds of the people here are reporters. I thought your parents’ funeral was a media circus, but this is insane.”

She hesitated. “Thank you, by the way, for coming to my parents’ funeral. I know it meant a lot to Daniel to have you and your family here.”

He squeezed her arm. “Daniel’s family. We couldn’t let him go through that alone.”

She shivered, whether from the contact or the sentiment she was unsure. Studying the crowd, she frowned at the figure standing alone off to the side. “That’s odd.”

Al Landers instantly tensed. “What?”

“Just that Garth Davis’s sister Kate came. I didn’t expect to see her here, under the circumstances. I mean, Sheila was one of Garth’s victims. That’s her, standing alone.”

“Maybe she’s just here to pay her respects,” Al said.

“Maybe,” Susannah said doubtfully. “But how awkward.”

“Sshh,” Luke cautioned. “They’re getting ready to start.”

It was a short service, and sad. Next to Pastor Wertz, pizza parlor owner Corey Presto stood quietly crying. Susannah didn’t see any other family or friends. She wondered how many people here had actually known Sheila Cunningham.

Based on the avidly curious expressions of nearly every face in the crowd, not many. Sheila was news. She’d be gossiped about around water coolers for days to come.

Once the news of my statement hits, so will I.

Pastor Wertz began reading from the Bible, his face weary. He’d already officiated over two funerals in as many days and there were many more to come.

She thought about Daniel as Corey Presto put a red rose on top of Sheila’s casket. Her brother had very nearly died yesterday. Had Alex not acted so quickly Susannah might have been standing here again in a few days, burying the last of her family.

And then I would be as alone as Sheila Cunningham had been. More so, because at least Sheila had Corey Presto. I have no one. Susannah swallowed hard, startled to find her face wet. Embarrassed, she quickly wiped her cheeks with her fingertips, stiffening when Luke’s hand brushed her hair, settling on her back, warm and solid. For just a moment she gave in to the temptation to lean, resting her head against him.

And for just a moment she let herself yearn for a man like Luke Papadopoulos, decent and kind. But that was not in the cards. Not after what he now knew. He would be kind because Daniel was family, and he might even be attracted to her, but ultimately the man whose mama still carried a rosary around in her purse would never want… a woman like me. And who could blame him? I don’t want a woman like me.