He was interrupted by a cry of alarm and spun around to see Julia being shoved against her car by a man with silver hair. „Shit,“ he hissed, taking off at a run. „It’s Jacob Conti.“

Jack was faster and was pulling Conti off Julia as Abe reached the car, Mia at his heels. „Get your hands off her,“ Jack snarled and Abe stepped between them.

„Cool it, Jack,“ Abe muttered and Jack stepped back, rage still making him shake. Abe turned to Conti, who stared at him with wild eyes. „This is a crime scene, Mr. Conti. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to step back.“

„It’s his son, dammit.“ Another man stepped up, large and menacing.

Mia pulled out her notepad. „And you are, sir?“

„Drake Edwards. I’m Mr. Conti’s head of security. We want to see Angelo.“

Mia drew a breath. „We planned to inform you of your son’s death under other circumstances, Mr. Conti. Right now, I think it’s best that you don’t see him.“

Conti closed his eyes, his body sagging, and Drake Edwards put an arm around his shoulders for support. „Then it’s true?“ Edwards murmured. „It is Angelo?“

Mia nodded. „Yes, sir. We believe so.“

Conti’s eyes flew open. „You believe so? Why don’t you know so? You – “ His eyes widened further as the horror of reality struck him. „He did something to his face. You didn’t even recognize him.“ He lunged for the door of the ME van, but Edwards held him back, murmuring something in his ear that made Conti stop and visibly fight for control. It was a fascinating transformation. A moment later, a composed Conti turned to a still-ashen Julia and asked coolly, „When can we have his body? His mother will want to bury him.“

„When the ME is finished,“ Jack snapped, but Julia put a hand on his arm.

„I’ll do my best to complete my investigation with all speed, Mr. Conti,“ she said, her voice slightly trembling. „I’m very sorry for your loss.“

Conti nodded stiffly and turned away, still supported by his head of security.

„How did he know?“ Julia asked shakily. „How did he know it was Angelo?“

As Conti’s limo rolled away, Abe’s gaze fell on Zoe Richardson and her cameraman standing in the background, catching it all on tape. Without a moment’s hesitation she approached, her damn microphone in her hand.

„Our own little bird,“ Julia said quietly.

„Our bird’s a vulture,“ Abe responded caustically.

„Bitch,“ Jack snarled.

„God, she’s cold,“ Mia marveled.

Abe stepped forward, his gut churning with rage he knew he had to suppress. This woman had systematically moved events from bad to worse. „Miss Richardson, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to move along. This is a crime scene and you’re not allowed here.“

She ignored him. „Dr. VanderBeck, were you hurt by Mr. Conti’s attack?“

Julia gaped at Richardson as if she had three heads.

„No comment,“ Mia snapped and stepped in front of the camera. „You’ll leave now, Miss Richardson, or I’ll arrest you for interfering with our investigation.“

„But – “

„Now.“ Mia reached for her cuffs and the cameraman lowered his camera.

„We’re going,“ he said, glancing at Richardson from the corner of his eye.

Richardson looked furious. „We’re staying. You’re the ones interfering with my First Amendment rights. The people have a right to the news.“

„I said we’re going,“ said the cameraman and Zoe slowly turned, shock slackening her normally perfect features.

„I think you’re going,“ Abe said dryly.

Richardson looked at him, venom in her eyes. „By the way, where is Mayhew?“

„Out of your reach. Unless you’d like to surrender another tape, you should follow your cameraman’s direction.“ He watched her stomp away. „I really hate that woman.“

Julia straightened her coat. „I can see why. I’m going to the morgue where it’s quiet. I’ll call you if I find anything.“ She looked up at Jack. „Thank you,“ she said softly and drove away, leaving Jack red-faced.

„Maybe not so one-sided after all,“ Mia muttered with a grin. „When it rains it pours.“

Sunday, February 22,

5:30 p.m.

Sunday dinner at the Reagans’ was like being in the middle of a Kansas twister. Two televisions competed for mastery, a set in the living room tuned to some sport that had all the men present groaning in disgust. The second set was located in Mrs. Reagan’s kitchen and was tuned to QVC where their stock of pearl strands was almost gone. Mrs. Reagan herself bustled around the kitchen, mashing potatoes and checking her ham. Every peek into the oven sent a whiff of incredible aroma through the kitchen and Kristen’s stomach growled.

„It smells so good,“ Kristen said, sitting next to Rachel at the kitchen table where Rachel had laid a set of books and a small tape recorder in a semicircle.

„Mom is the best cook. All my friends think so.“ She flipped her notebook to a blank sheet. „Thanks for doing this interview with me. My mom says I shouldn’t be bothering you. What with all the goings-on and everything.“

„It’s okay. I was going crazy sitting all by myself in my house anyway.“ A loud roar erupted from the living room. „I thought football season was over.“

Rachel leaned back in her chair far enough to see around the corner into the living room. „It is. Right now they have a hockey game and a college basketball game going. Sean bought Dad one of those picture-in-a-picture TVs last Christmas.“ Her lips quirked up in adolescent amusement. „Mom was so pissed. So, do you mind if I tape this?“

„You really think you’ll be able to hear anything you record?“

„Sure. I grew up in this house. I’ve developed excellent listening and not-listening skills.“ Rachel flipped on the recorder. „This is an interview with Assistant State ’s Attorney Kristen Mayhew. Can you start by telling us why you chose the law as your profession?“

Kristen opened her mouth, prepared to spout the response she always used. The one that wasn’t nearly the truth. But something in Rachel Reagan’s blue eyes stopped her. „I didn’t, not at first,“ she said honestly. „I’d planned to study art. I even had an art scholarship. But in my sophomore year someone I was very close to was the victim of a serious crime.“

Rachel’s eyes grew wide. „Who?“

„I’d rather not say. She has the expectation of privacy, you know? Anyway, the person who perpetrated the crime was never punished and I didn’t think that was fair.“

„So you became a lawyer to make a difference?“

Kristen focused on the girl’s earnest expression. Rachel Reagan reminded her of herself, so many years ago. „I’d like to think so.“

Rachel had a whole list of questions. Kristen answered each one, following Becca’s movements around the kitchen, remembering her own mother doing the same, the memories bittersweet. Becca was rolling dough when the back door opened and a man wearing a Bears sweatshirt and faded jeans walked in, as tall and dark as Abe. Fondly, he dropped a kiss on Becca’s cheek and Kristen knew without asking that this was Abe’s other brother. She’d met Sean when they’d arrived, so this could be none other than -

„Aidan!“ Rachel dropped her pen. „We thought you weren’t coming.“

Aidan had a CPD uniform on a hanger slung over his shoulder. „I had to switch some shifts, but I didn’t want to miss ham.“ He plopped his hat on Rachel’s head and gave the brim a tug so that it covered her eyes. „What’s new, squirt?“

Rachel adjusted the hat so she could see. „I’m doing my homework.“

Aidan’s gaze shifted to Kristen and she could feel his cold blue eyes critically assessing her. „So I see,“ he said. „You’re ASA Mayhew.“

Kristen wasn’t sure he considered that a good thing, but stuck out her hand. „Kristen.“

He shook it „Aidan.“ His eyes, so like Abe’s, narrowed. „Why are you here?“