“To a dead man.”
Evelyn flinched.
My mother turned toward me.
“Your father loved you.”
“I know.”
“He loved both of you more than anything.”
Liam sat beside the window.
“Mom, please don’t tell us that right before explaining another lie.”
Her face softened.
“Fair.”
She folded her hands.
“The tax files are in my basement.”
I sat straighter.
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t probate transfer them?”
“Because your father asked me not to disclose them.”
Detective Ruiz spoke.
“Mrs. Carter, I need you to understand that this may be part of a criminal investigation.”
“I understand.”
“You cannot remove or alter anything.”
“I haven’t.”
“How can you be sure the files are still there?”
My mother looked at her.
“Because I checked before coming here.”
A strange silence followed.
I knew that expression on my mother’s face.
She had already done something.
“What did you find?” I asked.
