“Hi, Mary,” Connor said gently.“This is Agent Raven from the FBI.We were hoping to talk with your Aunt Sandra if she feels up to it.”
Mary’s composure cracked at the sound of his voice.She stepped forward and put both arms around him.
Connor held her carefully, his hat still in one hand.“I’m so sorry about your uncle.”
Mary shook her head against his shoulder, then pulled back, wiping her face with the heel of one hand.“It makes no sense.Why would someone do that to him?”
“We’ll do everything we can to find out.”
"That's what Aunt Sandra keeps saying."Mary glanced behind her."Aunt Sandra's in the sitting room.Mom's with her.One minute, it's like it never happened, then it hits her again, and she falls to pieces.The shock's been terrible for all of us."
Selena softened her voice.“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Mary looked at her properly for the first time.Recognition moved slowly over her face.
“Hold on.Selena.I thought I remembered the name.”She glanced at Connor, then back at Selena.“I met you a long time ago.I’d have been a kid.Weren’t you two married?”
Connor’s expression tightened by a fraction.“Yes.”
Selena kept her tone calm.“We’re working together strictly professionally.”
Mary nodded as if she had not meant to pry, though grief made manners clumsy.“Right.Sorry.Come in.”
The farmhouse interior carried the same careful order as the porch.Polished wood floors.Cream walls.Expensive rugs.A staircase with a carved banister.Fresh flowers in a vase on a side table.No clutter.No coats thrown over chairs.No shoes lined near the door.
Money had lived here for a while.
Warren and Sandra Holt had not merely done well.They had displayed doing well in every polished surface.
Mary led them down a hall and into a large sitting room where three women sat close together as if proximity could hold them upright.
Sandra Holt occupied the middle of a flowery sofa.Late fifties, carefully styled hair, face drained by crying.A tissue lay crushed in one hand.On her left sat a broad-shouldered woman with silver-threaded dark hair and the hard stare of someone ready to fight the next person who caused more pain.On Sandra’s right, a slimmer woman with auburn hair held her other hand, thumb moving softly across her knuckles.
Connor crossed the room first.
“Sandra.”
The widow rose enough to meet him.He hugged her, brief but sincere.
Selena wondered just how close Connor was to the family and the victim.She hoped it wouldn’t complicate things.
“I’m so sorry,” Connor said.
Sandra nodded against him, then lowered herself back to the sofa.“It’s okay.Thank you for coming.”
“It isn’t okay,” Connor said.“But we’re going to do what we can.”
Selena stepped forward.“Mrs.Holt, I’m Agent Selena Raven.I know this is a difficult time.”
Sandra stared at her for a second, eyes narrowing through tears.“Don’t you remember me?”
Selena paused.“I’m not sure.I’m sorry.”
"Your mom and dad bought their house through our company.Years ago."Sandra dabbed at her eyes."Robert still says hello when I see him in town.He and Warren were friends for a time before they drifted."
The mention of her father made Selena’s shoulders tense before she could stop it.Another thread.Another local connection she had not expected to tug.
“I didn’t realize,” Selena said.
