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"I can't tell you now, but I have good reasons."
She hesitated, but then I heard her sigh. "Of course she can come and stay with me. She's my sister. She can sleep in the spare bedroom."
"Good," I said. "Thank you. We'll bring her over after the detectives come and we can get her things together."
We said goodbye and then I turned to my mother, who sat watching me expectantly.
"You'll go and stay with Aunt Diane until we can get someone to come and stay with you."
She nodded. "I'm sorry about all this. I just don't know what to do…"
I put my arm around her and hugged her more tightly.
"Don't worry about anything," I said, kissing her cheek. "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
I glanced at Amy, who sat watching, an expression of sympathy in her eyes.
About ten minutes later, Graham finally called.
"He's dead?" Graham said, his voice shocked.
"Yes," I replied. "Shot twice. He was in Alexandria. That's all I know."
There was silence on the other line for a moment. "Well, I can't say I'm unhappy. I know mom will be devastated but really? I'm glad the bastard's dead."
"I know," I said, unable to disagree. "I'll come by later once I get mom settled at Aunt Diane's."
"Okay," he said and we ended the call.
Two detectives arrived about fifteen minutes later. The older man – balding, a paunch barely hidden by his suit jacket, his face red from exertion – introduced himself as Detective O'Grady and his partner as Detective Álvaro. I doubted either man could pass a fitness test, but hoped they were good investigators.
"We think your husband's death was foul play," he said, his elbows on his knees, leaning forward to look in her eyes. "Preliminary analysis suggests he was shot in the head with a high-powered rifle. Another bullet hit him in the chest. He died instantly and suffered no pain."
I grimaced. I watched enough CSI to know that a high-powered rifle was a sniper rifle. That suggested this was not some random murder, or even a robbery gone wrong. It didn’t sound like an ex-military former MMA fighter gone nuts and beating him to death in anger. It was deliberate. Two shots? One in the head and one in the chest?
He'd been terminated.
"Is there anyone you can think of who might have had a personal grudge against your husband?" O'Grady asked, his voice calm.
"He was the DA and made a lot of enemies," my mother said. "I have no idea who might want to kill him but he was on the trail of some big Russian mobsters. They're known for being barbaric against their enemies. Spencer always knew he was a target, but he was usually so careful…"
My mother covered her eyes and wept for a moment. The rest of us were silent while she regained her composure.
"The murder took place in a relatively isolated part of Alexandria along the waterfront – a mostly residential part of the city and not much traffic. We've done a preliminary canvas of the area, but so far we have no witnesses and no suspects."
The detectives filled us in on what would happen next – a full autopsy to determine the exact time and cause of death and confirm ballistics, and then his body would be turned over to whatever funeral home we requested. O’Grady promised to keep in touch as the case progressed.
The detectives showed themselves out and then sat looking at each other.
"Are you okay to be going anywhere?" I asked. "We could stay here for a while if you want a shower or anything."
My mother shook her head. "I'm too sick," she said and I knew that she needed some of her morphine to fight the pain. She rustled through her bag and took out a pill for the breakthrough pain, swallowing it and lying back on the sofa.
Amy and I gathered up my mother's personal items – her meds, her makeup and toothbrush, as well as some clothes – and then we snuck her out the back way and into the waiting SUV. James had taken a circuitous route through the neighborhood to try to escape notice by the press, who were still outside the house on the street. Once she was in her seat and I'd fastened the belt for her, we drove to my Aunt Diane's house. Amy and James helped me get her inside, and we sat and had a cup of tea and talked about the whole business.
By the time my mom was lying on the bed in the spare bedroom, drowsy from the breakthrough does she'd taken to help manage her pain from all the activity. I was tired and ready for some food. I said goodbye to my aunt and the three of us left.
"Can we stop and get something to eat? Then can you take me to the hospital so I can see Graham? I told him I'd come by and see him tonight."
