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The cat left his bowl and walked over to curl around and through Sanized as habitual and autoive the cat one quick scratch between the ears

“Where’stoward fear, Samantha’s voice cracked

There was no part of the job Eve dreaded more than this, no aspect of police work that scraped at her heart with such dull blades

“I’m sorry, Ms Bennett “I’m very sorry Your mother’s dead”

Sa Her eyes, the same warm honey tone as her mother’s, unfocused Before she could fold, Eve eased her into a chair “There’s ato the o to the movies on Tuesdays” She stared up at Eve with desperately hopeful eyes “She can’t be dead She’s barely fifty, and she’s healthy She’s strong”

“There’s no mistake I’m sorry”

“There was an accident?” Those eyes filled now, flowed over “She had an accident?”

“It wasn’t an accident” There was no way but one to get it down “Your mother was murdered”

“No, that’s i Her voice hitched over them as she continued to shake her head in denial “Everyone liked her Everyone No one would hurt her I want to see her I want to see her now”

“I can’t let you do that”

“She’s my mother” Tears plopped on her lap even as her voice rose “I have the right I want to see my mother”

Eve cla her back into the chair she’d sprung fro to see her It wouldn’t help her It wouldn’t help you What you’re going to do is answerto help et you so? Call anyone for you?”

“No No” Samantha fumbled in her purse for a tissue “My husband, my children I’ll have to tell them My father How can I tell them?”

“Where is your father, Samantha?”

“He lives—he lives in Westchester They divorced about two years ago He kept the house because she wanted to move into the city She wanted to write books She wanted to be a writer”