"How much do the police know?" "Everything."
Her eyes were soft and wet with guilt.
"The seal on Nathan's records was broken when he died."
"And how did he die?" "They didn't say."
"I suppose it's not important.
We have a motive."
I ran my hand through my hair.
"It probably doesn't matter that we didn't personally have the opportunity.
Your time is accounted for, isn't it? And Stanton's?" "Yes.
And yours, too?" "Yes."
But I didn't know about Gideon's.
Not that it mattered.
No one would expect men like Gideon and Stanton to get their hands dirty cleaning up a mess like Nathan.
We had more than one motive - the blackmail and revenge for what he'd done to me - and means, and means gave us the opportunity.
* * *
I brushed my hair again and splashed water on my face, all the while thinking of how I was going to get my mom out of my apartment undetected.
When I found her digging through the closet in my bedroom - concerned as always about my style and appearance - I knew what to do.
"Remember that skirt I picked up at Macy's?" I asked her.
"The green one?" "Oh, yes.
Very pretty."
"I haven't been able to wear it, because I can't think of anything I have to go with it.
Can you help me find something?" "Eva," she said, exasperated.
"You should've established a personal style by now - and it shouldn't be sweats!" "Help me out, Mom.
I'll be right back."
I took my coffee mug with me to have a purpose for leaving her.
"Don't go anywhere."
"Where would I go?" she replied, her voice muffled because she'd stepped deeper into my walk-in closet.
I did a quick check of the living room and kitchen.
My dad was nowhere to be seen and his bedroom door was closed, as was Cary's.
I hurried back into my room.