2:21 p.m.
“OH, AND this is Maya,” Francine told Cooper.
Maya Rain—the “hillbilly from West Virginia,” as Glenn Sable had called her—was sitting cross-legged on the floor with the Hughes children as they played with Lupe, who was relishing all of the attention.
“Traitor,” Cooper told his pup.
“Quiet, kids. Mr. Lamb is a private eye,” Maya said in mock fear. “His job is to listen to everything we say.”
“I think Mr. Lamb is a sheep!” announced five-year-old Maddie Hughes, who was utterly adorable. “Baaaaa,” she said. This was followed by a giggle fit.
“I’ve been called worse,” Cooper said. “And don’t worry, Ms. Rain, I’m just here to retrieve my partner, Lupe, who is clearly falling down on the job. Unless he’s managed to take statements from all of you between treats?”
Three people in the room—Francine, Maya Rain, and Maddie—smiled at the joke, but not twelve-year-old Archie Hughes Jr.
The boy sat on the floor too, legs crossed, but his attention was miles away. Cooper had seen that look before. Back when he was in the army, Cooper had spent countless days in Fallujah and Baghdad staring into the eyes of children who’d lost a parent and couldn’t understand why everyone was acting like nothing was wrong. Cooper felt his heart implode.
Maya Rain caught Cooper looking at Archie Jr. and quickly stood up. “Let me show Mr. Lamb out while you kids have your snack.”
“Thank you so much, Maya,” said Francine.
“Children, I’ll be right baaaaaack,” Maya said, which made Maddie giggle all over again. Maya looped her arm through Cooper’s and gently guided him toward the servants’ entrance.
The touch wasn’t flirtatious—it was as if she knew he needed to touch another human being in that moment, which was even more startling.
Transcript of recorded conversation between Cooper Lamb and Maya Rain
COOPER LAMB: I’d love to speak with you too, if you have a minute.
MAYA RAIN: Not here. Not right now.
LAMB: Where and when?
RAIN: Hmm. That eager to see me again?
LAMB: I’m just doing my job, and your name has come up a lot.
RAIN: I’m sure it has. I’ll be in touch.
LAMB: Where and when?
RAIN: I don’t know. The kids keep me pretty busy most days. Cleaning up messes, that’s what I do.
LAMB: Funny—looks like we’re in the same business. But name the time and place. Seriously.
RAIN: I’ll let Lupe know. And be careful on your way out, Cooper. Mr. Lopez is picky about the grounds.
Transcript of recorded conversation between Cooper Lamb and Mauricio Lopez
COOPER LAMB: Hey, you’re Mr. Lopez, right? My name is Cooper, and I’m working for Ms. Hughes’s lawyers. Do you have a moment?
MAURICIO LOPEZ: That stupid dog is going to dig up my garden!
LAMB: That dog’s name is Lupe and he will do no such thing. I wanted to ask you about the g—
LOPEZ: I can’t speak right now. I’m sorry.
LAMB: It’s just a simple question and nothing you haven’t already told the police.
LOPEZ: What is that in your hand? No tape-recording!
LAMB: I promise I’m not recording. I have a nervous habit of holding my phone.
LOPEZ: Please, I’m very busy today.
LAMB: I promise this will just take a second. It’s a matter of life and death.
LOPEZ: Fine. What is it?
LAMB: I can’t seem to keep my hydrangeas alive from season to season. What am I doing wrong? You can be honest with me.
LOPEZ: (Confused) What?
LAMB: The winter months in Philly, they’re brutal. Obviously you do a ton of work maintaining these grounds. I mean, that’s how you saw the gun, right?
LOPEZ: I have to go now—
LAMB: But Ms. Hughes said it would be okay if we spoke.
LOPEZ: I believe she would be very angry if we spoke.
LAMB: No, she said it would be okay. Well, she implied it would be okay. I mean, we’re all on the same team here! What have you got to lose?
LOPEZ: (Sighs) Everything, Mr. Lamb. I have everything to lose. My job. My status in this country. My freedom.
LAMB: Has someone threatened you, Mr. Lopez? Because if that’s the case, we can protect you.
LOPEZ: Nobody has threatened me, Mr. Lamb. I live always under this threat. Now, please, take your dog and leave the grounds. I have much to do to repair the mess he’s made.
(After a gap in the dialogue of approximately one minute, a car door slams.)
LAMB: You heard that, right, Victor? Mr. Lopez has a problem with Lupe, which clearly means he’s evil. Kidding. But seriously, he may know something. I need to find out what. And Maya Rain…okay, I need to know everything about her.