DISTRICT ATTORNEY DREW was thrilled with the case against Lil’ Sporty. In spite of the fact there was no direct evidence and the confession was brief, she liked it and felt they had their man.

“He’s been assigned a public defender and there is a chance he’ll cop a plea,” she told Abby, Roper, and Lieutenant Jacoby.

“I don’t think anyone has a problem with a plea.” Jacoby looked at Abby.

“I don’t,” she said. “He’s off the street —that’s what counts.”

Bill nodded in agreement.

“Okay,” Drew said. “I’ll be in touch.”

After the meeting, Abby had her plate full explaining to her coworkers why she’d never been forthcoming about her identity. How the news had traveled so fast, she’d never know. It could have been Murphy; it could have been someone from Rollins’s staff. But the cat was out of the bag and running like a champ. Jacoby told her he’d heard from DC Cox. Abby could only guess who’d told her.

“All this time you’ve been here and kept quiet. I didn’t think secrets were possible in the PD,” Lieutenant Jacoby said.

“Woody and Asa convinced me it was for the best.”

“Your parents’ case is the biggest unsolved crime in the department’s history. They still talk about it in the academy. Zeke Russell never got over not closing that case.”

Everyone had questions for her and she answered them all. Coworkers were supportive and curious, and she was glad the Triple Seven case was now out of the dusty world of cold cases and in the open. As much as she didn’t like talking about herself, she found it a relief that everyone knew her secret and she could be totally open about wanting the case solved. Even so, by the end of the day she felt all talked out.

Abby’s hopes for a quiet evening with no more talking were dashed when her cell phone buzzed before she reached her car.

“It’s my lucky day. Twice you’ve answered.” Gunther’s cigarette-coarsened voice assaulted her ear. “I’m calling in my favor.”

“Which one is that?”

“Abigail Morgan.”

Abby stopped at her car and leaned against the driver’s door, thinking but not saying anything. She didn’t want to go there again. She’d told Woody she was ready, but was she?

“This has become hot hot. I know you’re still there. I’ve got to get a piece out about you. I think it’s only fair you give me the first interview.”

“Gunther, I am so busy right now.”

“CliffsNotes so I can show my editor something.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Where’ve you been? Why hide? Why tell the governor who you are now?”

Abby closed her eyes and told the story —again.

“Aunt. Is that Deidre?”

“Yeah.”

“Hart must be her married name.”

“It is. Her husband died about a year before my folks.”

“Why did it take so long to find her?”

“She was in South America on a missions team —”

“I remember that. Your mom called her a Holy Roller. You lived with her until college?”

“Yes. When I graduated high school, I got an athletic scholarship to LB State.”

“Volleyball. That I know. Did you come back always planning to solve your parents’ murders?”

“That has always been my dream.”

“Are you reopening the Triple Seven investigation?”

Abby waited a beat, wondering how to answer. “Technically it was never closed —no arrest, no suspect, it’s open. But, Gunther, officially I can’t go there right now.”

“Did the governor inquire about the case at all?”

“Why would you ask that?”

“Because reporter equals curious, and when Rollins comes to town, your carefully hidden identity becomes hidden no more, etc., etc.”

“I’ve had a long day and I’m on my way home.”

“If you think this is going to go away quietly, you’re delusional. Anything connected to Rollins will be big. He’s all but officially filed to run for the senate. Every cable network in the country will probably visit you in the next couple of days. Did he quash the Triple Seven invest?”

That gave Abby pause. Could Rollins close the case permanently? His reaction made her consider him a suspect. If he did quash the case, it would only increase her suspicion. She would never tell Gunther her suspicions. He would run with it and things would get beyond crazy. But then that was what she wanted, wasn’t it? To surprise the killer and hopefully smoke him out. If the killer was Rollins, that would do it, wouldn’t it?

“You still there, Hart?”

“To my knowledge Rollins has not interfered with any investigation. As far as the Triple Seven goes, I have a full caseload.”

“You should run for office.”

“Do you have what you need? I really have to get going.”

“For now, but I hope we can talk again.”

The connection ended, and Abby frowned. She’d probably catch it for speaking to Gunther, but so be it. Sighing, she got in the car, too tired at the moment to give it serious thought.