“ETHAN, I’M SO GLAD you called.”

“I was afraid I’d wake you. But I have some news.”

“First, I have so much to tell you.” Forcing her voice to remain steady, Abby poured out everything Sanders had said. He let her go on without interruption, and when she finished, he was silent for a long moment.

“Are you still there?” she asked, grabbing Kleenex and blowing her nose.

“Yeah. I’m just . . . Well, Abby, you know how I feel about your position in homicide. And as far as the Triple Seven goes . . .”

“But this goes beyond homicide, Ethan. Did you hear everything I said? What do I do if my father really is alive?”

“It’s not like you to so readily believe someone like this Sanders character. Surely he has some angle, some reason for making an off-the-wall statement like that.”

“I don’t know. I need to go back over the report, and I can’t do that officially because they don’t want me investigating my parents’ murders.”

“Abby, you need to let this go. Give it to God. If you can’t do that, it will swallow you. We’ve had this conversation before.”

Abby bristled, not wanting to be lectured but not sure what Ethan could really do or say to help her. “This changes things. I don’t think it’s possible, my father being alive, but I have to find out the truth.”

“Part of the reason I wanted to talk is to tell you that I’m coming home early. I’ll be back in three days. Please pray about this and don’t do anything we’ll both regret.”

“We’ll both regret? What is that supposed to mean?”

“I just don’t want you doing anything that could jeopardize our future together. Surely you don’t want that either.”

“Of course not.”

“I can hear the but in your voice. But you have to solve this crime.”

“Ethan, you have to understand —”

“I’m trying. All I ask is that you pray before you do anything.”

Pray.

Abby said good-bye and paced, knowing she should try to get some sleep but more unsettled than ever. I have prayed, she thought, and my prayer has not been answered.

After a bit, she lay down on her bed. Bandit jumped up to lie next to her. No matter what, she knew she had to prepare the Jenkins case in the morning. She couldn’t concern herself with what was happening in the Triple Seven investigation.