His hand was still resting on the blue folder, but his fingers were trembling against the plastic.

The yellow kitchen light caught the sweat on his forehead.

“No,” I lied, my voice steady. “He is not here right now.”

“If you see him, please inform him that we have attempted service at his Richmond office three times,” the deputy said.

“I will,” I said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Harper. Good night.”

The line went dead with a soft click.

I slowly lowered the receiver back onto its heavy cradle.

The kitchen was completely silent except for the hum of the old refrigerator.

“Who was that?” Thomas asked.

He tried to make his voice sound casual, but it cracked on the last word.

“A solicitor,” I said.

I did not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing I had just protected him.

I also did not want him to run before I had the chance to find out the truth myself.

“You look pale, Mother,” he said, stepping back from the table.

“I am tired, Thomas,” I said. “And I want you to leave this house.”