“I suppose he must have,” I said.

I passed her the hot teacup.

She smiled and took a tiny sip.

The sweet-daughter act was nothing more than a scouting trip to confirm the money she’d found in my private files.

“I’d better be going,” Vanessa said.

“I’ve got a vendor meeting at one.”

“Of course, go right ahead,” I said.

We went out to the front porch without a word.