“That money covered the mortgage on this house,” Ruth said.

Ruth reached into the open desk drawer again and took out a silver-framed six-by-eight photograph.

She stood the frame right next to the blue legal folder on the mahogany table.

The picture showed Bob in his dark gray wedding suit on the steps of the municipal court beside Ruth, who had on a cream dress and was holding a bunch of yellow roses.

I turned from the table and headed for the front hall without taking my coat off.