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Jack opened the door, and the weariness in his face lightened at the sight of Ellery. Watson took the opportunity to once more express his feelings on various topics of public interest.

“Get a lawyer,” Jack told him, and proceeded to kiss Ellery hello.

“Long time no see,” Ellery said eventually.

“It does feel like it.” Jack kissed him again, lightly. “How wasyourday?”

“The day was routine. The evening was a little weird.”

“Yeah? Step into my office and tell me about it.”

They adjourned to the kitchen. Jack poured himself a beer and picked up Watson for a cuddle. Ellery had another cup of tea, smiling, as he watched Jack avoid Watson’s best efforts to also kiss him hello.

When Jack’s light gaze caught Ellery’s, his smile seemed to warm Ellery’s entire chest.

“So, what are the Silver Snoops up to now?”

“Believe it or not, this is not Silver Sleuths related. Except maybe tangentially.” Ellery related the dramatic turn the night had taken.

“How the hell was this not called in?” Jack was frowning as he set Watson down.

“Because the crew’s consensus was, it was an accident.”

“An accident?”

“Accidents do happen.”

Jack studied Ellery thoughtfully. “Butyoudon’t think it was an accident?”

“I don’t know.”

Jack considered this, smiled faintly. “You must have a theory.”

“It’s…pretty crazy.”

“Your batting average isn’t so bad. Let’s hear your theory.”

“I’m starting to wonder if this whole death-threat thing could be a publicity stunt.”

“Ah.”

Ellery met Jack’s keen gaze, his own expression wry. “It’s not that I have any reason to think so. Nobody said or did anything that made me think they aren’t taking these threats seriously.” He mentally replayed that and amended, “Well, it’s hard to know what Lara believes, but the others seem to be taking the threats seriously.”

“So?”

“So I’m just thinking it’s got to be daunting for Lara to try to climb her way back to the top after that kind of fall from grace. It’s more than losing momentum. The entire music business has changed. Everything’s changed. And the industry is notoriously tough on older performers.”

“It’s not like she’s starting from scratch, though.”

“No. But in some ways that might be easier. Now it won’t just be about her music anymore. It’s going to be abouther, her past and whether, in some people’s view, she has a future. She’s never going to be mentioned without her prison record getting dragged into the conversation.”

“I don’t know that’s true. Look at Vanessa Rayburn. Look at Elizabeth Perry.”

Jack was that rarity: a cop who read mystery novels. That said, most of his mystery reading had been done back when his favorite authors were Franklin W. Dixon, Robert Arthur Jr., and Donald J. Sobol.

“Okay. That’s fair,” Ellery conceded. “Even so, comparison is tough on the ego. And Lara seems like someone who doesn’t cut herself or anyone else any slack.”

Jack thought it over. “Maybe.”