Page 53 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

Molly’s heartbroken sobs made Sam feel terrible to be adding to their despair, but if she was going to get them the answers they needed, she had to be truthful with them.

“Each of you has said you don’t know of anyone who might’ve wanted to harm her that way.”

“We don’t,” Bob said. “We’ve talked about it all night, and we can’t think of anyone who disliked her, let alone hated her enough to do something like that to her.”

“We’re going to need a comprehensive list of people she came into contact with in all corners of her life. I know you gave us some names, but we need everyone.”

“We figured you’d want that info, so we made you a list,” Amy said, handing her a sheet of paper with names, addresses and phone numbers, separated by personal and business.

Sam liked this woman. They never got this kind of help. “This is excellent. Thank you.”

“We want to do anything we can to help you find the person who took our beloved Pam from us,” Amy said, her eyes fierce with love and heartbreak. “She and I had been close friends since college. We didn’t see as much of each other as we’d like since we’ve been busy raising kids and working, but we stayed in close touch.”

“And she never mentioned anything to you about having a conflict with someone?” Sam asked.

“No, never. She was so happy. Her business was doing better than she could’ve dreamed when she started it six years ago. The boys are excelling in school and sports. Molly made a smooth transition to college in Boston. Things between her and Bob were great, as always.”

Bob hung his head as he battled with his emotions.

“They met in college,” Amy continued. “They hit it off right away and have been together ever since. I was there at the beginning, and she still talked about him recently the way she did at the beginning.”

“Excuse me.” Bob stood and went into the adjoining room.

“This is so hard for all of us,” Amy said, tears filling her eyes. “Pam was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. To think of how she suffered…” Amy shook her head and wiped away tears. “It’s unbearable.”

“We appreciate your help and this list of people to talk to.”

“Whatever we can do to help,” Amy said.

“I need you to keep thinking about anything she might’ve said, even months or years ago, about something that might’ve happened, a conflict with someone. It can be the smallest thing that’ll blow the case wide open. We’ve seen that happen so many times.”

“We’ll let you know if we think of anything,” Amy said.

The kids nodded in agreement.

“Thank you.”

“When will they be able to get back into their home?” Amy asked.

“I’ll let you know the minute our Crime Scene detectives are finished.”

“Okay,” Amy said. “We’ll wait to hear.”

Sam lowered her voice so only Amy would hear her. “In the meantime, you might want to help Bob decide what funeral home he’d like to use so he’s ready when the ME releases her.”

“I will.”

As they rode the elevator to the lobby, Sam looked at the list of names Amy had given her. “Let’s start with the friends. If anyone knew what was going on with her, it would be them.”

“Even more than the family?” Freddie asked.

“Some women confide things in their friends that they wouldn’t tell anyone else, even their husbands.”

“You don’t do that.”

“I’m not like most women.”

Freddie snorted out a laugh. “No, you aren’t.”