“Soon after,” said Milo.
The siblings looked at each other.
Milo said, “You thought I hadn’t?”
Madeleine said, “It’s so tidy, doesn’t look as if anything’s been disturbed.”
“I try to conduct my searches with respect.”
Hillaire sighed. “Please excuse us for thinking you were dilatory.” His voice choked. “Thank you for honoring our father’s home.”
“Of course. Have you done any looking around?”
“This morning,” said Madeleine. Small smile. “We weren’t as neat as you. We also found nothing that seemed—would the word be ‘probative’?”
“Evidentiary,” said her brother.
“In any event, we learned nothing, Lieutenant. Though we did come up with some photos of our parents back when Mother was alive.”
Milo said, “Small leather album in the top right-hand dresser drawer.”
Madeleine smiled.
Hillaire said, “Father was always on us to be tidy.”
Madeleine said, “We weren’t always compliant.” Her turn to chokeup.
Both of them began to cry.
Milo tapped his supply of tissues and gave one to each of them.
Madeleine was the first to break the silence, letting out a raspy laugh. “You certainly come prepared.”
Milo smiled.
“What a job you have, Lieutenant. Maybe it’s good you’re here, Dr. Delaware. Maybe we could use some therapy.”
—
We listened as son and daughter reminisced about Solomon Roget’s virtues as a single parent, his pride at their accomplishments, their wish that he’d moved to Florida and lived closer to them.
Madeleine said, “We’re not going to get caught up in if he had, he’d still be alive.” A brief turn-down of her lips said she’d been there and hadn’t quite moved on. “What would be the point? Father was a proud, independent man. We needed to respect that.”
“As if we had a choice,” said Hillaire.
His sister touched his wrist briefly. “Exactly, as if.”
“We have our own kids,” said Hillaire. “We have expectations but in the end everyone has to live their own life.”
Madeleine said, “Father lived a good one.”
“Exemplary.” Flash of anger in Hillaire’s eyes. “Lieutenant, whoever did this needs to be held accountable. From my understanding, you have the death penalty in California but it’s a joke, you never actually use it.”
Milo said, “Unfortunately, that’s true.”
Madeleine said, “Years of stupid appeals, the devils get to live out their lives with TV and gyms and three meals a day.”
“In Florida,” said Hillaire, “we execute devils. Too bad Fatherdidn’tmove back.”
