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was spoiled,” Benton says.
    â€œI think we should be careful using words like that,” Scarpetta says. “She earned what she had, is the one who practiced six hours a day, trained so hard—had just won the Family Circle Cup and was expected to win other…”
    â€œThat’s where you live,” Captain Poma says to her. “Charleston, South Carolina. Where the Family Circle Cup is played. Odd, isn’t it. That very night she flew to New York. And from there to here. To this.” He indicates the photographs.
    â€œWhat I’m saying is money can’t buy championship titles, and spoiled people usually don’t work as passionately as she did,” Scarpetta says.
    Benton says, “Her father spoiled her but couldn’t be bothered with parenting. Same with her mother.”
    â€œYes, yes,” Captain Poma agrees. “What parents permit a sixteen-year-old to travel abroad with two eighteen-year-old friends? Especially if she’d been acting moody. Up and down.”
    â€œWhen your child becomes more difficult, it gets easier to give in. Not resist,” Scarpetta says, thinking about her niece, Lucy. When Lucy was a child, God, their battles. “What about her coach? Do we know anything about that relationship?”
    â€œGianni Lupano. I spoke to him, and he said he was aware she was coming here and wasn’t happy about it because of major tournaments in the next few months, such as Wimbledon. He wasn’t helpful and seemed angry with her.”
    â€œAnd the Italian Open here in Rome next month,” Scarpetta points out, finding it unusual the captain didn’t mention it.
    â€œOf course. She should train, not run off with friends. I don’t watch tennis.”
    â€œWhere was he when she was murdered?” Scarpetta asks.
    â€œNew York. We’ve checked with the hotel where he said he stayed, and he was registered at that time. He also commented she had been moody. Down one day, up the next. Very stubborn and difficult and unpredictable. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could work with her. Said he had better things to do than put up with her behavior.”
    â€œI’d like to know if mood disorders run in her family,” Benton says. “I don’t suppose you bothered to ask.”
    â€œI didn’t. I’m sorry I wasn’t astute enough to think of it.”
    â€œIt would be extremely useful to know if she had a psychiatric history her family’s been secretive about.”
    â€œIt’s well known she’d struggled with an eating disorder,” Scarpetta says. “She’s talked openly about it.”
    â€œNo mention of a mood disorder? Nothing from her parents?” Benton continues his cool interrogation of the captain.
    â€œNothing more than her ups and downs. Typical teenager.”
    â€œDo you have children?” Benton reaches for his wine.
    â€œNot that I know of.”
    â€œA trigger,” Scarpetta says. “Something was going on with Drew that no one’s telling us. Perhaps what’s in plain view? Her behavior’s in plain view. Her drinking’s in plain view. Why? Did something happen?”
    â€œThe tournament in Charleston,” Captain Poma says to Scarpetta. “Where you have your private practice. What is it they call it? The Lowcountry ? What is Lowcountry , exactly?” He slowly swirls his wine, his eyes on her.
    â€œAlmost sea level, literally low country.”
    â€œAnd your local police have no interest in this case? Since she played a tournament there just maybe two days before she was murdered?”
    â€œCurious, I’m sure—” Scarpetta starts to say.
    â€œHer murder has nothing to do with the Charleston police,” Benton interrupts. “They have no jurisdiction.”
    Scarpetta gives him a look, and the captain watches both of them. He’s been watching their tense interaction all day.
    â€œNo