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at the scene through the shop windows. Cam reached over and lightly rubbed Greta’s back.
    â€œI need to see him. I need to see Wayne,” Greta said fiercely. “Did he die at home? Who found him?”
    â€œHe died at home. I’ll drive you both to the house.” He gestured to his car.
    Who did find him? Pete clearly didn’t want to tell them.
    â€œWhat about my car?” Megan asked.
    Greta looked at Cam. “Will you bring her car, Cam?”
    Cam glanced at Pete, and after he nodded, she said, “Of course.”
    Megan handed Cam the keys.
    â€œCome on, honey.” Greta gently guided Megan into the backseat of Pete’s car, then climbed into the back after her.
    Cam headed for the truck to get Dasha, and glanced back over her shoulder before Pete drove out. The sun silhouetted the figures of the two women, heads together in grief.
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    Even before she arrived at the Laitinen farm, Cam saw the blue lights flashing at the end of the drive. An unoccupied Westbury police car was parked sideways, with just enough room for Pete to drive around it and for Cam to squeeze Megan’s car past it, too.
    A darkened, quiet ambulance was parked in front of the house, along with a half dozen other marked and unmarked cars. Cam’s childhood friend Ruth Dodge, a Westbury police officer, stood near the cruiser facing the house, hands clasped behind her back. Dasha barked at the sight of Pete exiting his car.
    â€œIt’s okay, Dasha.” When Cam reached out a hand and patted his head, he quieted.
    Pete had just walked over to Ruth when Megan’s car crunched on the gravel as Cam braked. Ruth whirled. She held a hand up, palm out, and waved it in a no gesture. She hurried toward Cam, slowing when she saw her at the wheel. Cam opened her door and unfolded herself from the driver’s seat.
    The back door on Pete’s car opened. Cam peered past Ruth to watch Megan ease out and then extend a hand to her mother. Ruth went to them, and Cam leaned her head back into the car.
    â€œYou stay here, boy,” she told Dasha before shutting the door. The poor dog was doing a lot of waiting in vehicles this morning.
    â€œI am so sorry for your loss, Ms. Laitinen,” Ruth said.
    â€œThank you,” Greta said.
    â€œYou must be Megan Laitinen,” Ruth addressed Megan.
    â€œYes.” Megan’s tearstained face contrasted with Greta’s dry one.
    â€œI’m very sorry about the loss of your father,” Ruth said with kindness.
    â€œWe need to see Wayne,” Greta demanded. “I need to see my husband.”
    â€œCan we see my father?” Megan asked. She tucked her arm through Greta’s.
    â€œI’ll need to check,” Pete said. “Just a moment.” He disappeared around the side of the house.
    â€œWhy are all these police cars here?” Megan’s voice rose in a plaintive note.
    â€œI’m going inside. You can’t stop me.” Greta pulled Megan toward the house. “It’s my home.”
    â€œMa’am.” Ruth took two long strides until she stood in front of the women. “I’m afraid you’re going to need to wait until I clear that.”
    Ruth was as tall as Cam, although she carried a good deal more weight on her hefty frame. Cam knew a lot of it was muscle. Not all, but a lot. In her dark uniform and black boots, brown hair pulled back into a bun, Ruth was an imposing presence. She fixed her brown-eyed gaze on Greta. “We’re going to wait to hear from Detective Pappas. I need you to stay right here.” Ruth glanced at Cam, raising her eyebrows.
    Cam nodded, not that she thought she could keep Greta from entering her own house, but at least Greta halted. Pluto trotted around the corner of the house and up to them. Greta leaned down to pet him as Dasha barked from inside the car.
    Ruth turned her back, took a few steps away, and spoke quietly into the mike on her shoulder. It crackled