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“What are you telling me?” asked Kate.

“The relationship between your father and me was not sexual. I was, in effect, your father’s psychiatrist. He told me everything. Is that intimacy? I suppose. Is that a betrayal? Your mother thought so.”

“I don’t think you can presume to know what my mother thought based solely on what my father told you.”

“It’s based more on what your mother told me.”

Kate came to a hard stop. “When did you speak to my mother?”

“A few weeks before she died.”

“She came to see youhere?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No,” said Kate, and then another thought came to her. “Has my father been here?”

Sandra shook her head, almost laughing at the ridiculousness of the question. “Your father’s not stupid. We’ve had zero communication since my arrest.”

Kate leveled her gaze and saw nothing that made her think Sandra was lying.

“Maybe that should tell you something,” Sandra added.

“Like what?”

“It’s probably best for everyone that this conversation end,” said Sandra, rising. “But before I go, I want to clear up one thing. When I said your father told me ‘everything,’ I don’t mean company secrets. I mean his personal secrets.”

Kate reminded herself that this visit was at Noah’s request, and she phrased her next question accordingly. “Are you denying you accessed company secrets?”

“I admit I broke the law when I lied to the FBI,” she said, her eyes narrowing.

“That doesn’t really answer my question.”

“That’s the best answer you’re going to get,” said Sandra. She started away from the table and then stopped. “Strange. You never asked why I did it.”

“Lied to the FBI?”

“Whatever it is you think we’re talking about.”

“Okay. I’ll ask: Why?”

Her expression turned very serious. “I did it for Megan.”

“Who’s Megan?”

“My daughter.”

Kate felt chills. She did “it” for her daughter.

I did it for Kate.

Kate watched her walk away. Sandra never looked back as she crossed the room, passing one table after another on her way to the exit. The corrections officer opened the door, and the inmate was gone.

Kate was back where she’d started, alone at the table, her mind awhirl with questions.

Chapter 31

Kate skipped the weekly law-school happy hour. She had a date with Sean.

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