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"It’s not your fault," Callie said

Justice Xavier-Foxx bowed her head, but when she looked up, she was s "Just set cold" She whisked off the napkin that covered the plate "My husband , ever since he becao"

It was hard, but Ben didn’t grab the plate itself and clutch it protectively to his chest He took a bite of a brioche, felt it an to wonder if Wheaties was the only breakfast option he should consider

"Can you think of anyone who hated Justice Califano enough to hire someone to kill hiine capable of such a brutal crime"

Callie said, "The Supreme Court is a very closed society, ma’am Some have likened you to the nine princes and princesses Three hundred–plus people spend hour upon hour together in that one building, seeing to the Justices’ needs Close proximity can lead to conflict Can you think of anyone, ht have disliked my stepfather, other than Justice Alto-Thorpe?"

"Steas a nice man, Callie No one I ever saw or heard about disliked hiht not have cared for Justice Califano?"

Justice Xavier-Foxx shook her head "No There is, however, one interesting spouse, Lydia Alto-Thorpe’s second husband, Harry Thorpe Her first husband died in a yachting accident, and Lydia, already nearing sixty,of a scandal at the tiotten I have to tell you that I feel rather sorry for Harry even though he’s a very successful businessship restaurant is in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore"

"I’ve eaten there It’s excellent," Callie said "I had no idea Justice Alto-Thorpe’s husband owned it"

"Yes, well, Lydia overwhelether in public I’ve seen her occasionally put hies work for a multitude of different reasons The few tiether, I’ve seen Harry Thorpe staring at Steith anger Because of what Lydia had said? Probably I’ to do with Stewart’stoo much information, ma’am," Ben said, then added without pause, "Was Justice Wallace ever inappropriate with any of the female employees in the Supreme Court?"

Justice Xavier-Foxx was unruffled She said ossip to that effect, yes Evidently this is an adult-long habit with Sumner"

Callie cleared her throat "How about my stepfather, ma’am? Were there any female employees he liked more than he should?"

Ben kept his head down He si those lines He didn’t think anyone had He said nothing, waited

To his astonishment, Justice Xavier-Foxx slowly nodded "Perhaps not on Stewart’s part, I don’t know Eliza Vickers, his senior law clerk, was in love with Stewart, if I’h situation She was more than thirty years his junior, in addition to Stewart being happily married to your mother, Callie Eliza was in her second year with him, very unusual since most law clerks stay only a year Did Stewart return her affection? All I can tell you is that Steas getting quite frantic that her second year was coht lawyer, is Eliza Vickers"

Callie hadn’t expected to hear this, both Ben and Justice Xavier-Foxx saw it, but she kept it together "You really think Eliza Vickers was in love with h to be her father?"

"I’ve learned over the years that a person’s age becos that matter, like respect, brains, kindness Was she in love with him? I’d say so, yes It’s just my opinion, mind you, Callie"

Callie had to know "Please, be honest with me Do you think Steas in love with her?"

"I can’t say, Callie I never saw any sort of inappropriate eether It’s just that once I happened to look at Eliza when Steas speaking It was crystal clear toShe never acted silly or snize her brilliance fell victi her By the tiht be a Justice on the Supreme Court herself someday