Not a Happy Family

Reyes and Barr visit Ellen and ask about her daughter and her possible link to the killings. Ellen assures them her daughter did not know Fred Merton was her father until after he was dead. Reyes does not tell her about Rose’s impeding arrest for fraud. When they depart, Ellen suspects Audrey alerted the police to her daughter’s possible motives.

On a hunch, Walter looks into possible connections between his junior associate, Janet Shewcuk, and Rose Cutter. He contacts Reyes and Barr and tells them Rose and Janet went to law school together. The detectives speak with Janet, who admits to telling Rose that she was named in Fred Merton’s will while they were drinking, two months ago. Rose, the detectives see, now has a motive—she needed money, fast.

Rose visits her mother. Ellen rants about the detectives visiting and is certain Rose is safe from scrutiny because she did not know about the will. Rose admits that she has something to tell her.

An officer approaches Reyes and Barr, “excited.” It is not specified what they are shown by this officer, but Reyes says, “I’ll be damned” (286).

Ellen is horrified over Rose’s actions. Now, in addition to facing fraud charges, she could be investigated for murder.