It took another day before Raina worked up the courage to visit her mother. She'd spent that time turning every tiny detail she knew about Elvira over and over in her mind, until she finally came to the conclusion that she needed to just go see the woman. Decide for herself if Elvira was cold and unapproachable or the caring mother Sotza wanted her to believe she was.

She went to his office and told Sotza she was ready. He'd nodded briefly and sent her upstairs with one of ...