# THOMPSON-HAYES: BLOOD MONEY
## Chapter Five — What Nathan Knew
They were all in her kitchen by eight.
Patricia arrived first, which was how it always was — Patricia arrived to every room before it was required of her, which was most of why she won. She set her bag on the table and poured herself coffee from the pot Mia had already made and did not remark on the specific charged quality of the apartment's morning air the way most people would have. She just sat down and opened her notebook and waited.
Nathan arrived two minutes later. He looked at Patricia and understood, from the fact of her presence, that this was not the same conversation as yesterday. He sat across from Mia without saying anything. His hands were on the table. His eyes were on her face.
Cole arrived at eight exac
