Sequel to: Murder once removed.

The week before New Year's Eve and genealogist Lucy Lancaster is mixing work and play quite nicely at the boutique Sutton Hotel in Austin, Texas. After two months of research she's finalizing her presentation for hotel heiress Pippa Sutton. When a strange man comes staggering toward her and presses a classic Montblanc pen into her hand, he whispers, "keep them safe," and collapses at her feet, dead. Lucy's grandpa is a collector, but has an odd reaction to the sight of the pen. Does it have something to do with his experiences during World War II? As Lucy begins to connect the dots, it seems someone is determined that the Lancaster line ends once and for all. -- adapted from jacket