I’m facing my lapel cam directly toward Ms. Landau. I tap the volume control on the voice recorder. I want to be sure I get everything.

Ellie Landau looks exactly like her photos in the press and on TV—jet-black hair styled in a severe but feminine cut, with a streak of vivid white ascending from the forelock. What the images in the media can’t show, however, is her charisma. Ellie Landau is a star and she knows it.

Ms. Landau says something to Rachel and Ben-David that none of us outside their circle can hear. She turns and, shielding Rachel and Ben-David both with her posture, faces Manning.

ELLIE LANDAU

Detective Manning, I presume.

MANNING

“Ellie Landau for the defense.”

Ms. Landau smiles but does not extend her hand.

ELLIE LANDAU

That document in your hand, Detective. Is it the list of Righteous Men from Rabbi Davidson’s Ph.D. dissertation?

MANNING

Righteous Men. And Righteous Women.

ELLIE LANDAU

The Almighty has apparently grown more inclusive over the millennia.

Now it’s Manning who smiles. Ellie Landau holds out her hand. Manning shakes it.

Manning’s eyes never leave Ellie Landau’s.

ELLIE LANDAU

You’ve seen my name on that list, Detective. You’ve seen Dr. Ben-David’s. You’re convinced the document is a hit list. You’re thinking, “Why would Ellie Landau defend a woman who put her in the crosshairs of a psychopath?”

Manning’s expression says, You’re reading my mind.

ELLIE LANDAU

That document is a hit list. And my client did compile it. But she had no idea, as she was doing so, that the list would be used for that purpose . . . and no idea of the motive or identity of the killer.

MANNING

And what would that motive be, Ms. Landau?

ELLIE LANDAU

You tell me, Detective. Or maybe you should tell your boss at Division Six Homicide.

Manning bristles.

MANNING

Who is Instancer? You know, don’t you?

ELLIE LANDAU

I only know what can be proven in a court of law.

MANNING

Don’t fuck with me, counselor. I’ll put your client away.

ELLIE LANDAU

Will you, Detective? I don’t think you’ve got the juice.

Manning’s shoulders rise the way they do when he’s battling fury.

ELLIE LANDAU

Your boss thinks this line of investigation is hogwash. What word did he use? “Bullshit,” wasn’t it? That’s what my spies tell me. “Righteous Men?” “Supernatural Killer?” “End of the World?” Lieutenant Gleason thinks you’ve gone off the deep end, Manning. He thinks you’ve lost your shit. You’re embarrassing him and the whole division. Worse, you’re threatening his career, his future . . .

MANNING

You’re a brawler, Ellie. I’m impressed.

ELLIE LANDAU

You won’t book my client, Detective, because if you do, it’ll be the end of your career, which from what I understand is hanging by a very slender thread already.