The doctor spent the next hour examining his organs, weighing and measuring them. His heart and lungs appeared normal. There was no internal trauma. In the end, she concluded that Walker had died from asphyxiation with manual strangulation as the cause. She marked the manner of death as suicide.

Spencer was frustrated that there had not been medical evidence to back up Jordan’s theory. He had requested search warrants of Walker’s financials and phone records. According to his financial records, he had less than $3,000 in hard assets. However, he was a drug dealer and traded strictly in cash. Phone records revealed multiple calls to his lawyer, several women he slept with, and a car dealer. If Walker used burner phones, which Spencer assumed he had, none had been found in the apartment where his body was discovered.

There were also deputies hunting down surveillance footage near the courthouse and apartment that might tell the full story of his last hours.

Spencer arrived at the hospital at noon, parked, and made his way to Jordan Poe’s floor. He stepped off the elevator and came face-to-face with Captain Lee. The older man’s face was usually grim, but today it telegraphed an unspoken rage.

“How is she?” Spencer asked.

“The doctor is in with her now,” Captain Lee said.

“Where’s her sister?”

“In the room as well.”

“Have you seen her today?”

“No,” Captain Lee said. “She doesn’t need a bunch of cops breathing down her neck.”

He was not so sure.

The door to Jordan’s room opened, and Avery stepped into the hallway. Her eyes were red and her face damp with tears. She rolled her shoulders back and headed toward the family lounge.

“Is she going to be strong enough to get through this?” Spencer asked.

“I don’t know. I hope so.”

Dr. Kensington exited Jordan’s room. His expression was grim, and there were hints of the emotion Spencer had seen in Avery’s face.

Captain Lee glared at the door, like a man staring down the barrel of a gun.

“I’d like to go in with you,” Spencer said.

“You barely know her.”

But she had asked him to stay yesterday when the doctor delivered his initial assessment. She had needed a steady, even presence to keep her grounded. And given Avery’s and Kensington’s expressions, she was going to need more of it.

“I’m coming in,” Spencer said.

Captain Lee stared at him. “Okay.” He knocked hard once on Jordan’s door.

Silence stretched before Jordan cleared her throat and said, “Come in.”

The room was dimly lit, and the curtains were drawn. He could see her leaning against the pillows, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. Beside her bed was a large arrangement of bright, full flowers and a half dozen Mylar balloons. An oversize card read, “Get Well.”

“Jordan,” Captain Lee said.