“I see. No further questions at this time.” I walk back to my seat next to Jeff, but my eyes are on Blake the whole way there. Is he disappointed? Does he understand why? Why is he still avoiding eye contact with me? Is it just about playing strangers?

Mr. Monroe rests his case, and Mr. Walsh stands for his turn. “I’d like to call Blake Hale, please.”

Blake walks to the judge’s desk and sits down. He looks comfortable, calm and collected—the opposite of me, considering my pits are still sweaty with nerves—and sexy with those glasses!

A sexy nerd of my very own! Maybe he can leave those on for the date . . . and later.

“Mr. Hale, you heard Miss Walker discussing the abnormal lab levels,” Mr. Monroe says. “Were you aware of these?”

“Yes, I discussed them with Sheriff Barnes and Miss Walker previously when I received the autopsy report and repeat lab results.”

“And do you know what caused them?”

No, no, no, no! I plead telepathically to Blake, begging him with my eyes as hard as I can . . . don’t say it!

“I suspect I might,” he says evenly.

No!

Now she’ll know we’re on to her. Any advantage Jeff would have in his investigation is going to be blown to smithereens. Without having enough for a search warrant, any evidence Yvette might’ve left will be destroyed by the end of the day for sure.

“And what do you believe caused Mr. Horne’s high heavy metal levels?”

Blake clears his throat and looks back sure and clear. “A supplement purchased off the internet by Yvette Horne. I suspect the supplements were added to Mr. Horne’s morning smoothies.”

“Those are very serious allegations. Do you have any proof?” Mr. Walsh is obviously already well aware of Blake’s big reveal but is feigning shock surprisingly well while laying out a verbal pathway that might as well be lit up like the yellow brick road leading right to Yvette. Mr. Walsh is even standing directly in front of Yvette, calling Judge Hopkins’s attention to her as Blake explains.

“I have an invoice from an online pharmacy for the supplement, purchased by Yvette Horne and delivered to the Hornes’ home. And Mr. Horne’s medical records show that he was making a concentrated effort to be healthier, even mentioning the green smoothies his wife made him every morning for breakfast. Along with their disgusting taste and resulting heartburn.”

Yvette makes an exaggerated, huffing sound of displeasure. “Hmph. Why, I never . . .” and Mr. Monroe bumps her with his shoulder.

She quiets instantly, but when she turns to listen to her attorney, I can see the fury burning in her eyes and the sneer on her red lips as he whispers to her urgently. I look to Jeff, but he seems particularly busy burning holes through Blake with his trademark sheriff glare.