“This kind of case doesn’t get nearly enough attention, in my opinion.”

Shelley nods. She would love to tell her that that was the point of what she was trying to write. A murdered blond girl is more likely to get the attention, or a murdered rich person. But other people get murdered all the time, and nobody seems to care. People disappear or go missing, and nobody does anything; there are people in the world who have no one watching out for them, no one to hear when they ask for help.

“Are you listening?” The judge leans forward and slaps her hand on the desk.

“Yes, sir. I mean, ma’am. It was all an accident, really.”

“An accident?” the judge asks. “There’s no room here for accidents. You record what is said in my courtroom exactly as it is said, and nothing else. Nothing. Not what you think of the man on trial and not what toothpaste you’re going to buy.”

Colgate. Usually Colgate, Shelley was thinking, but she didn’t dare say a word.

“You miss a beat and you’re gone forever. Hear?”

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you so much.” Shelley stands, and when she gets to the door, the judge calls out. “And someday . .<.” She waits for Shelley to turn. “Someday, when I am retired and you see me out in the world in something other than my ‘really expensive shoes’ and without my hair ‘about to burst into flames,’ I might enjoy a conversation with you.” She sits back, and her face softens just enough that Shelley feels like she might cry. “Just do your job, Ms. Lassiter. We all know life hasn’t been easy for you either.”

Shelley takes a deep breath, says thank you again, and steps into the hallway. Marva is waiting there with a worried look until Shelley gives her a thumbs-up and then heads into the bathroom to give herself a pep talk. She has to stay focused. She looks at her phone, and there is a message from Harvey’s camp teacher and there is a message from Jason. The judge said the jury is ready, and everything is happening much faster than Shelley had thought it would, this second chance. She needs to listen to her messages but is afraid of getting distracted. But what if Jason got in an accident? What if the check she sent to him bounced—it shouldn’t have bounced; she checked her balance several times and it shouldn’t have bounced, but what if it did? Or what if Harvey has done something really bad or broke a bone, or what if Brent showed up and drove off with him? She listens, her heart slowing and her shoulders relaxing when she hears Jason’s voice saying he’s on his way home for the weekend. He has some things he wants to go over with her. A project. A family project.