My mind lodged on the last words. Ray’s investigation. Me assisting him. Not my story and not my reporting. Detective Ruiz didn’t see me as an equal in this, not Maggie the copy editor at the Rocque. And why would she? I glanced at Janis, waiting for her to interject, to insist I’d actually be gathering information for my own project—a pitch, an article, maybe even a series of articles. But Janis remained silent, holding the DVD case, staring down into the silver disc. She was going to defer to the detective’s perspective. Cautious inquiry now. Story later. Maybe.

My face and neck went hot, like the full sun was still pouring over them, but I kept my voice cool.

“The police aren’t interested in this?” I asked the detective.

She shook her head. “They—I don’t see any evidence of criminal activity.” Now she sounded like she was weighing her words. “I’m actually here as a favor. To make absolutely sure Janis’s operation stays legal.”

Ray spoke then, his voice low. “There is some kind of cover-up here. I’ve been digging into this, and it’s clear we won’t get the full facts by going after them directly.” His blue eyes finally met mine.

I felt the force of his attention now, and it was full of warning. Let the dead go.

Janis pursed her lips and folded the photocopy of Brenae’s pleading note. Brenae’s eyes had looked so glassy and lost in the video. The voice-over had implied her lover’s power over her. Lesson in Red. The title suggested a teacher, a school. Her position suggested she was being fucked.

The sun was moving again, its wilting heat climbing my spine. The lunch crowds were filling in, mostly business and lawyer types from Bunker Hill, their conversation loud and self-important. For a moment it seemed like every man around me was looming, in a full suit, and every woman nodding, gazing up at him in some slip of a dress, her bare shoulders exposed. At the same time, I knew it was a mirage. That it was just what my mood made me see.

“The regular gallerina there is taking some time off,” Janis said, “so you can tell people you’re a temp. Nelson de Wilde has promised to cover any major client questions himself. He was a big fan of Brenae’s, and he’s on board with this.”