He’s fighting back tears now, a losing battle he acknowledges by rubbing his eyes. After a deep breath, he says, “But there’s another thing I know too, Ella. And this I know with more certainty than anything I’ve ever known.” He reaches over and puts his hand on top of mine, offering a gentle squeeze. “And that is that you are most certainly not cursed. You have years and years of joy out there, waiting for you. Trust me on this.”

I know my father means well, but I can’t see his optimism about my future prospects as anything more than wishful thinking.

14. DANA GOODWIN

14.

DANA GOODWIN

I spend the rest of my workday reviewing Lauren’s current docket. It was full of rapists, child abusers, and general sadists. At Gabriel’s request, I also reach back into the archive to pull out Donald Chesterman’s file. That guy was a seriously sick puppy, although perhaps not any more so than the others. The bigger issue for me is that if I’m going to have to consider everyone Lauren prosecuted who’s now out of jail as a potential suspect, I’ll easily have to review a thousand more case files.

I think back on my promise to Stuart of only yesterday to keep saner hours. Yet another way I’m going to fail him. Investigating Lauren’s murder means I’ll be logging long hours for the foreseeable future.

It’s after eleven when I finally arrive home. Stuart has been waiting up for me. The moment I enter our house, he jumps from the couch and gives me a long hug.

“I’m so sorry,” he says into my ear.

“I . . . just can’t believe it, you know?”

I called Stuart earlier to break the news of Lauren’s murder. I told him I was too emotional to discuss it over the phone and that I’d been put in charge of the investigation, which meant that I’d likely be home late. That was my passive-aggressive way of telling him not to wait up so that I could avoid discussing Lauren’s murder with him when I got home. He obviously didn’t get that message.

He leads me over to the sofa, where we sit side by side. Stuart’s holding my hand, caressing my thumb with his. “I know it’s early, but do you have any idea who did it?”

“Just the usual knee-jerk reactions. Her husband is a person of interest. And Drake McKenney is praying that’s how it turns out. Indicting Richard allows him to kill two birds with one stone: he ties the mayor to a wife murderer and cuts off hizzoner’s chief funding source. He probably figures it’ll make the mayor easy pickings when he throws his hat into the ring.”

“Do you really think it could be Richard?”