“My teaching assistant was a serial killer who blamed me for stealing her lover.” The absurdity of the situation demanded that she either laugh or weep. She chose to laugh. “Jessica planned to kill me, Gabriel. If I’d given up, more would have died and then she’d have come after me. You’re the reason I was able to fight back.”

Stubbornly clinging to his remorse, he challenged, “You’d have run if I hadn’t taunted you into staying.”

“Because I was a coward.”

Gabriel erupted, “You’re not a coward! You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known.”

“So brave, I let someone cut me off from everyone I loved. I changed my career for him. My life. I was a coward.” The summary brooked no argument.

Before Gabriel could contradict her again, a rap sounded at their door. Gabriel checked the Judas hole. “It’s Sylvie.”

Erin tucked the sheet around her more firmly, grateful for the interruption. “She can come in.”

Because he wanted to hear Sylvie’s report, he stepped away to admit her. “Come in.”

“Erin, you doing okay?” Full of motherly concern, Sylvie trundled over to the bed, which dipped beneath her. She patted Erin’s undamaged cheek. “I was proud of you back there. You kept her occupied long enough for help to come.”

“I had to know the truth.”

Sylvie nodded. “Truth is, the kid’s as crazy as a loon. SFPD is gonna charge her in Rhodes’s murder and extradite her to New Orleans, but she’ll be in an asylum. Turns out she’s been in and out of mental facilities since she was nine. She was abused as a child but showed promise in school. They sent her to Callenwolde, where her med list would fill a novel.”

“Nathan used her. He gave her a focus for her rage.”

“One that she turned on you,” Gabriel reminded them both harshly. “She brutally murdered nine innocent people.”

“She’s not responsible, Gabriel. She’s sick.” Erin could see the struggle in his eyes. Compassion warred with anger over how Jessica had hurt her. Erin felt the same, but training demanded that compassion win. “When she goes to trial, I plan on testifying in her defense. She needs help.”

“We’ll discuss that later.” Gabriel turned back to Sylvie. “What about the other matter?”

A satisfied smile wreathed her broad face. “All charges against Analise Glover have been dropped. Erin is free to leave the jurisdiction.”

She gave Gabriel a startled look. “I was under arrest?”

“No. Just forbidden to board a plane. Sanchez thought I might try to make you run.”