Jessa’s fingers tightened around her coffee cup. “Gabby, really. Hear me when I tell you I didn’t work on the case.”

A sharp snap of silence traveled between them.

Gabby slumped back in her chair. The frenetic energy bouncing off her slowed. She seemed to regain control of whatever had her in a mental spin. “We both know that’s not true.”

“I signed a—”

“Stop,” Gabby said loud enough for a few of the other people in the coffee shop to turn around. Then Gabby lowered her voice. “Before I figured out who you really were, before your law school antics, we were friends. Back then we studied together. Ate together. Then one night I drank too much and told you about Liam.”

“About how you were engaged to the wrong brother? I remember.” The tidbit Jessa knew that no one else did. It was the moment in law school when she realized Gabby thought they were much closer friends than they were. That unequal affection had given Jessa the upper hand.

“And years later, you told Baines, or at least told his attorney,” Gabby said.

If it was a guess on Gabby’s part, it was an educated one. And correct. Telling Covington had earned Jessa points, but not enough. She’d still ended up on his bad side and too many steps away from a partnership offer despite the risk she’d taken to divulge the news. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re awful?”

Jessa didn’t want to hear this. Not now, when her life was finally taking the right turn. She stood up. “We’re done here.”

“If I’m right, someone killed Baines. Maybe one person. Maybe a group. Then they attacked me. In my own home. Either way, Loretta Swain’s name keeps popping up.”

Jessa forced out a laugh. She’d heard about the home invasion but tried to pretend it was one of those horrible living-in-the-metro-area things and not a warning from the group. “I really hope you publicly accuse an appeals court judge of murder. That will work out great for you.”

“Your name keeps showing up, too.”

Jessa rested her hands on the table and leaned down, face-to-face with Gabby. “I know we’re not friends, but I’m going to give you some advice.”

Gabby sighed. “I can hardly wait.”

“Stop this. Stop digging or looking for a better answer to what happened.” Jessa refused to let Gabby derail her progress. “Your ex is dead, and I’m sure you have some feelings of guilt, but he’s gone. Hanging out with a disgraced reporter and making outrageous claims that anyone can see are a bizarre overreach will lead you to a dark place. Get help for the attack and move on.”

“Now who’s threatening?”

Jessa stood up straight again. “You should thank me.”