“She’s resting in bed. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?”

“No, thank you.”

“So what did you need to see me about?”

She bit her bottom lip and inhaled.

“This has to be confidential.”

“Absolutely.”

Fully aware she was betraying Jeff’s trust, and because she was desperate and afraid, Lisa began recounting her husband’s history with Vida Warren. Speaking through tears, Lisa told Dillard everything she knew, leaving nothing out. He nodded and asked an occasional question as she clasped and unclasped her fingers in her lap. When she finished, she stared into his craggy face, met his eyes—calm, confident and full of understanding.

“It concerns me that this woman is causing you so much anguish,” he said. “You need her to stop, but it appears nothing will stop her.”

“Yes.” Lisa touched a tissue to her eyes. “This is going to sound crazy, but I was just out running in the park, and I felt like someone was watching me. It may have been kids playing or a bird or something. But… I don’t know.”

“You’re upset, jittery. It’s understandable.”

He sat back and held a poker face for several moments.

“Do you think Vida could be linked to Loften?” Lisa asked.

“It’s unlikely, but you shouldn’t rule anything out.”

“Should I tell Cruz and Reddick?”

“Tell you what. I could talk to them for you, suggest they question her quietly, and at the same time I could float the Warren–Loften link to them. That could be enough to get Vida to back off.”

“That would be such a relief.”

“But I don’t think that should be the first step,” Dillard said.

“Why not?”

“I think we need to let Jeff take his shot, let him handle it.”

“But what if he fails? And he has this violent streak, he blacks out. You saw it yourself.”

“I know. There’s a bit of a risk there, but look, Jeff knows more about this than we do. We’ll give him a little time. We don’t want to make it worse if he can resolve it. Maybe he can find her a job.”

A long moment passed before Lisa reluctantly nodded. She had to trust Dillard’s judgment—she’d come to him for his advice, and he was giving it to her.

“Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”

“Only my sister in Cleveland.”

“It pains me to see you so distressed. Especially in light of all that has happened to you. The move, leaving your hometown, the attack, the dream of a family and now this deranged person. If Jeff can’t sort things out with her, I’ll step in.”