“I’ve put him off for a few weeks, but I will pay him a visit once I leave here. I want to talk to him privately. See what he knows and if I can influence the consequence.” Consequence. Mercedes’s punishment. Hildebrand, much like my grandfather, is a stickler for the rules. A crime must be punished. Balance restored.

“What will he demand?” In Santiago’s voice, I hear his concern for his sister. She’d be comforted to know it.

“I don’t know,” I tell Santiago. “She was deceived. I can’t imagine more than community service.”

“Which will humiliate her.”

“But it’s better than a harsher sentence.” Payment in flesh.

Santiago nods because he understands. “She doesn’t go into The Tribunal building without you or me at her side. She doesn’t set foot on the compound without us. I don’t trust him not to take her into custody.”

“We’re on the same page. I will protect your sister, Santiago. I won’t let them lay a finger on her.”

His head tilts just a little, such an infinitesimal movement it’s almost imperceptible.

I clear my throat. “As your sister, I care for her, much the same as I do you, Ivy, and your child. I wouldn’t let anything happen to any of you if I could help it.”

“Thank you, Judge.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I ignore it, and we fall into a different conversation. But whoever it is is insistent.

“You’d better answer,” Santiago says, hearing the buzzing.

I reach into my pocket and see it’s Ezra, so I do because he’d leave a message unless it was urgent.

“Ezra?” Santiago drinks his scotch as he watches me.

“Judge. We’ve located the maid.”

“Miriam?”

“Yes. She’s in Florida. Enjoying the sun and sea.”

“Give me an address.”

“No need. I believe at this point it would be a waste of your time. I confirmed she was the one who gave Douglas your location the day of the attack on Mercedes. She also told him about her allergy.” There’s a pause, and I think I hear her in the background. “Tell me what you want me to do. I can go through legal channels.” There’s a silence. “Or not.”

“Not,” I tell him, angry but somehow calm. “A limp, I think. Something that will remind her of what she did for the rest of her life.”

“Understood,” he says darkly. There’s a moment of silence, then something clattering to the ground as a woman, Miriam, lets out an ear-piercing scream before I hear the clicking of a door and silence again. He is efficient and trustworthy, Ezra. Miriam will pay a dear price. “Oh,” Ezra casually starts. “I spoke with Theron. He really is looking forward to a visit.”