“That’s the question this trial will answer.” Gwen placed her hands on Val’s shoulders. “You have to do this. There’s a lot riding on this case. Val, you’re one of the strongest women I know for going through all that you have. You can stand up to this guy, as well as the judicial system. Hell, I’ve seen how you stand up to people and it’s not pretty for them. I don’t want to be in the way of a Valentina Knight wrath.”

Val smiled. The woman she once was shone through at times. This other one, though, the victim, made her want to cower in the corner. That victim reared her head less and less these days. “You do know you’ve just put a lot on my plate. Serve justice and conquer its ills all in one swoop.”

“And not mess up your hair in the process.” Gwen laughed, and then her face became serious. “All joking aside. You need to do this.”

“You’re right.” Val stood up. “You know, I think my problem is I’m just a magnet for psychos.”

“Aren’t we all at some point in our lives?” Gwen said wryly. “Anyway, I’m here for you through this. Remember that. And I plan on being on that plane with you when you go to Florida to testify. So, look through those applications so we can hire someone. We both can’t be away from this place without some help to cover for us.”

“Thanks.” Val meant it. Gwen was a good friend and she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have her.

“Now, if you want to give me that sad-looking torn sheet of paper with your candidate opinions, I’ll type it up and make something presentable before I give it to Dr. Maddox for you.” Gwen curled her fingers in a “hand it over” motion which Val complied with. “Now, you need to contact the prosecutor.” Gwen shut the door as she left.

Val hit reply quickly before she lost the courage to do so. Every ounce of her willed the voicemail to come on. No such luck.

“Valentina, how are you doing? The new job going well for you?” the prosecutor, Haywood Sinclair sang in his unmistakable southern drawl. Though he’s the district attorney for Clearwater, Florida, he’s originally from Mississippi. Val cringed. He had this annoying habit of calling her now ten-month-old job, the new job, every single damn time she spoke to him.

“Yes, things are fine.”

“Val, Dennis Tate is finally coming up for trial and we need you to testify. You are my star witness, you know.”