“In the morning. The protest is heating up. There’ve been some skirmishes already, so—”

“So, that’s your cue to go?”

“They don’t harm reporters. They need us to get their message out to the world. That’s the point of a protest.”

“Still…”

“I made biscuits.”

“Well, in that case…” The words came with a pout.

“It’s a big story, Lila, and no one else is covering it—not nationally, at least. I could really make a name for myself.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“Few days—maybe a week—I don’t know.”

Lila then noticed the suitcase pulled from the hall closet. “You’ve already made up your mind?”

“I thought the crab legs made that clear?”

Lila didn’t smile. The timing seemed all wrong, but Joe had no way of knowing that. She had kept him in the dark about so many things.

He must have sensed her reticence because he stopped joking. “I’m only getting this assignment because Liz is out on maternity leave. I’m the new guy, remember? This is a great opportunity. I’ll stay home if—”

“No. I want you to go. It’s not like you’re going to the Antarctic—it’s North Dakota. Just…be careful.”

“Absolutely.” Joe pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss. “I’ll do my story and get back here as soon as I can.”

“Do me a favor, though?” Lila said.

“Anything.”

She looked deep into his eyes and said, “Make sure you set the timer on those crab legs. You overcooked them last time.” She pulled back, gave him a wink, and walked out of the kitchen, picking a pile of mail off the countertop.

She flipped through the mail on her way to the bedroom and came across a letter from the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners. The results of the bar exam weren’t due for another month at least. Confused, she unsealed the envelope with her fingernail and read.

Dear Ms. Nash,

The Minnesota Board of Law Examiners has been notified of a concern regarding your application for admission to the Minnesota Bar, having to do with your character and fitness to practice law. Specifically, the Board had been informed that your answer to question 4.37 (b) may be inaccurate or incomplete. That question asked:

Do you have, or have you had within the last two years, any condition, including but not limited to, the following:

b) A mental, emotional, or behavioral illness or condition that impairs, or has within the last two years impaired, your ability to meet the Essential Eligibility Requirements for the practice of law set forth in Rule 5A of the Rules for Admission to the Bar?

It has been brought to the Board’s attention that a supervising attorney in your office has concerns about your fitness pursuant to Rule 5A. The informing party has written an affidavit and has provided documentation of a prior involuntary hospitalization and suicide attempt. While the hospitalization falls outside of the two-year look back, a more recent in-court event has raised concern.