Reading through Silas Jackson’s transgressions was like viewing a constellation one star at a time; each incident burning a new pinpoint into the dark sky. But Lila could not see the whole. Where was the GHB? Where was the boldness? Nothing in his record rose to the audacity of what happened to Lila. He’d come close with the girl on the bed, sure, but guys like him were supposed to get more daring as they went along, not less.

Had he lost his nerve? Had the two men fed off each other out in that bean field, crossing a line only because they were together? And still, no mention of a lisp. There had to be more to the story, but Lila’s head hurt from trying to see it.

Then, just before the clock struck noon, Ryan Kent stuck his head into her office, breaking her focus.

“Got a second?”

“For you, always. What’s up?”

He came in and closed the door behind him. “Beth Malone gave Nelson her notice this morning. She’s taking an early retirement.”

Even though Lila had been expecting the news, it still sent a spike through her. She closed her eyes and sighed.

“I know, right?” Ryan said. “Looks like Dovey’s going to be the permanent head of Adult Prosecution. I’m meeting Patrick for lunch. Wanna come?”

Lila nodded her answer, still unable to muster up words.

After Ryan left, she looked around her office. With Beth gone, Lila’s departure would be in a matter of days, and her bare walls whispered, I told you so.

On her desk, Sadie Vauk’s file lay open, a picture of Gavin Spencer staring up at her. It wasn’t fair. She wanted to be there for Sadie, to sit with her before she took the stand to testify. Lila wanted to see Gavin’s face when a jury convicted him, and when a judge sentenced him to prison. None of that would happen now.

Lila had no appetite, but she stood and began the long walk to the cafeteria to have lunch with her fellow newbies—knowing it could be the last time. She arrived at the bank of elevators just as Frank Dovey stepped into one of the cars. He was with Colin Nelson, and the two men seemed lost in conversation. It grated on Lila to see them so friendly together, and she waited to take the next car.

On the ground floor, Lila spotted Dovey and Nelson heading for the north exit of the Government Center. In the opposite direction was the escalator that would take her down to the cafeteria. She stood still for a moment and remembered Andi’s words about making Dovey own his decision to fire her. She thought about the weight of her own regret if she were to hand Dovey her letter of resignation. And she thought of Gavin Spencer and felt a cold sting of defeat in her chest.

Then she thought of Sadie, her words whispering in Lila’s ears. Why’d he do that to me? Why did he think he had the right? Lila wanted to join her friends in the cafeteria, but a powerful gravity pulled her toward Dovey and Nelson, who were leaving the building. She couldn’t abandon Sadie—not without a fight. With no idea what she planned to do, she turned and followed the men.