As he listened to the two attorneys drone on, something pulled his attention to the left, to the table where Fitch stood in argument and Lila Nash sat in obedience. He wanted to look at her, but he kept his focus on the courtroom’s outdated woodwork. What was she thinking? Was she looking at him? How much did she remember—if she remembered anything at all? If he looked, he might know.

Don’t do it, he thought to himself. She has to believe that she means nothing to you.

“All right,” the judge said, after the thrum of attorney prattle died away. “It looks like discovery is completed and we’re set for a contested hearing tomorrow at three o’clock. Is there anything further, Mr. Reecey?”

One glance, Gavin thought. Just a peek.

“Nothing further,” Reecey said.

Look at Fitch and then a quick glance. She won’t even notice.

“Anything further, Ms. Fitch?”

Gavin snaked his eyes to Fitch, standing at counsel table with the poise of a show horse. Next to Fitch, Lila Nash sat sideways, facing Gavin. They locked eyes for only a second, and where he had hoped to see confusion—or maybe even fear—he saw something else, something deep and powerful.

He saw resolve.

Chapter 51

At the status hearing, Lila had put all of her concerns about getting fired aside and studied Gavin Spencer, paying particular attention to the way he stared straight ahead like a man not wanting to be noticed. She watched his head veer in her direction a couple times, his eyes leading the way, only to return front and center. It wasn’t until the proceeding waned to its final seconds that he looked at her.

The connection lasted barely a second, but in his eyes she saw that same strange flash of recognition she’d seen in the jail video. And behind that spark, Lila thought she saw something that looked an awful lot like fear.

He turned his head back sharply, but Lila didn’t look away. She kept her eyes locked on the man who she now believed had raped her.

But how was that possible? How had Gavin found her that night? Had he been at that party in Uptown? What about his alibi? And if Gavin had not been the one to choose her, then it had to have been his accomplice. Gavin’s partner was still out there, and if she could find him, she could destroy Gavin’s alibi, attack his flank where he had no defense.

The sight of him being led away drew her rage to a fine point. It made her want to drive a pen through his neck, and at the same time it made her so sick, she could barely stand up. She wanted Gavin to look at her. She wanted him to see that she knew.

As she walked back to her office she pondered her strategy. Once there, she again stared at Gavin’s picture, trying to place him at the party, or anywhere in her past, but it was like trying to grab smoke.