Andi gave Lila a go-ahead nod, and Lila spoke. “It’s the third time your client has assaulted his wife, Mr. Chappelle.”

Chappelle looked at Lila and let loose his anger. “Those other cases were dismissed. She’s preparing for a divorce. Weren’t you listening?” Then he looked at Andi. “Tell your girl how this works.”

Andi’s face went cold, and she took a step toward Chappelle. “The way it works, Ed, is that Ms. Nash is handling your client’s case today and she has my full support. And if you ever treat her with that kind of disrespect again, I’ll burn you. I’ll file an ethics complaint and let all these female judges know what a misogynistic asshole you are. You owe Ms. Nash an apology, and I’ll expect it in writing by the end of the week.”

Andi made for the door, and a stunned Lila followed.

Once outside, Andi remained expressionless as they walked back toward the courtroom, but she whispered to Lila, “What’d I tell you? A gorilla.”

Chapter 15

Sadie had given Niki Vang two guiding stars to follow, in separate constellations but at least the same sky: the salon and the wedding. They agreed that Matty would go to the salon, a crime scene technician in tow, and Niki would track down the recent bride and groom.

She found the newly christened Mrs. Halloway at home in a small house in a tightly packed neighborhood, the kind of neighborhood where, she imagined, dreams had to fight to stay alive. The new husband wasn’t home when Niki arrived, having gone to work his shift as a mechanic at a plastics plant. No honeymoon for the happy couple.

Janelle Halloway appeared at the door looking unkempt in her sweatpants and T-shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The color in her cheeks drained away when Niki introduced herself as a detective and asked to come in.

All around the house lay remnants of their wedding: stacks of gifts, flowers brought home from the church, a wedding dress draped over an ironing board. “Excuse the mess,” Janelle said, moving a box of new dishes off the couch so that they could sit down. “We just got married on Sunday. Still puttin’ stuff away.”

“I understand,” Niki said. “Actually, the wedding is what I came here to talk about.”

“Did we do something wrong?”

“Not at all. But Sadie Vauk…she was one of your bridesmaids, correct?”

Janelle’s “Yes” held threads of fear and hope and curiosity all balled up together.

“She was attacked last night.”

“Oh my God.” Janelle brought her hand to her mouth. “Is she okay?”

“She’s in the hospital.”

“Oh my God.”

“It’s bad, but she’s going to be okay.”

“What happened?”

“I can’t go into it, but that’s why I’m here. I want to ask about your wedding photographer. What was his name?”

“The photographer? I don’t understand.”

“What was your photographer’s name?”

“Um…Gavin…Spencer, I think.” Janelle stood and walked to the dining room table, where she picked through a stack of papers before pulling one from the pile. “Yeah, Gavin Spencer.” She returned to the couch and handed Niki a price quote from GVS Photography—Gavin Vincent Spencer, proprietor.