the cold bench, her arms wrapped around herself, trying to stop the shaking. Her clothes, the same ones she had

't cry.

ldn't a

ed to be

framed her. And the officer who arrested her happened to be Harris, the same man whose betrayal

at way? That flicker of recognit

er throat. No. S

niformed guard appeared, followed by a famil

Monique

ing into the cell before he could

a brow but le

time in days, allowed herself to sag

They said you were in custody.

into Ruby's shoulder. Her voice came out

lawyer-sharp eyes. "I know. I pulle

his arrest. And they....." Her voice broke. "They had pictures. The body.

crush you before you can fight back. And Bill

"But Harris... he....

e's leading the case. I

spered. "After eve

't over. You have a right to silence. No interviews without me. No statements. I'm working on b

gripping her knees. "H

you. So no breaking. We start digging. We prove Ava was already being threaten

was barely audib

'll deal with him.

ng his uniform with robotic movements. The apartment was dark b

about her face when he r

ni

ice neutral. To not falter when she whispered

s back in town. Hadn't

ouch, resting his

nt gone missing, a raid that backfired, and Monique leaving without a word.

girl... Cherry. Blue eye

ght away. It didn'

it

orris's old report. There, buried in the witnes

legal aid. Client appeared distr

As in

ersonally? Had she

was accuse

guilt cre

couldn't stop asking himsel

waiting room of Eastwood's municipal

other end. "That's insane. She has no prior offe

igh-profile, violent homic

ed help. Someone outside the legal syst

then hit Jace Harri

up after

ould call," he s

nd this time, you'r

courthouse, Ruby sat across from Har

lieve she did

think so," he admitted. "But it's too clean

"So you're doubtin

showed up. I thought it was a gang thing. Ava'

enter. Ava was being threatened by someone named

You want me to investigate Billy Pier

up. Monique said she was being followe

esit

d slid it across the table. A pho

softly. "Her name is Cherry. S

t the photo, hi

ink she

f why Monique ran. And whether y

ettled be

his you're on, Jace. Because if you're