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“What’s the matter with you?” He kept his voice low as defense counsel went through the doors.

“Nothing,” I said.

“You’re distracted,” Mark said. “This suppression hearing was supposed to be a formality. You’ve bungled it. That laptop evidence is our whole case.”

“Don’t worry,” I said. “My brief is solid. The law is clear. She’ll do the right thing.”

“Apparently, in spite of you,” Gilchrist muttered.

“What can I help you with, Mark?” I asked.

“I want a status report on the Palicki case.”

I strode out of the courtroom. If Mark wanted to make my life harder, he’d have to keep up with me.

“Palicki isn’t our case,” I said. “We’ve been over it.”

“I want something to show for my commitment of resources to that task force.”

I stopped just before entering our office. “This wasn’t a contest. There were no prizes to be won. The bad guy’s been caught. That’s it. If you want courtroom glory, you might want to try some cases.”

He scowled at me. It seemed to be his default lately. My phone buzzed again. I held it in my hand. Lock’s face popped up on my screen. Mark saw it. I shoved my phone back in my briefcase, letting it go to voicemail.

Mark looked shocked. “You’re not answering that?”

“Was there anything else?”

“Not for now. But get it together. That was sloppy back there.”

I clenched my jaw. Mark Gilchrist was the last person who should be handing out trial practice advice. Though I couldn’t fault his observation. I was off my game. Lock was the reason. With each unanswered call or text, I knew how his brain would spin. He would view it as a rejection. His insecurities would flare. The idea that I had caused him pain tore at me, even as I wasn’t sure I could trust him anymore.

I went into my office. Mark followed. I tossed my briefcase onto the chair and peeled off my suit jacket. I had no more hearings scheduled for the day. Every time I thought about my next move, I broke into a cold sweat. But it was time to go find Roy and tell him about the paint cans and the dead dove.

Ignoring Mark, I left him staring open-mouthed at me as I closed the door to my own office with him still inside. I turned Lock’s notifications to silent as I walked to Roy’s office.

My nerves made my hands shake. This was the right thing to do. The only thing I could do. And yet it still felt like I was betraying Lock. But my loyalty to my career had to take precedence. It felt like the only thing solid in my life right now. I’d risked it for too long. If I couldn’t trust Lock, I could trust myself. I had to.

I found Roy’s office door wide open. But he wasn’t at his desk. Instead, Deputy Amanda Lennon sat there. I’d known Amanda Lennon since the day she’d been sworn in as a deputy five years ago. It happened to be on the very same day I started working for the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Mina!” She gave me a cheery smile. She was one of the most upbeat cops I’d ever met.

“Is Roy in?” If he didn’t appear soon, I’d lose my nerve.

Amanda looked confused. “I thought he was with you, actually.”

“No, I just came from Judge Clarke’s. We didn’t have a meeting set up today, but I need to bend his ear.”

Amanda had a wrapped sandwich on Roy’s desk. She gathered her trash and tossed it. “He’s in Manchester,” she said. “Task force business. They’re still finishing the search at that psychopath’s house. He’s got me covering his desk today.”

“Are you up for a promotion? That’s great.”

Amanda rolled her eyes. “Not likely. Not yet.”

“Well, if Roy trusts you to sit there, that means he thinks pretty highly of you.”

“You okay?” she asked. “You look a little pale.”

“Do I?” I put a hand to my cheek. Even to myself, I felt clammy. “I’m okay. Just haven’t eaten lunch yet. Do you know when Roy’s due back?”