Contents

EPIGRAPH

PROLOGUE

Cate Fante was the guest of honor at this celebration,…

CHAPTER 1

Six months later, Cate sat in her high-backed chair atop…

CHAPTER 2

Cate understood on sight why Detective Frank Russo could be…

CHAPTER 3

From the lectern, Hartford asked, “Mr. Simone, could you tell…

CHAPTER 4

“Honey, I’m home!” Cate called out, and from the kitchen…

CHAPTER 5

“Good morning, gentlemen.” Cate shook hands all around and gestured…

CHAPTER 6

Cate strode to the dais, her robes billowing theatrically, making…

CHAPTER 7

The door banged open against the bedroom wall, and Cate…

CHAPTER 8

Cate slammed on the gas, ignoring the cell phone. Probably…

CHAPTER 9

The next morning, Cate drove up Market Street in heavy…

CHAPTER 10

After their tour, Cate walked back to the chambers with…

CHAPTER 11

It’s Elvis, from last night.

CHAPTER 12

Cate hurried to the window and pushed the curtain aside…

CHAPTER 13

Cate pressed the on button on the remote, her fingers…

CHAPTER 14

Cate reached Gina after Warren had gone to bed. She…

CHAPTER 15

Cate checked her watch: 1:32 a.m. Argh. She was sitting…

CHAPTER 16

“Sorry, Judge,” Val said, rising at her desk as Cate…

CHAPTER 17

Cate had come across it last night, drafting her opinion.

CHAPTER 18

Cate hustled down the sidewalk under the cold sun, holding…

CHAPTER 19

“So, how did it come about, you following me?” Cate…

CHAPTER 20

Cate drove down Fifth Street in light traffic, heading back…

CHAPTER 21

An hour later, Cate was back in the car, driving…

CHAPTER 22

Cate walked into her office, stunned at the sight. Debris…

CHAPTER 23

Cate froze, standing in her ruined office, her phone at…

CHAPTER 24

Cate opened the door to her chambers, immediately taken aback…

CHAPTER 25

The sun was setting over the Schuylkill Expressway, its remaining…

CHAPTER 26

It was dark by the time Cate reached the development,…

CHAPTER 27

Cate stepped out into the bitter cold, and on contact,…

CHAPTER 28

It was Nesbitt. Cuffed and in custody, against the car.

CHAPTER 29

Cate put on a coat to grab the newspaper from…

CHAPTER 30

“Good job, Sam,” Cate said after they were finished. She…

CHAPTER 31

“What happened?” Val asked, from her computer. “You’re back early.”

CHAPTER 32

“Come in, Cate.” Chief Judge Sherman rose from behind his…

CHAPTER 33

Cate stormed into the unfamiliar chambers, ahead of a bewildered…

CHAPTER 34

Cate drove with the radio off, insulating herself from the…

CHAPTER 35

Cate’s was one of the few cars on Route 61,…

CHAPTER 36

Cate found herself sitting on a worn brown plaid couch…

CHAPTER 37

It was almost dark by the time Cate was back…

CHAPTER 38

Cate woke up to Nesbitt’s face in soft-focus fog. For…

CHAPTER 39

Cate left her heavy coat in the rental car, feeling…

CHAPTER 40

Cate turned up the heat on the well-behaved Acura and wound…

CHAPTER 41

Odd. Despite the cold, the front door with the stenciled…

CHAPTER 42

Cate could hardly wait for Micah to go before she…

CHAPTER 43

Cate eyed Russo as he slept, taking evil satisfaction in…

CHAPTER 44

“You’re throwing me out?” Cate asked, astounded, as Nesbitt hurried…

CHAPTER 45

Pistol Range in Rear, read the blue neon sign, and…

CHAPTER 46

“Please pick Micah up!” Cate begged Nesbitt, after she had…

CHAPTER 47

Even at the sight of her old enemy, Cate felt…

CHAPTER 48

“I’m in here, gentlemen,” Cate called from her office, examining…

CHAPTER 49

Suddenly Cate threw the brass bookend at Emily, hitting her…

CHAPTER 50

“Go away, people!” Cate and Nesbitt slammed the front door…

CHAPTER 51

Cate rode the judges’ elevator upwards, checking her reflection in…

CHAPTER 52

The August sun burned hazy and low, dipping by this…

AUTHOR’S NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS BY LISA SCOTTOLINE

CREDITS

COVER

COPYRIGHT

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

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