"Exact words?"

"Close enough that Officer Evans can confirm them."

Every face turned toward Evans.

The young officer looked like he wanted the floor to open.

Mulligan spoke first.

"Don't."

That one word decided it.

Evans looked at Danielle.

Then Briggs.

Finally he said:

"He said something like that."

Mulligan stared at him.

Evans swallowed.

"But I heard it."

Mark closed the notebook.

"Now we have a different problem."

CHAPTER 6 — THE PARKING LOT CAMERA

Danielle went home shortly after midnight.

She didn't sleep.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the pharmacy parking lot.

People watching.

Mulligan laughing.

Evans hesitating.

The patrol-car door closing.

At 6:30 the next morning, she was dressed for work.

At 7:15, she walked into her office.

Her chief deputy, Lena Price, met her near reception.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"What happened?"

"We're going to establish that before we characterize it."

That was Danielle the prosecutor speaking.

Evidence first.

Conclusions second.

By nine o'clock, Mark had obtained confirmation that the pharmacy preserved exterior surveillance footage.

At noon, they watched it.

The camera had no audio.

It didn't need much.

The footage showed Danielle approaching her SUV.

Opening it with her key.

Reaching inside.

Mulligan arriving.

Speaking to her.

Cuffing her.

Placing her in the patrol car.

At no point did he examine the license plate closely enough to run it from the scene.

At no point did Danielle attempt to flee.

At no point did she behave aggressively.

Then another discovery emerged.

A shopper had recorded part of the encounter.

Her name was Rebecca Miles.

She had been standing near the pharmacy entrance.

Her phone captured audio.

Danielle listened through headphones.

Mulligan's voice:

"You really expect me to believe somebody like you is the county's top prosecutor?"

Then Danielle:

"Run my name."

Then Mulligan:

"Get in the car."

Danielle removed the headphones.

Mark sat beside her.

Neither spoke.

Finally Mark asked:

"You okay?"

"No."

It was the first time Danielle had admitted it.