CAROLINE

District Attorney Horace Merrow walked into his office and shut the door behind him. He could count on one hand the times he’d had to fight his way through a hoard of reporters on his way in like this. While other DAs might have welcomed the media attention, Horace did not. He’d rather spend his time working on getting justice than fielding questions.

“They said I would find out today,” Assistant DA Lawrence Degas was saying into his cell. “No, I… I understand. Of course, thank you.” Lawrence’s shoulders slumped as he spoke, his voice dropping. Whatever the subject of the phone call, Lawrence was unhappy with the news. Horace cleared his throat, not wanting to seem like he was eavesdropping on a private moment. Lawrence snapped his head round at the sound and hung up immediately.

“No need to hang up, son,” Horace said, dropping his briefcase on his table, and drawing the blinds shut. The small office was stuffy, but he couldn’t bear to see the crowd of bloodsuckers forming outside.

“It wasn’t important, sir.” Lawrence stuffed the phone into his pocket. “Everything okay?”

“It’s those vultures.” Horace gestured at the crowd beyond the window. “They’re harassing me day and night, here, at home…” He sighed again. “I’d like to know how the hell they found out about this case.” Horace paused and took in the young ADA standing in front of him. Lawrence had drive, he was ambitious, but it took more than ambition to make it in this business. Lawrence lacked talent, an innate gift for law. It was the reason he was still with the pre-trial unit. Others hired after him had already moved up into the Phoenix Docket Unit or even General Trial. Others like Horace’s son, Sebastien, who’d been working with the GT unit for months now. His performance was drawing the attention of other DAs, and not because he was his own flesh and blood. Sebastien had gotten where he’d gotten on his own merit, his own talent. Horace had never, not once, had had to pull strings or owe favors in Sebastien’s name. Horace needed someone like Sebastien on this case. Someone with talent, yes, but also with heart. Alas, Sebastien’s fate lay with other things. Greater things.

“You think someone here leaked the information?” Lawrence asked, forcing Horace out of his own thoughts.

“Very few people know the details of this case.” Horace nodded. “One of them has sold this to the press, and I need you to figure out who.”

Lawrence pulled at his tie and averted his gaze. “Of course. Leave it with me.”

Horace was about to dismiss Lawrence when a knock on the door interrupted him. Before either man could react, the door opened, and Sebastien stuck his head in. “Is this a bad time?”

“Not at all. Come in, come in.” Horace waved his son in, and Sebastien entered the office, shutting the door behind him.

“I was hoping I’d find you here. I have incredible news!” Sebastian crossed the room in a couple of long strides, the excitement exuding from him. He was vibrating with energy. “I couldn’t wait until you got home to tell you. They have offered me the ADA position with homicide in DA Walsh’s office!”

“That is incredible news!” Horace slapped a hand across his son’s shoulder, then frowned. Horace knew that Washington County was looking to replace ADA Cavendish. He did not know his son was a candidate. “I didn’t even know you’d applied! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t planning on applying at all,” Sebastien said. “DA Walsh approached me last month and asked me to. I told him I didn’t think I was ready, but…” Sebastien shrugged. “He convinced me to go for it. And with you and him being good friends, I didn’t want anyone to your involvement. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“Everything you’ve earned, you’ve earned in your own right,” Horace said. “This would never have been any different, you know that. Congratulations, son.” Horace pulled his son to him, wrapping him in arms. His boy… What a man he was becoming. Horace couldn’t be prouder of him if he tried.

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Remembering Lawrence was still in the room, Horace released his son and turned to him. “Lawrence, what do you think of this? Wonderful, isn’t it?”

Lawrence shuffled his feet before speaking. His deep olive skin had grown a few shades paler. “Yes, it’s wonderful.” He extended a hand to Sebastien, who shook it. “Congratulations, Sebastien. I’m sure you were by far the best candidate for the job,” he added, his voice tight.

“Thanks Lawrence. You’re coming to our going away party tonight, right?” Sebastien asked the ADA. “Rodrick and I would love to have you there.”

Lawrence pulled at his tie again. “I would love to, but we have our hands full here, and I-”

“Nonsense!” Horace interrupted, waving Lawrence off. He’d only now realized how exhausted Lawrence was looking. His posture had drooped, his gaze unfocused. Horace knew exactly what Lawrence needed. “Take the rest of the day off, I insist. Go out, have a good time.”

“But sir-”

“You’ve been working day and night on this for me. Please, take the time off,” Horace said. “I will handle your workload tonight.”

Sebastien turned his attention back to Lawrence. “It’s settled then! It’ll be good. It’s been a while since you, Rodrick, and I have hung out.”

“Thank you, sir.” Lawrence nodded at Horace and then turned to Sebastien. “I’ll see you tonight, then. If you’ll excuse me,” Lawrence added, and with a final nod towards the Merrows, he left the office.

“I’m going to head off too,” Sebastien said. “I’ll see you later?”

Once his son had left the office, Horace sat down and drew his briefcase towards him. He’d be staying a lot later than he had expected tonight, but he had done the right thing by Lawrence. Now that he thought about it, the man had been so tense, so jumpy lately. The long hours they’d been putting into the child trafficking case were taking its toll. He was young. He needed to let off some steam. And what was one more long evening at the office for Horace, anyway? It wouldn’t be the first, it wouldn’t be the last.

#

Albert Lacroix found his wife Caroline where he found her most days. In the little greenhouse he’d built for her, off the back garden. He stood in the doorway, watching her as she mumbled to herself, stroking the leaves of a plant. His wife’s condition was worsening, and Albert knew exactly why. He had come down to confront her, but had had to pause when he saw her among her beloved plants. She looked… Happy. Happier than she’d looked in a long time. Happier in the presence of her plants than in his. His fist tightened around the small, battered tin of mints he was holding. Caroline flitted from one pot to another, a smile on her face, whispering nonsense. As if sensing his dark gaze on her, Caroline spun around and gasped. The smile dropped from her face.

“Albert!” Caroline smoothed her long, blonde hair around her face. “How long have you been standing there?”

Albert stayed where he was and lifted the little tin of mints. Caroline averted her gaze. “How long have you not been taking your pills?” Caroline mumbled something under her breath, wrapping her arms around herself. “Caroline?”

“What is this?” she yelled, startling him with her outburst. Her pale eyes, usually unfocused and hazy, sparkled with wild fury. “Are you spying on me again?”

“I’m not spying on you. I’m looking out for you. You need to take your pills!” Albert slammed the tin down on a table, making Caroline jump. Good. If he had to scare into compliance, so be it.

“I don’t like them,” she said, her voice a whisper, the fire in her dying out as fast as it had flared up.

“I don’t care if you don’t like them.” Albert stepped closer, and Caroline took an equal step back, further into the refuge of the plants. “You will take them. Do you understand me? You need them.”

“What I need is support from my husband!” Caroline sunk her hands into her hair, as if trying to press her thoughts together. “I don’t need medication! Or to have every second of my life watched, controlled-”

“Caroline!” Albert snapped. He wanted to reach out and comfort his wife, but he knew that would be giving in to his weakness. Albert could not afford to be weak, not ever. Not even with Caroline. She needed him to be strong. Strong for her. “I want what is best for you,” he began, unable to keep the fierceness in his voice, despite his best efforts. “This is it.” He picked up the small tin, where his wife had been squirreling her medication away for God knows how long. “Do you think you can be a wife, a mother, in the state you’re in?”

“Don’t you dare!” Caroline fixed him with a gaze more lucid than he’d seen on her in years. The pills. She needed to take the damn pills. “Don’t you dare question my abilities as a mother!”

Caroline pushed past him and out of the greenhouse. Albert sighed and ran a hand over his face. Caroline was becoming impossible to control, and he was running out of options. He pocketed the tin and left the greenhouse, shutting the door behind him. He should tear the place down. Remove her very last place of refuge, the last place standing where Caroline could hide from him. Then she’d have no choice but to do what he told her to, once and for all.