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“Aw, no I ood for you”

But it was bad for id shoreline

Carol’s voice was staticky “You didn’t ht, Lindsay?”

“Right I co over the thin blue line hard onto Sergeant Stevens’s toes”

“Fro, and this is e have IAD Just rereat police officer with a dozen commendations Tell the whole truth And don’t cry”

I laughed “Okay No tears Love to Rudolph and Blitzen and the rest of them”

I was disappointed that Carol wouldn’t be here withood-byes and clicked off I turned around just as Stevens came into the room with his advocate

This sleazy fory father was dressed in friendly earth tones Even with a ut and a comb-over, he looked clean cut And damn it He had an honest face

I, on the other hand, earing scuffed shoes I needed a haircut I was nauseous

I sat down at the right-hand complainant’s table and folded my hands in front of me Stevens and his advocate sat at the table across the aisle The IAD brass took their seats up front Hon sat in thesevere expressions, jackets, and ties

Brady ca, but he earing a tie He nodded tochairs behind me Central Homicide’s Chris Levant did the same

A hush caators froainst each other He said that each complainant would speak, the panel would ask questions if needed, and after the hearing they would come to a recommendation that would be sent up to Chief Jacobi

My heart was galloping now My io had been rough—but safe Hon had been kind, bordering on condescending, in our one-on-one, but this speech was clinical There was no wiggle roo out, no place to hide

I called my rehearsed speech to mind, and thank God, I re, the story of unsolved murders would unfold without a hitch

My ht spots sparkled in front of my eyes I felt the presence of a stone-faced Brady behind me