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All her life, people had said she barreled forward, her eyes always on the prize, her hands outstretched to grab hold of what she wanted

This year, however, had taught her caution And huht hoould feel if this was her new life; if caution and anxiety were to be her co certain again?

She sat in her car now, staring through the rainy windshield at the county courthouse An Aainst the pole, the only splash of color a Ait, too Across the street, the autumn colors were muted and obscured by the weather

Winona reached for the briefcase beside her Clutching the leather handle, she left the safety of her car and walked forward, feeling as if every step were taking her into enee some of her former confidence, but it was slippery in the rain

At the desk, she said, “Winona Grey to see Sara Hamm I have a ten o’clock appointment”

The receptionist nodded and set Winona on her way through the layers of security that had become commonplace in even the , went through the metal detector, showed her ID twice, and was escorted to the prosecuting attorney’s office

It was a cool, professional-looking space, with no plants in pretty pots, no falooked out over the parking lot

But it was the wo behind the desk who commanded Winona’s attention

The years had been kind to Sara Ha-distance runner Winona pegged her as the kind of wo shoes instead of the refrigerator handle

“Ms Grey,” she said, pushing back from her desk The wheels of her chair rumbled on the hardwood floor “This is a surprise I didn’t expect to hear froain”

Winona sat down “I appreciate your willingness to see ood an impression the first time we met”

That seehtly together “On the contrary, I found your passion impressive, even if it was misplaced You’re his sister-in-law I’d expect no less May I ask why you didn’t take his case initially? Since you obviously care so much”

“The easy answer is that I’d had no criminal experience to speak of”

“And you have more now?”

No wonder this wo “No” Winona leaned forward “What did you think of Roy’s defense?”