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CHAPTER ONE

Shanae Jackson breezed into my office like she owned the place Not even a knock or word of greeting Pint-sized and wiry, in jeans and a plain orange T-shirt, Shanae projected an attitude that compensated for her lack of stature

Her daughter, Tina, trailed behind her Though she was quite tall for a 13-year-old—taller by a couple of inches than her ht carried too an reading a book, while Shanae took the other seat and glared at me

“Hi,” I said, hurriedly closing out the online research I’d been doing “You must be Shanae Jackson”

“You got someone else youbrown-eyed gaze pinned me to my chair

“Um, no”

“Then I guess I e idiot

I plastered on a big s and extending my hand, I said, “I’m Sam McRae It’s nice to meet you”

I half expected another snappy co at my hand like I’d just blown rasped ers

I risked further sarcasirl “And you must be Tina Hi”

Tina glanced at lued her eyes back on the book

In contrast to Tina’s slouch, Shanae sat bolt upright, her posture as intense as her gaze Her abundant hair was plastered back froular lines

I sat down and opened the thin file containing notes ofbefore me

“Is that the paperwork?” I asked, nodding toward an envelope clutched in her left hand

Shanae thrust it at me I pulled out folded copies of the police report and other papers concerning her daughter’s case S them out on my desk, I took some time to review them

“This looks pretty straightforward,” I said “As I hter alone”

I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but Shanae’s expression hardened

“I gots to stay,” she said “I’m her mother”

“Tina is my client I have to discuss the case with her alone”