“Would he have stopped?”
Camille did not answer immediately.
Jalen laughed bitterly.
“Exactly.”
She touched his arm.
He pulled away.
Not hard.
Enough.
Camille let him.
“I don't know.”
“That’s worse.”
“I know.”
“What if you were still inside?”
Her chest tightened.
“Jalen.”
“What if I didn’t have Dad’s picture?”
“You shouldn’t have needed it.”
“But I did.”
“No.”
Camille shook her head.
“You showed it.”
“That doesn’t mean you needed to.”
“He didn’t believe me.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that.”
He walked ahead.
Camille followed.
At the car, Jalen opened the passenger door.
Then turned.
“Why didn't you tell me about the investigation?”
“I wanted work separate from home.”
“That’s not why.”
Camille stared.
Her son knew her too well.
“What do you think the reason was?”
“You thought I’d be scared.”
She looked away.
“And?”
“You were scared.”
Camille nodded.
“Yes.”
Jalen climbed into the car.
For the first twenty minutes of the drive, neither spoke.
At a red light, Camille noticed Jalen staring at the cracked phone.
Andre’s photograph beneath the fractures.
She whispered:
“I’ll replace the screen.”
Jalen looked toward her.
“That’s not the point.”
“I know.”
He almost snapped.
Then stopped.
Camille smiled sadly.
“Sorry.”
They drove.
At home, Jalen went straight to his room.
Camille stood in the kitchen holding four shopping bags she no longer remembered buying.
One contained a navy sweater for Jalen.
She had seen it in a window and thought he might like something nicer for his school debate banquet.
Now she felt ridiculous.
She left everything on the counter.
Then called her partner.
“Marcus?”
Not Chief Henley.
Marcus Hale, her law partner.
He answered.
“How bad?”
Camille stared toward the stairs.
“My son.”
Silence.
“Oh God.”
She told him.
He listened.
Then:
“You’re off the Briarwood matter.”
“Yes.”
“No argument?”
“None.”
“Good.”
She closed her eyes.
“Find someone outside the firm.”
Marcus paused.
“You think that’s necessary?”
“Yes.”
“My son is now a complainant.”
“Brenner knows who I am.”
“The chief knows me.”
“Briarwood’s board knows me.”
“I don't want anybody saying the investigation became revenge.”
Marcus was quiet.
Then:
“You trained me too well.”
“No.”
Camille sat.
“I’ve seen too many cases destroyed because the person with the strongest facts also wanted to control the process.”
“You're right.”
“I hate it.”