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soul.
    “Did my uncle tell you why I left the force?”
    “No, he is rather tight-lipped,” Erin said.
    Mia nodded, knowing just how discreet he could be. “I joined the force shortly after my mother was raped and murdered. I worked on her case for two years before we found her attacker. But I was too late. My father, in his grief, took his own life. I resigned some time later and resumed my pursuit of landing a teaching position.”
    Mia expected to find Erin in a state of disbelief or a little shocked at what she had just admitted. Instead, Erin sat there, listening attentively, unfazed, as if she somehow expected that Mia’s closet was riddled with skeletons.
    “You see, it was in the details, those small, seemingly inconsequential details, that I discovered the identity of my mother’s attacker. They often make all the difference, Erin.”
    Erin nodded. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I had no idea…I mean…I can’t imagine that this is easy for you. Thank you for coming here to help me…to help us.”
    Mia smiled. She now understood why her uncle sought her out. Though the beautiful woman in front of her was intelligent and a fighter, she would never rest comfortably until the man who had raped her was captured, or better yet, silenced.
    Erin exhaled and unleashed the events of that night in excruciating detail. Mia was thankful that Chase had kept his distance and had not insisted on staying. No boyfriend, fiancé, or husband should know the intricacies of how his woman had been violated. Erin described how he looked, smelled and tasted. She told Mia what he had whispered to her, that he knew her by name, that he had been waiting for her. Mia was impressed that she was able to recount so many details after a year’s time. She jotted the details down in her composition book for future review. Right now, she just wanted Erin to talk, unload actually, everything she could remember.
    But it wasn’t without consequences. After two hours of interrogation and recall, Erin was spent. Mia didn’t want to end the session, but she also knew that it wasn’t wise to probe or question someone if her mind was tainted by exhaustion. It could skew Erin’s recollection of events. It was best to come back when she was fresh.
    “Erin, you did great tonight. I have enough to get started.”
    Erin stifled a yawn. “You’re leaving already?”
    Mia smiled. “We’ve been at this for over two hours.”
    Erin’s eyes widened. “Two hours! Are you kidding me?”
    “I’m not kidding you. We will need to put a little more time in, though. Can I come over tomorrow?” Mia put her book and pencil in her bag and stood.
    “Of course.” Erin rose from the couch and walked her to the door.
    “I’ll need to speak with your brother and Chase as well. Will they be available?”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll make certain of it,” Erin said. “But I must warn you, my brother isn’t very forthcoming. He will give you the facts and answer your questions, but will not elaborate. And…well…he doesn’t trust easily.”
    “Is he a lawyer by any chance?” Mia asked.
    Erin laughed. “Andrew said you were competent at what you do.”

Chapter Nine
    A lthough Paul trusted Andrew’s judgment, he wasn’t completely comfortable allowing another person into the mix. But time was running out. His sister was in danger and threats were being made against the man she loved. Which made Paul feel helpless. Which made him feel like a failure.
    It didn’t matter that he had secured a great job at one of the top law firms in the city fresh out of college. He could not care less that he was apparently making a name for himself in a short time, as his salary and the bonuses he was earning proved. He had even fooled his sister into thinking he was pulling insane hours at the office because he was so in love with his career. The real reason he buried himself in his work was to avoid life.
    Before his parents’ death and his sister’s rape, he had smiled