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you in a better mood than winning our case did.”
    â€œHow can I be happy after winning a case when I know that in a few years whoever I put behind bars will probably be back on the streets?”
    â€œYou’re bringing justice and punishing them for their crimes.”
    â€œIn my opinion, they never get punished enough when lawyers get involved.” Billie frowned. This was an argument she and Kevin had after almost every case. She couldn’t understand why he was so satisfied when those scumbags always got much less than what they deserved from a weak judicial system.
    â€œIf I won as many cases as you did, I’d be happy.” Kevin shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, you hear about that homicide over in Fairhill? Guy got his dick chopped off.”
    Billie smiled. “He must have deserved it.” She sipped her tea. “Nice talking with you, Kevin.” She walked back to her office, proud of the work she had done the previous night and the fact that it had already hit the newswire. She couldn’t wait to get back to her desk and read the online articles about the murder. She was definitely making a statement with this latest kill.
    Billie’s phone was ringing as she entered her office.
    â€œThis is Billie,” she answered as set her mug on her desk.
    â€œWhere were you last night?”
    â€œGood morning to you too, Walter.” Billie and Walter had been casually hooking up for six months.
    â€œGood morning, Billie. Now, where were you last night?” Walter asked.
    â€œI was home.”
    â€œI called you. Why didn’t you answer?”
    â€œI saw your messages. I was just about to call you. I was so wiped out from my case yesterday. I went straight home, shut off my phones, and went to sleep.” Billie wished she had a better excuse, but it was the best she could do in the moment. She had seen Walter’s call come in but let it go to voice mail. She’d had a more important date with Ramon to attend to. Besides, Walter wasn’t her boyfriend; he was just a guy she liked hanging out with. She didn’t owe him anything.
    â€œWe were supposed to have dinner last night.” Some anger was evident in Walter’s voice.
    â€œI forgot.” Billie matched the anger in Walter’s voice with some of her own.
    â€œYou forgot? You really know how to make a guy feel special.”
    â€œLook, I’m only human. I had a case on my mind, I fell asleep; I forgot. Don’t take it so personally.”
    â€œYou’d rather have your case rock you to sleep than me. How am I not supposed to take something like that personally?”
    She huffed out a sigh. “How many times do I have to tell you? Work comes first.”
    â€œWe need to talk.”
    â€œSo talk,” Billie said.
    â€œNot on the phone. In person.”
    â€œLunch?” Billie suggested.
    â€œNo. Tonight. My place.”
    â€œAll right. Tonight,” Billie agreed.
    â€œDon’t forget, Billie.” Walter hung up.
    Billie was surprised by Walter’s reaction. He was usually calm and would jump at the chance to have lunch with her. Something was different.

Chapter 4
    Billie pulled into the driveway of Walter’s house located in Lower Merion Township. She looked at the two-story house with its manicured lawn and took a deep breath. Billie didn’t like the quiet suburb where Walter lived; she liked living in the city and the action the urban environment provided. She was born and bred a city girl and never wanted to leave. Her parents may have wanted to leave but that was never Billie’s desire. She was a Philly girl through and through.
    Her earlier conversation with Walter had been on her mind all day and was giving her a bad feeling in her gut. She kept going over her movements from the night before to make sure she didn’t miss anything. What if Walter had shown up to her house and seen that she wasn’t really home? He had