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he’d done to Harold Roux, but he was relieved that his ordeal was over. When he was calm again, Tom got up and walked down the hall and up the stairs. He wanted to tell Christine the good news in person.
    The partners’ offices were two floors above his cubicle. Tom climbed the stairs, opened the door, and entered the twenty-third floor hallway. Christine’s office was halfway between the stairwell and Dale Masterson’s huge corner office. Tom had taken several steps when the door to Masterson’s office opened and he saw Christine come out. Her head was down and she was walking swiftly. Her gait and the set of her shoulders made Tom think that his friend was upset.
    Christine flung open the door to her office, then slammed it shut seconds before Tom reached it. Tom debated whether he should disturb her. Brittney Vandervelden, Christine’s secretary, occupied a cubicle across the hall from Christine’s office. She was in her early thirties, a well-dressed redhead with a nice figure and a sharp mind. Tom did a lot of work with Christine, so he also saw a lot of Brittney. He’d thought about asking her out, but dating a coworker was usually a bad idea. And he had so much baggage that he hesitated anytime the idea of getting close to someone became a possibility.
    â€œHey, Brit, I wanted to tell Christine something but she looked upset. Do you think I should wait?”
    â€œI would.”
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œI don’t know, but it has something to do with Mr. Masterson. And don’t ask me what because I don’t know.”
    â€œOkay. When you get a chance, can you tell her my case was dismissed . . . ?”
    â€œThat’s so great!” Brittney said, flashing a wide smile.
    â€œYeah, I’m really relieved.”
    â€œChristine was pretty confident her friend would handle it.”
    â€œMiss Jaffe did a terrific job. She convinced the DA I acted in self-defense so he’s dropping the matter. I guess Christine can get her bail money back. You should tell her that too.”
    â€œI will. And I’m sure she’ll want to talk to you when she has some time.”
    Tom left Brittney’s cubicle, and frowned. Christine was normally intense, but she’d looked unusually upset. Tom wondered what was bothering her. Then he decided that it was none of his business.
    Brittney knew better than to interrupt her boss when she was in one of her moods, and she also knew how long it normally took for Christine to calm down. After a reasonable amount of time, she walked across the hall and tapped on the door to Christine’s office.
    â€œYes,” Christine barked.
    Brittney walked in even though Christine’s tone told her that she was still seething over whatever had upset her.
    â€œI just thought you’d want to know: Tom’s case was dismissed.”
    Christine’s scowl morphed into a grin and she straightened up.
    â€œThat’s fabulous. How did you find out?”
    â€œTom came up to tell you but you’d just come back from your meeting with Mr. Masterson and it didn’t look like you wanted to be disturbed.”
    Christine’s smile disappeared, and she looked lost in thought.
    â€œPlease ask Tom to come up,” she said.
    â€œSure thing,” Brittney said as she backed out of the office and closed the door.
    â€œBoss wants to see you,” Brittney told Tom over the intercom.
    Four minutes later, Brittney looked up and saw Tom walk into Christine’s office and shut the door behind him.
    Twenty minutes later, Brittney heard loud voices coming from Christine’s office. She couldn’t make out the words, but Tom and her boss were definitely arguing. Ten minutes after that the door to Christine’s office swung open and Tom walked rapidly down the hall and disappeared into the stairwell.

CHAPTER 8
    Two days after Tom Beatty’s case was dismissed, Alan Hotchkiss was writing a police