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In the shadow of a massive, flowering, purple bougainvillea tree and an equally tall guest house, Sloane dove headfirst into the pool and let the full moon recharge her as she moved through the cool water.

As she swam, she let herself cry. It was a quiet, restrained thing. Her tears were indistinguishable from the pool water, but it was the greatest amount of pressure she dared release.

Too much and she wouldn’t be able to pull herself back from the anguished depths of self-pity.

CHAPTER 8

“GOOD MORNING, TROOPS.” Chin Dimple strode into the conference room where they were assembled and waiting.

Sloane closed the social media app she was tormenting herself with and slipped her phone into her suit jacket pocket.

As soon as Sloane looked up and tracked Chin Dimple with her eyes, she noticed Frodo. Her cold glare oozed irritation from behind her black-rimmed glasses.

What is she pissed at me for? I haven’t even said a word to her today.

Sloane had intentionally given her a wide berth all morning. It was obvious she was still butt-hurt about the mock trial the day before.

So childish.

Chin Dimple dropped a thick, blue binder on the table.

The loud clamor forced Sloane’s attention away from Frodo and back to the front of the room.

“Since you spent all morning in bond court, I thought it would be a good idea to role-play our own bond calendar. As you got to see today, we take turns doing this every morning

for everyone arrested overnight. Apart from determining release conditions, the trial judge will impose a Stay Away order prohibiting the defendant from having any contact with the victim.” Chin Dimple opened the binder after explaining what Sloane hoped everyone already knew and pulled out a stack of papers. “Grab one o the top and pass

‘em down. This is all you know walking in. The arrest report and whatever criminal history we might have in the system.”

When the stack got to Sloane, she grabbed the stapled together papers o the top and passed it along. By the time it was her turn, she knew exactly what she was going to ask for.

“Ms. Medina,” Chin Dimple, his ridiculous black robe zipped to his neck, called her to his makeshift bench. “Your turn.”

Sloane situated herself at the podium and glanced down at the notes she’d made in the margins of the arrest report.

It was the most straightforward argument she’d ever had to make. “Assistant State Attorney Sloane Medina on behalf of the State.” She maintained unwavering eye contact as she shifted her weight. “May it please the Court, this is the defendant’s second battery arrest in the last year. We are asking he be required to post a cash bond, wear a GPS

monitor, and that he be ordered to stay away from his wife, the victim.”

Chin Dimple jotted something down before looking at her.

“ASA Medina, do you—”

“Your Honor!” Frodo screamed from behind her, causing Sloane to whip around and glare at her. “I’m Tony’s wife,

and I’d like a chance to address the court before my husband’s conditions are set.”

Sloane

narrowed

her

eyes,

willing

Frodo