Page 85 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“We can show Todd’s pattern.”

“That helps,” Vale said. “But it doesn’t close the gap.”

“Bay’s protecting her,” Sabre said. “We respect that.”

He shook his head. “No. We don’t.”

Sabre looked up sharply.

“We can’t,” Vale continued. “Not if it costs Bay the case.”

Sabre stood. “So, we push her until she breaks?”

“If that’s what it takes,” Vale said.

“That’s not how this works.”

“That’s exactly how this works.”

They held there for a moment, tension tight between them.

Then Vale’s tone softened. “I’m not trying to hurt her. I’m trying to save her. She’s halfway to taking the fall for something no one can verify. If we don’t get that name, we lose the only defense that makes sense.”

“All right,” Sabre said. “Let’s go talk to her.”

~~~

In Juvenile Hall, Sabre and Vale were escorted to the interview room. Everything looked the same, the walls, the muted sounds, and the feeling that whomever entered those rooms didn’t always come back out the same.

Bay sat where she had before, the guard waiting outside the small cubicle. She was quiet, but seemed more unsettled.

They took their seats, and Vale let Sabre lead.

“Bay,” Sabre said softly. “You’ve had some time to think. So have we.”

Bay’s eyes flicked up. “Does he have to be here?”

“You know he does.” Sabre didn’t want to rush her, but it was time. “We’re trying to understand what happened with Todd Maddox so we can form a defense for you.”

No reaction.

“Not just what happened but also why.” Sabre shifted. “You said before that he was going to hurt someone.”

Bay’s shoulders tightened.

Vale cut in, his tone calm. “If someone was in danger, that gives us a good defense.”

Bay shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

“Then help us understand.”

A long silence. Then Bay said, “He doesn’t stop. If no one stops him, he just keeps going.”

“So, you stopped him?” Sabre prodded.

“I had to.”

“Where were you?”