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"Want to talk?"

"Not yet."

"All right."

She stares outside.

Then she says, "Aaron hired me because he believed I could help him."

"You did."

"Not enough."

I put my hand on the back of her neck.

"Kierra."

She turns toward me.

Her eyes are red, but her chin lifts.

"They killed David. They killed Aaron. And they thought frightening me would make the whole thing disappear."

I stay quiet.

"They were wrong."

"Yeah, darlin'. They were."

"I want the witness protected until this is over."

"Already working on it."

"And I want every document Mel brought checked. Every payment. Every name."

"Lock's on it."

She nods.

"I'll help."

"Figured you would."

That earns me the smallest smile.

I brush my thumb across her cheek.

"Come here."

She steps into my arms.

I hold her tight.

For a while, neither of us says anything.

Then she looks up.

"Your house."