There was Rosalie in her work coat with the blue folder under her arm.

Then Victoria at the exit door with her hand flat against the glass.

Then Evelyn on the landing.

Nobody in that room made a sound.

A chair creaked behind me and then went still.

When the screen went dark, Evelyn’s fingers found her pearls and stayed there.

“The state calls Detective Marcus Hale.”

Hale came up the aisle with his notebook, took the oath in his slow drawl, and sat down.