And I almost felt sorry for him, because it was such an old line, and he had used it up so long ago.

“No, Roman,” I said.

“You already used your best lie.

There isn’t another one big enough.” And behind me, the ballroom doors opened again.

Chapter 14 — This Event Is Now Evidence

Rosalind came through the doors with two detectives, a federal agent, and Priya — and behind them, wearing the specific gray expression of a man who has just realized history will record his mistake, came the prosecutor who had put me away.

Rosalind’s voice rang out across the gold chairs and the white roses.