When she saw me come out of the courtroom, she took three quick steps across the marble toward us.

“Claire,” Lauren said, dropping her voice to a whisper as two county deputies went by.

“Please tell me you’re not going to file civil malice charges.”

“The judge froze his accounts, Lauren,” I said, standing three feet from her beside the brass drinking fountain.

“He told me it was just a temporary refinancing form,” Lauren said, twisting her silver earring around her thumb until the skin turned red.

“He promised me ninety thousand dollars to clear my credit debts if I let him get to the bedroom safe while you were in Columbus.”