“You brought down my firm just to punish me for Sierra.”

“Sierra walked out of the courtroom two hours ago without looking back at you,” I said.

“And I’m not doing this to punish you.”

“Then drop the forgery affidavit,” Cole said.

“I’m letting the legal process run its course without getting involved personally,” I said.

“That’s neither revenge nor mercy.”

Cole turned his head away and looked around the bare apartment, his eyes lingering on the empty white walls where his modern art collection had hung three weeks earlier.

“Your time’s up, sir,” the officer said, lightly touching Cole’s elbow.