BEHIND HIS WALLS

Chapter 10

The bad day came on a Thursday.

The witness they'd spent a week preparing fell apart on the stand.

Not because of anything they'd missed.

Not because of poor preparation.

Opposing counsel had found something personal.

Something painful.

Something that had nothing to do with the case.

And they used it anyway.

By the time they left the building, it was dark.

Mara felt hollow.

Sean walked beside her.

When they reached her usual train station, he stopped.

"You did everything right."

She looked at him.

"What happened wasn't your fault."

"I know."

She swallowed.

"It just doesn't feel that way."

"It won't."

His voice was quiet.

"Not tonight."

She looked at him.

"Cases like this stay with you."

He stared across the street.

"The good attorneys carry pieces of them."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

A pause.

"I've just gotten better at hiding it."

Mara's heart tightened.

"Maybe you don't have to."

He looked at her.

"Not with me."

His expression changed.

"I'm not going to think less of you because you care."

Sean went completely still.

"Mara—"

The way he said her name made her breath catch.

He stepped closer.

Neither moved.

For one suspended second, the world seemed to disappear.

Then his phone buzzed.

Sean closed his eyes briefly.

He stepped away.

"It's Preston."

Mara nodded.

"Of course."

He answered the call.

She watched him turn away.

Before he walked off, he looked back.

Their eyes met.

The moment wasn't gone.

Only postponed.

Mara rode the train home with her forehead against the window.

And thought about the way he'd said her name.

All night.