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reason to care that she was drowning in a sea of loss and regret.
    â€œThe district attorney called me a couple of days ago,” Flores said.
    She curled her fingernails into her palms. She could sense that, once again, she was about to be disappointed. “And...”
    â€œIt’s not good news.”
    â€œDon’t tell me the DA has changed his mind!”
    â€œI’m afraid so. He doesn’t want to try Sebastian again for fear the state will lose. He’s decided to wait until we can gather more evidence.”
    Unable to continue standing, India sank into a chair. “What does that mean?”
    â€œIt means we’ll keep at it—and when we have more, we’ll bring him back to trial.”
    â€œBut that isn’t a certainty.”
    He hesitated. “No.”
    â€œThen... you’re letting him go .”
    â€œWe had to release him, India. We couldn’t hold him once we dropped the charges.”
    â€œ He’s out? And you didn’t tell me?”
    â€œI’ve been meaning to, but...I knew how heartbreaking this would be for you.”
    â€œIt’s more than heartbreaking! He could find me again, Detective Flores. And what about Cassia? He knows she’s the reason I wouldn’t go with him when he tried to drag me off that night. Next time he won’t take the chance. He’ll kill her.”
    â€œI understand the fear and pain you must feel,” he responded. “But please try to understand our dilemma. If we go back to trial and Sebastian gets off, we can’t try him again. We’ve discussed it at great length. After what happened with the last jury, we feel it would be smarter to wait and see if we can build a stronger case.”
    India felt as if she’d been shot herself. As terrible as the past eleven months had been, as slowly as justice seemed to crawl, she’d still had faith that Sebastian would be convicted eventually. How could he not? She’d seen him shoot Charlie. There was no confusion in her mind about who was responsible or how it had happened.
    She dropped her head in her hand. “What are the chances that you’ll find some new piece of evidence? They’ve got to be slim, at best. That means he might never have to answer for what he’s done.”
    A long silence ensued. Finally, Detective Flores cleared his throat. “I hope that’s not the case,” he said. “And we have to hang on to that hope. It’s the only way to keep our sanity in the face of such a horrendous act. A lot of things could change, India. This isn’t over.”
    But he hadn’t been able to deliver on anything . How could she trust what he told her? “You won’t get any more evidence from the house,” she said. “You went through it and released it. The place has been sold. You already subpoenaed Sebastian’s cell phone records. You searched his house and his car and didn’t get what you need. What could you possibly come across in the future that might strengthen the case?”
    â€œMaybe we’ll receive a tip from a neighbor who hasn’t come forward yet, or someone will turn in the gun. It’s even possible his wife will leave him. If she does, she could change her story. I’ve seen that happen a number of times. If she’ll admit he went out that night, that they weren’t together, we might have what we need to get a conviction.”
    â€œSebastian shot Charlie!” India insisted. “I was there.”
    â€œI believe you. However, your background...the mistakes you made in your youth...”
    He let his words trail off. She could tell he didn’t want to come right out and say it, but the defense had assassinated her character. They’d painted her as a woman who couldn’t be trusted, someone who’d managed to get her hooks into Charlie, then killed him for his money and his life insurance.
    Thinking about all the things