Behind Morgan, the courtroom door opened. Bryce Walters slipped in and joined his ADA. Only the highest-profile cases warranted the DA’s personal attention.

The judge coughed, drawing Morgan’s attention back to him. He scrutinized Morgan’s face; sympathy softened his expression for a brief moment before he got back to business. Morgan mentally cursed McFarland. Her diligent use of ice overnight had kept the swelling to a minimum, but her black eye was visible through two layers of concealer.

She supposed she should be grateful McFarland hadn’t punched her in the mouth. At least her voice was clear.

Judge Marlow officially called the case and identified the parties present for prosecution and defense. “Does the defense waive the formal reading of the charges?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” She saw no benefit in dragging out the process, especially with Judge Marlow. He liked cases in his courtroom to move along at a brisk clip.

“Mr. Walters.” The judge shifted his gaze to the prosecutor’s table. “You may proceed.”

“The state strongly feels that Ms. Powell should remain in custody.” Bryce’s voice rang out, clear and confident. “The crime is particularly heinous in nature, and the evidence is solid. The defendant is clearly a danger to the public.”

“Ms. Dane.” The judge looked to Morgan.

“Your Honor, Ms. Powell has never been in trouble with the law,” Morgan argued. “She has lived in the area for seven years and was also born here. Her father was a Scarlet Falls police officer who lost his life in the line of duty. She has worked for the same employer since graduating from the local university three years ago. Her mother lives in Grey’s Hollow, and Haley lives with her. There is nothing in her background that suggests she is a flight risk or dangerous.”

Judge Marlow lowered his black-framed reading glasses to the very edge of his nose and squinted at the prosecutor, waiting for his rebuttal.

Bryce’s face hardened with disapproval. “Ms. Powell stabbed Noah Carter in the abdomen three times. She then went to sleep, covered in his blood, leaving him to bleed to death. Her fingerprints were found on the knife, and the expedited DNA report shows that Mr. Carter’s blood was literally on her hands.”

In the back of the courtroom, a woman sobbed. Morgan knew without looking that the woman was Noah Carter’s mother.

Ignoring the empathy in her heart, Morgan argued, “Ms. Powell has strong ties to the community. Her record is as clean as it can be. She’s never even received a parking ticket. In addition, she has a serious health condition.” Morgan defined Addison’s disease for the judge. “She became seriously ill over the weekend in the sheriff’s custody and required treatment in the hospital. Jail could be deadly for her.”

Judge Marlow set his glasses down and scrubbed both hands across his face. Dropping his hands, he stared at Haley for a few seconds. She trembled, her shoulders caved inward and her small body curled protectively around itself.

Morgan prayed the judge interpreted her unfocused eyes as desperation, illness, and fear, not insanity.

The judge rubbed his jaw, his expression thoughtful. “Ms. Powell, the district attorney has indicated he will be charging you with first-degree murder, a very serious charge with significant penalties. While I will not insist you remain in custody, I agree that a high bond is warranted in this matter. I am going set a one-million-dollar cash bond in this case, with an additional condition of electronic monitoring, at the defendant’s expense.”

Cash?

Instead of putting up 10 percent of the total bond and using a professional bail bond service for the remainder, Eliza would have to secure Haley’s release with $1 million in cash.

Judge Marlow set his jaw and leveled his gaze at Morgan. He was not going to yield, but she had to try. “Your Honor, we feel a million-dollar cash bond is excessive and ask for a professional bond option.”

“Denied. Bail is set at one million dollars cash.” Marlow’s tone and gavel announced that his word was final.

At the prosecutor’s table, Bryce looked irritated, but Esposito’s glare could have sliced Morgan in two. What was wrong with him? Why did he act as if every small win for her was a personal affront? Besides, with the judge requiring the entire bond to be produced in cash, there was a chance that Haley would have to remain in custody anyway.

Morgan turned away from his glower. She had no time for his ego issues. Sinking into her chair, she slid her legal pad into her tote. Next to her, Haley sat, pale and silent and shaking.

“A million dollars in cash?” she asked in a small voice.

“We’ll figure this out.” Morgan hoped. With a business the size of Wild, Eliza must have assets. Right? She must have something she could liquidate or borrow against. If not, they could appeal. The judge was supposed to set two forms of bail.

The bailiff led Haley away.

Esposito nodded toward the hallway. Morgan collected her tote and followed him. He’d reined in his temper, but cold anger still glittered in his eyes. “Once the grand jury and judge see the overwhelming amount of evidence, her bail will be revoked.”

Bail could be revisited after the grand jury issued an indictment. Because that wasn’t an if. It was a when. Grand juries met behind closed doors. Only the prosecutor presented evidence. Unless Haley wanted to testify—which Morgan wouldn’t allow—defense counsel wouldn’t even be present. After the grand jury handed Bryce his indictment, he would no doubt petition the court to revoke bail and remand Haley into custody until the trial.

Morgan’s head felt like a monkey was clanging cymbals behind her eyes, but she lifted her chin and looked Esposito squarely in the eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

His nostrils flared as he exhaled. “How is your head?”

The question surprised Morgan and made her wary. “It looks much worse than it is.”

“I hope so, because it looks terrible.”

Ass.

She waited for his going-out-of-business-limited-time-only plea offer.

“Ms. Powell is just as guilty as your last client,” he began. “But in the interests of the taxpayers, I’ll make you an offer. If she pleads guilty to the murder charge, we’ll settle on twenty-five years and won’t pursue a life sentence. She’s young. She could still have a life after she’s released.”

“I’ll relay your offer to my client.” Morgan didn’t even want to counter. Haley’s life would be over if she took the plea. This was an all-or-nothing case. Morgan had to win it. But could she?

“My offer expires when the grand jury issues the indictment.” Esposito smoothed his tie.

Of course it does.

“Understood.”

“If you refuse my offer, your client will go to prison for the rest of her life.” Esposito’s mouth twisted in a smug smile. “One other thing—your client’s blood tests show no evidence that she ingested any of the common club drugs. Thanks for insisting that she be tested. You just filled a nice hole in my case.”

Chapter Twelve

“I can’t believe Eliza produced a million dollars in cash that fast.” Anxious to get to work, Lance paced Morgan’s office. It could take all day for the county corrections department to process the paperwork to release Haley. There was no reason for him and Morgan to waste the day waiting. Sharp and Eliza could handle that on their own.

He’d missed working closely with Morgan on a case. Their offices were side by side, but over the winter, they’d been busy with their own caseloads.

What would he do if she took that job offer in New Jersey? She claimed to have no interest, but he’d seen the temptation in her eyes. Did she really want to work criminal defense? If she accepted the job, she’d have to relocate, something he’d never considered. His mother’s mental illness kept her housebound. She had no other family. What would happen to her if Lance moved away?

Behind her desk, Morgan opened her laptop. “We’re in business. Discovery evidence is coming in from the prosecutor’s office. I’m downloading documents.”

Lance picked up a dry-erase marker. “Let’s get some basics down before we start theorizing. Let’s start with the victim.”