Chapter 23 · The Badge Trap

"You're calling her."

Mark looked up from the recorder. Emma stood in the doorway, arms crossed, still wearing yesterday's shirt. Her hair was tied back too tight.

"I don't have a choice," he said.

"You always have a choice. You just don't like the other ones."

He pocketed the recorder. "Lyla's still in homicide. She has access to the database, the case files, the—"

"The woman who sold you out three years ago."

Mark didn't answer. Emma stepped into the room, close enough that he could see the exhaustion under her eyes. She'd been up all night listening to that recording on loop.

"She put your name on that evidence log," Emma said. "She's the reason you lost your badge. And now you're going to hand her the only proof we have?"

"She didn't have a choice either."

"Everyone keeps saying that." Emma's voice cracked. "My husband didn't have a choice. You didn't. Lyla didn't. When does someone actually choose something?"

Mark pulled out his phone. "When they run out of time."

He dialed.

Lyla picked up on the second ring. "Chen."

"I need a favor."

Silence. Then: "You know what asking me for favors costs.