Chapter 6 · The Badge-Side Trap

"Mark Chen, you're under arrest."

Lyla's voice came through the door before her fist did. Three hard knocks. Mark didn't move from the couch. Emma froze halfway to the window, her hand still on the curtain.

"Open up, Mark. Don't make me kick it in."

Emma's eyes snapped to him. "You said she was your partner."

"Was." Mark stood, keeping his voice low. "Three years ago. Before they buried me."

"So why's she here to arrest you now?"

"Because someone told her to." He crossed to the door, stopped with his hand on the knob. "Stay behind the kitchen counter. If this goes wrong, you run."

"Mark—"

"Run, Emma."

He opened the door.

Lyla Santos stood on the threshold in her homicide jacket, badge clipped to her belt, one hand resting on her holster. She looked tired. The kind of tired that came from choosing between bad options at 3 a.m. and knowing you'd picked wrong.

"Inside," she said. Not a question.

Mark stepped back. Lyla walked in, swept the room with her eyes, clocked Emma by the counter. "Ms. Roy. You're listed as a witness. You want to make this easier, you step outside."

Emma didn't move.