My mother-in-law shaved my head while I slept on the very night the United States Army promoted me into one of the most important commands of my career.

I looked at Price.

She did not react openly, but something in her gaze sharpened.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Ryan sat back down slowly.

“It means Linda kept records,” he said. “On everyone. Judges. lawyers. police. officers. Anyone who helped, anyone who looked away, anyone who took money and pretended it was kindness.”

“Where?” Price asked.

Ryan looked only at me.

“At the house,” he said. “But not where you think.”

By noon, my home was no longer my home.