"There is a man in your office."

Diane Lockhart nodded at her assistant. "Okay." She glanced into her office, there was in fact a man leaning against her desk looking out the window. He didn't look familiar and she did not remember setting up any appointments for the afternoon. "Who is he?"

"I don't know." Heather sighed. "I asked, but he wouldn't tell me, just said he'd wait."

"Okay." Diane frowned, her curiosity peaking. "I'll take care of it." She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear before walking into her office. "May I help you?"

"Diane Lockhart?"

Diane nodded, raising her brow when the man didn't mention his name.

"Oh, sorry. Detective Marcelli. But you can call me Gio. Most people do."

"Hmm." Diane nodded. She studied the man quickly. He seemed young for a detective. He was fidgeting. She tried not to smile as she slipped past him taking a seat behind her desk. He was nervous, this might be fun. "So, why do you need a lawyer Detective Mar, uh, Gio?"

"A lawyer? Oh right. Yeah." Gio nodded. "I don't need your services Ms. Lockhart, you need mine. Uh, I didn't mean it like that. Oh man. Do you remember a client you had a few years back, Jeffery Spellman?"

Diane stiffened her posture slightly. "Yes"

"Right. So you probably recall he threatened you when he was convicted." He nodded when Diane showed confirmation. "Okay, so, as you should have been informed he recently made parole."

"Yes." Diane said trying to will the detective into making his point.

"Well, he's fallen off the radar."

Diane pursed her lips slightly as she looked at the younger man over her glasses. "What exactly does that mean? Fell off the radar. You let this, person, out of prison and just let him roam free?"

"Well I didn't ma'am, but, uh, yeah, you could say that."

"And what exactly do you plan to do about this?"

"Well, if you'd like ma'am we can do spot checks on you, until there is a more, uh, viable threat."

Despite herself Diane let out a laugh. "Spot checks."

"Ma'am?"

"You'll come check on me to make sure I haven't been murdered. How often, once a day, a hour?"

"I don't know the specifics ma'am. But off the record, if you have friends or family out of town you can stay with for a little while, I would recommend it." He pointed over Diane's shoulder. "Is that your dog?"

"Yes." Diane said glancing over her shoulder at the framed photo of Justice. "Why?"

"It's just I wouldn't recommend leaving it alone. People like this, they, they like send messages, often through pets."

"Dear god."

"Yes ma'am."

/

"I could tail him for a bit." Kalinda said. She turned and frowned at Will when Diane just started out the window.

"Diane?" Will said leaning forward. He'd never seen his partner like this before. Sure she'd been distracted plenty of times, but this was different. If Will didn't know her better he'd say she looked terrified. "Diane?"

"Hmmm?" Diane mumbled turning her attention away from the window.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you want me to leave?" Kalinda asked. She held up her notebook. "We can talk about this later."

"No." Diane sighed. "It's fine. Stay." She debated how much she wanted to say, but the words just started pouring out of her mouth. "Jeffery Spellman was released on parole."

"What?" Will cut her off. "How on Earth did that piece of trash make parole?"

"Who is Jeffery Spellman?"

"He was my client. He was convicted of manslaughter and he did not take it well. He blamed me. He would write me letters, threatening to kill me." Diane waved her hand slightly. "It was years ago. I never took them seriously. But."

"But now he's out." Kalinda nodded. "Want me to have someone keep an eye on him?"

"He's missing." Diane practically laughed. "It has been recommended I leave town and," she took a deep breathe willing herself not to cry, "not leave Justice alone."

"When are you leaving?" Will asked. He he frowned when Diane just shook her head. "God Diane. He's a murderer that threatened you."

"It was ten years ago. He's probably moved on. He's out of jail now, why risk going back?"

"Right." Kalinda nodded. "No one ever goes back to prison after getting out."

"Kalinda." Will sighed. Even if she was right sarcasm was likely not the best route to take at the moment.

Kalinda rolled her eyes and pulled out her cell phone, quickly dialling. "McVeigh?" She held up her hand urging Diane not to interrupt. "I have a favour to ask." She nodded a few times, dispute that fact the person on the other line couldn't see her. "Yeah, it's for my boss." She smiled at Diane before standing up and walking out of the office.

"What is she doing?"

"I don't know." Will shrugged. "Probably taking this more seriously than you are."

"What am I suppose to do?" Diane sighed leaning back in her chair. "Move to some little shack in the woods. Maybe a deserted island. For how long? What if they never find him. I just retire and live in hiding with my dog?"

"That, or you could start off easy and go on vacation for a week or two. Relax, be safe, give the cops time to find Spellman."

Diane sighed as she ran her hand through her hair trying to decide what to do. She had never been one to run, but she had also never faced such a serious threat on her life before. Assuming this was a serious threat and Spellman wasn't already at the border trying to slip into Canada not thinking twice about his old lawyer.

"It's all set." Kalinda said walking back into the office.

"What's all set?"

"You're going to go stay with Kurt McVeigh." Kalinda smiled. "And I'll make a few calls to see if I can find Spellman while you're gone. If he's around it shouldn't take too long."

"Who is Kurt McVeigh and why would I go stay with him?"

"The ballistics guy?" Will asked smirking slightly. "We used him on the Renfroe case a few months back. He's good."

"He owed me a favour." Kalinda shrugged. "He lives in the country, about forty miles out. It's remote. You'll be safe there. He just warned you'll want to keep an eye on Justice when you let him out." She frowned slightly. "You know, because he's bait."

"Dear lord." Diane sighed.