Maggie Ross paced the hallway outside the courtroom. The trial had just begun, and from her experience with numerous trials, she knew it always took a few minutes before she was called into the courtroom. As before every court-ordered expert opinion, she again studied all the documents relevant to her testimony this morning.

She had also avoided contacting Ashlyn in advance. She wanted to make it absolutely clear that her forensic medical report on the cause of Booker's death met all the standards of an objective scientific investigation. The fact that she and her daughter Ashlyn O'Laighin had worked together to protect Garner and to help solve Booker's death after her forensic medical examination was completely unrelated.

However, she was aware that Cantu's lawyers could question her about this. For this reason, she contacted Judge Pedro Berrios immediately after her court summons. She had explained the chronology of events to him, leaving out no detail, no matter how small.

Berrios was anything but pleased.

On the one hand, he had no interest in creating grounds for an appeal if he rejected a challenge for bias by the defense against Maggie's objectivity. Of course, the defense could always argue that Maggie, due to her investigative role in solving the death of Justin Booker, could not possibly be objective. However, Berrios conceded to Maggie that she could not have known how the situation would develop at the time of the autopsy. Let alone that she already knew who the dead man was or what the background to his death was.

On the other hand, Berrios also wanted to hear Maggie in the trial since she was the only expert who could provide a well-founded opinion on the cause of death. After all, it was Maggie who had autopsied Booker. In the end, Berrios dismissed all concerns about why Maggie was summoned to court today as an expert witness.

She was still deep in thought when the door opened, and the bailiff let her in. She took a deep breath and then entered the courtroom. The spectator benches were filled to capacity on both sides. The reporters looked on curiously, and as if on command, they began taking notes on their pads.

Maggie, who had already testified as an expert witness in hundreds of trials, knew the procedure. Before taking a seat on the witness stand, she gave a brief nod to the parties involved in the trial. Then she sat down next to the bench.

"Dr. Ross, thank you for assisting us today," Berrios said in a matter-of-fact tone before asking the ME about her personal details and informing her of her rights and duties as an expert witness.

Maggie answered the necessary questions with her usual professionalism and then began the oral rendition of her report. Since there were lay and professional judges in this court, she replaced medical terms with general language throughout. She wanted to ensure that everyone in the room could follow the results of her examinations. She kept glancing in the direction of the DA, the joint plaintiff, and the defense to ensure they followed her presentation.

Cantu's lawyers, as well as the defendant himself, seemed relatively uninterested at the beginning of her presentation. In contrast, Ashlyn and Micaela appeared to be paying close attention to her every word. Maggie saw right through their game and knew that the defense attorneys were waiting for the right moment to fire their questions. Like the other parties involved in the proceedings, Attorney Brankovic and his younger colleague had been able to study her report in advance, and Maggie knew precisely where they would be focusing their attention. As expected, the two defense attorneys sat up straight in their chairs as she discussed the impact injury to Booker's back.

"Next, I examined the back of the deceased, Justin Booker. A hematoma was visible immediately above the spine, roughly in the middle of the back," the redhead explained. "The subcutaneous fatty tissue at this point was dark red, with a moist subserous layer when I incised it. From the localization of the hematoma, it can be seen that it was not a typical fall or impact injury."

While Maggie was still saying this, she noticed that Brankovic, who was sitting to her right, began to shake his head conspicuously and whisper to his colleague. The two lawyers then looked at the redhead with a knowing smile. Brankovic made a note in the file in front of him. Maggie was professional enough not to be irritated by these provocative gestures. She continued in a calm voice.

"Based on the location and extent, I can say with certainty that the hematoma cannot have occurred postmortem, that is, after the death of the deceased. Rather, everything indicates that the deceased, Mr. Justin Booker, received a strong blow or kick to the back while still alive."

At that moment, John Brankovic cleared his throat so loudly that he attracted everyone's attention in the courtroom. Then he shrugged again, smiling, and made another note in his file.

"The subsequent examination of the vertebral bodies, which I carried out and which allowed me to draw a conclusion about the severity of the blow, showed that none of the vertebral bodies were cracked or broken. I can, therefore, further conclude that, in the absence of a fracture, it must have been merely a violent blow, presumably with a fist or a kick, that caused the hematoma."

Maggie paused briefly, glancing at the judge and then at the jury. "In conclusion, it can be said that the hematoma on the back occurred in close temporal proximity to the drowning of Justin Booker and that he, in all likelihood, fell in the Charles River due to the blow or kick, where he then drowned, as initially stated."

Maggie closed the file in front of her with this sentence and looked pointedly at Brankovic before licking her lips.

Like all the other professionals involved in the trial in the courtroom, Pedro Berrios realized that only one question of considerable importance remained after the report.

"Dr. Ross," he began, "I would like to thank you for your statement. However, what I am really interested in is the question of how certain you can be that the deceased Justin Booker was pushed into the river intentionally, in other words, whether it can be assumed that this blow or kick to the back, which you found during your examination, was carried out with the intention of killing."

"That, Your Honor, is not for me to say," Maggie replied calmly. "That is not the purpose of my report. I do not know who delivered this blow or kick, nor can I confidently say what the intention was. I can only state that the deceased was hit or kicked from behind and that this must have occurred a very short time before death."

"Thank you very much," Berrios replied. He looked at Micaela. "Ms. Barboza, I grant you the right to ask questions."

Micaela thanked him, got up from her chair, and smiled briefly at Maggie. "Dr. Ross, I would like to clarify Judge Berrios' question. Based on the injuries you found on the dead body, can you imagine that Justin Booker could have been hit from behind by a third person in such a way that he then fell into the Charles River as a result of that blow and drowned there?"

Maggie was experienced enough to know that the question-and-answer game between the prosecution and the defense was about to begin. Each side wanted to score points in this phase and explore how their investigation could establish Marcus Cantu's criminal liability or exonerate him. However, hardly any controversial questions were to be expected from the prosecution. Accordingly, she answered calmly. "Yes, that's how it could have happened."

"And have you ever found such an injury on a drowned person during your autopsy?" Micaela now followed up.

Maggie shook her head briefly. 'No, never.'

"Then I have no further questions," said Micaela, sitting back down in her chair with a satisfied expression.

"Ms. O'Laighin," Berrios now turned to Ashlyn. 'Do you have a question for Dr. Ross?'

Ashlyn looked at the judge intently and just shook her head. 'No, Your Honor, no questions.'

"Well then," Berrios replied, granting the defense the right to ask questions.

Attorney Brankovic rose, smoothed his tie, and smiled affably. He looked confidently at his client, Marcus Cantu, and then at Maggie. He fixed the ME with a piercing gaze. "Before I address the arguments in your expert opinion, I want to ask another clarifying question. A question that, in my opinion, is of fundamental importance for the relevance of your medical opinion. A question that will be of the utmost interest to everyone in the room." He let his gaze wander from Maggie over the entire row of spectators before returning to the redhead. "Have you, Dr. Ross, worked with the joint plaintiff's counsel, Ms. Ashlyn O'Laighin, in any way during these proceedings?"

Maggie had expected Brankovic to bring up this point and was prepared. Nevertheless, she took a quick glance in the direction of Pedro Berrios to make sure she was supposed to answer this question.

Berrios looked at her intently and waited patiently for her answer.

Maggie raised her chin and nodded once. "Yes, I actually did."

"And could you perhaps explain to us what kind of cooperation this was?"

Before Maggie could answer, Berrios spoke up. "Excuse me, Mr. Brankovic, but if you intend to question Dr. Ross about facts beyond the forensic medical report, you must first submit a corresponding motion to introduce evidence. Then Dr. Ross will change from an expert witness to a witness."

Brankovic, who, of course, must have been aware of this, just shrugged his shoulders. "Well then," he said with a mocking tone. "Then, for the time being, I only have one question. But I would like to clarify that I will reserve the right to file a motion for evidence." He made another note in his file before turning to Maggie with a satisfied smile. In a smug, almost disparaging tone, Brankovic said to Maggie: "Dr. Ross, can you say with certainty, based on the injuries you found during your examination, that my client, Mr. Cantu, pushed Justin Booker into the Charles River or that he urged someone else, an ominous third party, to do so?"

Maggie, who was professional enough not to be in the least annoyed by Brankovic's tone of voice but rather surprised that the lawyer was stooping to this level, replied matter-of-factly, "No, I can't. Neither one nor the other."

"I thought so," Brankovic replied with satisfaction. 'How could you have known?' Turning to the bench, he said, 'I have no further questions, Your Honor,' before returning to the defense table and sitting down on his chair again, deliberately slowly.

xxx

After Maggie's testimony and questioning, Barrios ordered an early lunch break. Spectators and trial participants left the courtroom and streamed in different directions through the long corridors to the court cafeteria, another room, or outside.

The reporters present, on the other hand, virtually pounced on Maggie, Brankovic, Micaela, and Ashlyn. Everyone wanted to be the first to get an interview or at least a statement about the ME's testimony and to post it on all social media in the next few minutes. However, only attorney Brankovic was pleased with the attention, while everyone else unanimously declined to comment.

Ashlyn saw Brankovic gather the journalists around him with an inviting gesture. "Let's go outside," he said jovially. "We can get some fresh air, and I'll answer any questions you may have." He strode confidently ahead. The reporters followed him to the exit.

The sight reminded Ashlyn of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. She shook her head and was about to go to the attorney's room when she ran into Tommy Graham. The court reporter from the Boston Observer had interviewed her at numerous trials, and Ashlyn appreciated his objective and always fair reporting.

"Hello, Counselor, nice to see you again," he said, and the corners of his mouth twitched in a friendly manner.

"Hi, Tommy," Ashlyn replied and shook the hand held out to her. "Don't hold it against me, but I won't give you a statement at this point either. It's just too early, and I'm also on the observing side this time."

"I can understand that. But if I may ask a question, unofficially and without me writing about it, would you answer me?"

Ashlyn laughed. Graham was persistent but very likable. "That depends on the question, I guess."

"Good. What strategy is Brankovic pursuing?"

Ashlyn didn't have to think about it for long because the defense attorney's approach was transparent. "That's very simple. And to come to that conclusion, he's done everything right so far. I would have proceeded exactly the same way."

Graham raised his eyebrows questioningly. "And what exactly does that mean?"

"It's quite simple. There are essentially only two types of defense. The defensive one aimed at cooperating with the court and the prosecution, and the offensive one aimed at attacking witnesses and experts. In the former, the facts of the case are clear, and the offender's involvement is generally undisputed. Here, you will simply attempt a full confession to get a good judgment through a deal or a statutory mitigation. But with an offensive defense, where the penalty is usually high, and the facts of the case are often not fully established, you'll do everything you can to take apart the testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution, introduce some evidence, tell a different story, and finally, with an eye to the appeal, try to drive the court into procedural errors." She looked at Graham. "I guess you can figure out the rest yourself, right?"

The journalist nodded slowly. "That's why Brankovic asked questions that had nothing to do with Maggie's report, and that's why Judge Berrios stopped it?"

"That's exactly how it looks. And if I may make a prediction here, this was just the beginning of a series of steps with only one goal: to produce formal errors. You'll see how Brankovic will focus less on the content of the testimony and more on how it was obtained in the next testimony after the lunch break."

Graham pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, which he had obviously made notes for today's trial day. "Martin Paul, the cop from the BPD?"

"That's right," Ashlyn said, heading for the lawyers' room. She was happy to resist the temptation to watch the spectacle of Brankovic in front of the courthouse.

xxx

After everyone had taken their seats again, Berrios opened the session.

Detective Martin Paul from the Boston Police Department's Cybercrime Unit took the stand.

While the judge questioned him about himself and instructed him about his rights and duties as a witness, Micaela tugged at Ashlyn's jacket. Ashlyn looked at her questioningly. Micaela slid her smartphone across the table. Her browser was open, displaying the homepage of a well-known tabloid. The headline was emblazoned in large letters:

"Scandal in the trial against Marcus Cantu: Medical Examiner is in cahoots with co-plaintiff!"

Ashlyn shrugged. This was precisely what she had expected after Brankovic's little press conference. She didn't care at all. The tabloids thrived on sensational headlines, and Ashlyn often was at the center of this coverage. Positively, she was admired for her success; in a way, she had achieved a controversial verdict for a notorious client. It was just part of the job. And not without good reason, because she repeatedly represented the city's criminal heavyweights.

With a smile, she pushed the phone back to Micaela. "It won't stay that way," she whispered softly. "This is just the beginning. Wait and see how Brankovic is going to take Martin Paul apart."

Micaela frowned a little and nodded.

Then Ashlyn turned her attention back to the testimony. In just under twenty minutes, the cybercrime detective described how he and his colleagues had monitored Marcus Cantu's computers and phone calls and evaluated the data available following the court order. He showed screenshots on a monitor displaying Cantus's computer browser history. After showing a few innocuous searches for the opening hours of a local bookstore and other research on the screen, he moved on to the pages on the Darknet. Using history, he showed how Cantus's computer had been used to search for an assassin. On a total of three days, all of which were before Justin Booker's death, and on another date that took place two days after the crime, Detective Paul described how the computer exchanged data with the site of the alleged hit man.

After Detective Paul had finished his testimony, asked a few critical questions, and received some clarifying points from Micaela and Ashlyn, Cantus's defense attorney, John Brankovic, was called to the stand. Ashlyn recognized Brankovic's hidden expression of joy on his face, and she already felt sorry for the investigator.

"Detective Paul. I have a few questions for you about his research and then a few more about how you even came up with the idea of researching in this direction."

Martin Paul shifted restlessly in his chair. He began to tap his right foot rhythmically.

"My first question: Can you be sure that it was my client who carried out this research on his computer, as you call it, for the contract killer?"

"Well, it was his computer, wasn't it?"

"That's not what I asked. Can you be sure that it was him?"

"Who else could it have been?"

Brankovic turned to the bench, and Pedro Berrios now intervened. "Detective Paul, please answer Mr. Brankovic's question as precisely as possible."

Satisfied, Brankovic turned back to the witness.

Paule hesitated for a moment and licked his lips. "No, I can't do that."

"Then I have another question. Can you ensure a contract killer was hired via the computer?"

"No, I can't do that either. All we have is proof that Marcus Cantus's computer communicated with the site but not the content of that communication."

"Can you say whether Justin Booker was murdered by a contract killer?"

Now, Micaela intervened courageously. "I would like to remind the court that the witness is here to provide evidence of his investigation about the technical observations in connection with the defendant's computer."

Brankovic nodded and then turned back to Detective Paul. "Furthermore, I am still interested in something. If you had access to the computer to find all the data you have just presented to us, wouldn't it be possible that someone else, a third party who, like you, had remote access to the computer, could also have accessed my client's computer?"

Martin Paul seemed to think for a moment. "Yes," he finally said. "That would be conceivable."

"So, can you rule out the possibility that a third party gained control of the computer in such a way that this third party sought contact with the alleged murderer on the Darknet?"

"No, I can't rule that out."

"Excellent," Brankovic said, pleased, reducing the significance of Detective Martin Paul's testimony with each additional question.

Ashlyn had to give him credit. Unfortunately, the defense attorney knew exactly what he was doing. And Ashlyn already knew what question Brankovic would use to end his questioning.

"My last questions are straightforward and only concern your assignment. Can you please tell us how you came up with the idea of scanning Marcus Cantus's computers for possible activities on the Darknet?"

Paul pursed his lips and looked at the public prosecutor's table for a fraction of a second. " we received the assignment from the DA's office. After all, they lead the investigation, and we collect evidence."

"And who exactly gave you this assignment?"

Paul hesitated for a moment and ran his fingers over his knuckles. 'That was the investigating prosecutor in this case. Micaela Barboza.' With these words, Paul looked in the direction of the prosecution.

Brankovic turned briefly and dramatically to Ashlyn and Micaela. "And did Micaela Barboza ask you to conduct a general investigation of the cell phones and computers, which is not common in murder investigations? Or did you have the specific task of dealing with the story on the Darknet?"

The detective licked his lips again. "The assignment included targeted research into activities on the computer on the Darknet."

"Thank you, Detective Paul," Brankovic concluded his questioning. But before he sat down, he said, looking at the bench. 'I wonder how the prosecution came up with this idea. But I'm sure we'll come to that later.' Then he turned to Ashlyn. And as he sat down, he smiled meaningfully.

xxx

After a long day in court, Ashlyn had arranged to meet Micaela on Friday morning. For one thing, she wanted to see the DA. Secondly, it was typical for co-plaintiffs and the prosecution, who were pulling in the same direction, to talk to each other during a trial. After the cyber-expert's testimony, they had every reason to do so. Ashlyn had some concerns about what was coming next.

However, that was not something she wanted to deal with tonight. Lost in thought, she looked out through her apartment window at the city. The weather had changed during the day, and the temperature had dropped to twenty-three Fahrenheit.

Ashlyn still owed Tim Garner a phone call to update him on current events. Garner had already tried to reach her several times, which was understandable given the press coverage. After Maggie's discrediting, Boston's highest-circulation tabloid turned its attention to the cyber expert. Under the headline "BPD Computer Expert Can't Link Marcus Cantu to Crime," they reported in detail on the afternoon's testimony.

Ashlyn took a deep breath and reached for her cell phone to call Garner. "Good evening. I'm sorry I didn't return your calls earlier but was still in meetings. Now we can talk in peace."

"You said the witnesses would say anything that wasn't good for Cantu, I mean," Garner got straight to the point. He spoke hastily and seemed agitated.

"You read the news reports in the papers, right?"

"Yes. And that worries me."

"I can understand that. But it's one thing to read what's in the papers. It's quite another to understand what that means for the trial."

"What do you mean?" Garner sounded uncertain.

"Even though Cantu's defense attorneys grilled both Ross and the cyber expert, that doesn't change the outcome of their testimony. Because apart from the fact that opinions in newspapers and on social media were divided, two facts were established in court today: Booker was violently pushed, and communication with a contract killer took place from Cantus' computer." Ashlyn cleared her throat and wanted to give Garner a moment to follow her comments. "So," she continued, "these two pieces of evidence have now been introduced and must be considered by the court later. So it didn't go nearly as badly as the media would have us believe at first glance."

"Okay," Garner replied, his voice calmer now. 'Thank you. I understand that. But what happens next?'

"We'll focus on your testimony. You'll enter the state on Monday. How about I come to your place Friday afternoon, and we prepare for it?"

After Garner agreed, they ended the call. Ashlyn wondered how the trial would continue. Brankovic was a much better opponent than she had assumed before the trial. His little experience as a commercial attorney in criminal law was in no way apparent. And Ashlyn knew that they were in for another frontal assault. She was sure that Brankovic now knew the relationship she and Ashlyn had once had.

After she had decided to take an extensive shower and then indulge in a generous glass of red wine, she stood behind her kitchen island and let her gaze wander through her empty apartment.

A month after the investigation into the Garner case was closed, she and Kim had decided that it would be best for the attorney to take a break from their relationship so that she could fully concentrate on the trial. They had promised each other that they would stay in touch during that time, but that promise had remained nothing more than that. Kim had moved out and hadn't contacted the blonde since. And with that, Ashlyn knew that this relationship was over.

Ashlyn winced as her cell phone rang, which brought her back to the here and now. She looked at the display and took a deep breath. "Hey, Mom," she greeted her mother. "To what do I owe the late honor of your call?"

"A question that won't leave me alone?" Maggie replied without beating around the bush.

Ashlyn took a sip from her glass. "Well, fire away."

"First of all, I wasn't thrilled that Cantus's defense attorney had managed to question my objectivity regarding my forensic work through our collaboration. Of course, our joint research provided a good reason for this. However, I had prepared the report long before our collaboration, which was also clear to John Brankovic."

Ashlyn took another sip of wine with a smirk. She knew how much morality and justice dominated her mother's life and how much an attack on her integrity hurt Maggie. "Welcome to the world of shysters and trial strategists, Mom," she replied dryly.

Maggie paused briefly. "All right, all right. I can handle that," she said, seemingly fighting to maintain her composure. "But that's not my problem. I'm wondering if you don't have a problem. And Micaela."

"That's an excellent question indeed. Because if Brankovic wants to think you're biased, he'll undoubtedly do the same to us because of the relationship Mica and I had in the past."

Maggie seemed to have pricked up her ears at this careless statement. 'Just in the past?' she followed up, and Ashlyn closed her eyes for a second. "If I may make a comment, it seems to me that your relationship is not that distant at the moment either."

Ashlyn closed her eyes again when she realized that in this moment of carelessness, she had unconsciously admitted a secret from her past that she wanted to keep to herself. She and Micaela hadn't just been colleagues but also secretly had a relationship. So secret that not even Dominic and Kim knew about it. "Either way, your question is justified. In fact, no provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure would allow a prosecutor to be dismissed based on bias. This differs from court proceedings, for example, where there is a legal provision for this."

"Oh, that's surprising," Maggie replied in amazement.

"Yes, I've often thought that too. And our highest court in criminal matters has also rejected an analogous application of the rules for judges that could apply to public prosecutors. However, it becomes questionable when the DA also testifies as a witness."

"Because then too much comes together in the same person?"

"Exactly. Because then, in their closing arguments, they would have to evaluate their own testimony and use it for the argument. Even I have to say that can't be objective."

"Okay, I understand that. And in principle, it doesn't matter, at least from a moral point of view. But wouldn't it be the right thing to do if you, or rather Micaela, spoke to the court to clarify the situation, given your relationship?"

"It certainly would be, Mom. And guess what, I've arranged to meet with Mica tomorrow for that purpose."

Ashlyn heard Maggie hum in agreement at the other end of the line. "Is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me?"

"Basically, yes, but not yet," Maggie replied. "I had a thought that actually gave me something of a headache. It could be necessary for our case. But I'd like to discuss it with Kate before unnecessarily bothering you. It's just an idea I hope will vanish into thin air."