“That’s a tall order.”

“It is. I won’t be able to do it alone. I’m going to need an investigator.”

Lance coughed. She wanted to hire Sharp Investigations? Why hadn’t that occurred to him? Why else would she be here? Clearly, she hadn’t come just to talk to him, and didn’t that fact give him an ache right under his heart?

He tried to put it aside. He had no right to feel hurt. Morgan wasn’t ready for a relationship, and as long as he had his mom to handle, neither was he.

But damn.

He couldn’t entirely suppress his feelings. If he and Sharp didn’t agree to help her, she’d go to someone else. Jealousy poked him in the gut. He didn’t want anyone else working closely with her. But taking the case would put him at odds with Chief Horner. Lance’s chance of getting that upcoming detective slot would evaporate faster than steam from an overheated radiator.

All he’d ever wanted since his dad disappeared was to be a detective. Could he give that up?

“Does your client have money?” Sharp asked bluntly.

Morgan sighed. “I’ll be honest. Bud is scrambling for cash. He’s remortgaging his house.”

Sharp said, “You’re working pro bono?”

Morgan nodded. She was sacrificing her entire career for her neighbor, and she wasn’t even getting paid. “Whatever money he can amass will be for the investigation and defense. Bud’s a good man. He’ll pay you eventually.”

“You really believe this kid is innocent?” Sharp asked.

“I do.” There was no doubt in her tone.

Lance rested his elbows on his knees. “What if you find out he isn’t?”

“He is.” Morgan’s eyes went flat with determination. “Besides the fact that I know he’s not capable of murder, Nick vomits at the sight of blood. I’ve personally witnessed this happen. It’s an immediate, visceral reaction.”

“So you think he’s being railroaded,” Lance said.

“Horner’s an ass,” Sharp chimed in. “But I can’t see him deliberately persecuting an innocent man.”

“He expedited three DNA tests in six days,” Morgan added. “That took work. I’m sure he used up quite a few favors. He wants Nick to be guilty.”

Sharp nodded. “Bryce Walters needs the public image boost after that cluster with the Jones case a few months ago.”

“I feel so out of touch. What happened?” Morgan rubbed her forehead.

“The police chief and DA pushed a search warrant through only to have it be declared invalid at trial for lack of probable cause. With the evidence suppressed, an armed robber walked. Three weeks later, Jones killed a liquor store clerk in Whitehall. After the press broadcast the connection, both the mayor and the DA saw their public approval ratings take a swan dive.”

“That also explains why they were extra cautious with the search warrant.” Morgan lowered her hand, her brows furrowed in thought. “But if they want this case solved quickly, they might have made mistakes.”

“Yes,” Sharp agreed. “I’d not only look under every rock, I’d blow them up and examine the pieces.”

Sharp’s gaze landed on Lance like a Taser barb, then returned to Morgan. “We’ll need to discuss the offer. Can we have a few minutes?”

“Of course,” she said.

Lance followed Sharp across the hall into the storage room.

Sharp closed the door. “It’s up to you. If we work her investigation, Horner is going to be pissed. As long as he’s the SFPD chief, you’ll never wear a badge again in this town.”

“I know.” Lance scrubbed his hands over his face. Moving away from Scarlet Falls wasn’t an option. He couldn’t leave his mom.

“Do you know this kid?”

“A little. On the surface, I would never have suspected him capable of murder, but we both know people can be very good at hiding their sins.” Lance put aside the complications Morgan’s offer entailed and focused on what he knew about the case.

Sharp scratched his chin. “Irrespective of his guilt or innocence, are you prepared to give up a future with the police force to work for her?”

“Yes. I want to take this case,” Lance said.

“For you, for Nick, or for Morgan?”

“All of the above. I’d pretend to be all noble, but that would be bullshit.”

Sharp got up and went to a filing cabinet. “In that case, I have something for you that might make you feel better about your decision. I was waiting for the right moment to give it to you.” He unlocked and opened the bottom drawer, pawed through a tight row of files, and yanked a thick accordion file free. He handed it over. “Here.”

“What’s this?” Lance turned it sideways. His blood chilled as he read the label: VICTOR KRUGER.

His father.

The file was two inches thick and felt heavier than mere paper should. The weight of its implications no doubt.

“My personal file on your father’s case.” Sharp closed and locked the drawer.

“Police detectives aren’t supposed to keep personal files.”

“This is true, but we all do. Or at least we did back then.” Sharp sighed. “I’m sure plenty has changed since I left the force.”

Lance tested the file’s weight. “So you clearly worked on his case even after it was officially declared cold.”

“I kept plugging away at it in my personal time.” It was just like Sharp to do so without saying a word.

“You never told me.”

“When you were a teenager, you needed normal and you wouldn’t have gotten that if you didn’t let go.”

As evidenced by what had happened to Lance’s mother.

Lance didn’t open the file. “I’ve been in this office nearly every day for two months. Why didn’t you give me this before?”

“I wasn’t sure you’d want it, and I didn’t want you to get consumed by something that happened more than two decades ago. I’m also sensitive to the impact reopening the case might have on your mom. But if you’re going to join the firm permanently, I feel like I shouldn’t keep this from you any longer. You should be able to make this decision for yourself.”

Lance touched his dad’s name. Did he want this? Once he opened the file, he’d be pulled in. The case had the potential to be his black hole. He also had to consider his mom. Dredging up the past could have serious repercussions on her life, which was already a constant and precarious balancing act.

Sharp continued. “I know that your dad’s case and my influence over the years is part of what drives you. But you don’t have to be on the force to be a detective. I got pulled from your dad’s case because the case went cold and the budget was tight. We were shorthanded. Officially, I had to move on to solving active crimes. In the private sector, I decide when to stop working a case. Now it’s up to you.”

“Thank you. I think.” Lance tapped the file on his leg. He was afraid to open it.

“So you’re sure you want to take Nick’s case? This is an important decision. Do you need time to think about it?”

As much as it pained Lance to let go of his dream, in his heart he didn’t really have an option. He’d never be able to turn his back on Morgan. His fingers curled around the edge of the file. “I’m in.”