Graden laughed as he shook his head. "Only Parkova."

Then I remembered what I'd been meaning to ask. "What does the 'M' stand for?"

"You promise never to tell? She'll definitely hunt me down and kill me." I promised. "Miriam."

This was the big state secret? "She can change it legally if she's that twizzled about it."

"Legal isn't really her thing, but I'll let her know." Graden paused. "I had an idea I wanted to run by you."

I waited.

"I thought it might help if we let Parkova track those reports Lilah sent you-"

My nemesis, who'd almost gotten Bailey and me killed. And who'd sent me previously undiscovered reports on my sister, Romy.

"But I thought you already checked them out and they were legit?"

"They are. I'm not talking about that part. I'm talking about having Parkova see if she can track down Lilah by seeing how those reports were accessed."

The sheer poetic justice of having the genius hacker go after the brilliant sociopath brought a smile to my face.

"It's brilliant. I love it."

The doorbell rang and we went to answer it. Declan was there with a tall, sandy-haired surfer-looking type whom I knew very well.

"Kevin Jerreau!" I said. "I haven't seen you in...a year?"

Kevin and I had been baby DAs together, and friends ever since. He'd helped me on a case a couple of years ago involving the murder of my dear friend and fellow prosecutor Jake Pahlmeyer.

We hugged. "Your fault, not mine," Kevin said.

I looked from Kevin to Declan. "I didn't know you two knew each other."

"He taught my evidence class in law school," Declan said.

Kevin smiled. "Actually, I'm the one who suggested Declan try clerking at the DA's office."

"Then I have you to thank yet again," I said.

Graden took the drink orders, and as he went to prepare them, J.D.'s car rolled up and the four of them-J.D., Toni, Bailey, and Drew-descended on us.

It was a magical night, with laughs, great stories, and the best steaks I'd ever had. Declan and Kevin were the first to leave.

I looked at them knowingly. "You've got another party to get to."

"No," Declan said.

"Yes," Kevin said.

But Toni, J.D., Drew, and Bailey weren't far behind them. As I walked them out to the car, I hugged Bailey and Toni and told them we had to make plans. "You're taking some time off, aren't you?" I asked Toni.

"Oh, yeah." She leaned in and whispered, "Listen, if you dare go home tonight, I will personally make your shrink appointment."

I grinned. "No appointments necessary."

As I waved good-bye, Bailey and Drew gave me a smile.

Then Graden put his arm around me and we walked back inside. And closed the door.

Acknowledgments.

Scientific advancement offers opportunities to both sinners and saints, and so the new frontier of cyberspace has proven to be both the gift and the bane of our existence. But the world of computer crime is a complex one and its depiction requires specific expertise that I do not possess. For the computer-related crime in this story I was fortunate enough to be able to call upon a true expert: Gregg Housh. My undying gratitude goes to Gregg for the time he took to answer my endless questions and for the fascinating background he provided about the world of cyberspace crime.

The DNA testimony in this story was reviewed for technical accuracy by Barry A. J. Fisher, former crime laboratory director for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and current senior forensic adviser for the Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. My profound thanks go to Barry for his help.

All credit for the accuracy of the computer crime and DNA aspects of this story goes to Gregg Housh and Barry Fisher. All credit for the errors goes to Yours Truly.

Once again, I am forever indebted to Catherine LePard. I would never have taken the leap into novels had it not been for her. To Marillyn Holmes, I again thank you for your excellent help, keen eye, and knowledge. To beloved friends Lynn Reed Baragona and Hynndie Wali, who are still performing the yeoman task of keeping me sane.

I love you all!

Dan Conaway, I will never stop marveling at my ridiculous luck in having you for an agent. Please believe me when I say I'm grateful for you every single day. And to fantastic assistant Stephen Barr, you are such a pleasure. What a team! I couldn't love you more.

My deepest thanks to wonderful editor in chief Judy Clain, and CEO Michael Pietsch. I am so fortunate to be working with you. And thank you to the new, fabulous assistant Amanda Brower, a rising star. To senior production editor Karen Landry for saving me from myself yet again-thank you, Karen, for another great job.

To the publicity all-star team, Nicole Dewey, Sabrina Callahan, Miriam Parker-aka, my buds-and to all the wonderful people at Mulholland Books, a million thanks to you for all your hard work, creativity, and brilliance.

About the Author.

Marcia Clark is the author of Guilt by Association and Guilt by Degrees. A former prosecutor for the state of California, she is now a frequent media commentator on legal issues. She lives in Los Angeles.

marciaclarkbooks.com.

Books by Marcia Clark.

Killer Ambition: A Rachel Knight Novel.

Guilt by Degrees: A Rachel Knight Novel.

Guilt by Association: A Rachel Knight Novel.

Short Stories.

Trouble in Paradise: A Rachel Knight Story (ebook only).

If I'm Dead: A Rachel Knight Story (ebook only).

ISBN 978-0-316-22091-0.