My Girlfriend, Boyfriend

ed wrists resting on the scarred wood. Across the room, Mateo gripped the back of a gallery bench, his knuc

alight with fury. "Even her loyal friend." His gaze flicked to Mateo. The prosecutor displayed M

n," the prose

feet. "Objection! This is

udge's gavel crack

I wanted to remember her

: Seeds o

ears

to the storage closet. "Look!" She yanked a dusty tarp off a canvas-a vibran

d, tracing the chipped edges. "They raided our house,

tated. "Wh

to his palm. "Because you're a

: The U

vandalizing the councilman's office. Eric's voiceover dri

p, chains clanking. "Y

er. "One more outburst, Ms.

lower petals drifted through open

Vanis

Lila's gone. She left this." He thrust Lila's note int

voice low. "Meet me at the cente

s tore i

" She vanished

a's

e with her thumbnail. The guard slid a plea deal across the bar

face flashed in her min

air," sh

tyard. Above, a helicopter spotli

t at th

is mother's shattered mural, Ms. Rivera pried loose a brick, revealing Clara'

vera said. "Eric's father

ghtened. "This is

cketed the ledger. "Testify

e: The

Mateo's gaze. The plea

on. "Ms. Vega's reckle

ara's voice sil

o fr

ng at Eric. "But ask yourself-w

ted. The judge c

p, her laptop open. A file labeled