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“It’s not because of you, I promise,” Roxanne insisted. “She didn’t even know you were here.”

Ah. Well, that was another layer of embarrassment Avery hadn’t been expecting. “So you know about that… How idiotic did I sound when she told you?”

“Oh! Not at all. She wasn’t even angry, I promise, just embarrassed. She’d thought you’d been flirting.”

“I would not even know how to begin,” Avery admitted. “I might have. Unintentionally.”

Roxanne squinted, her lips pursing into a crooked smile. “I think intent actually has to be there for it to be flirting.”

The girl had a point. “Well, in any case, it was not my intent to cause harm or embarrassment. Especially now that I know that is the sort of thing she talks about with her assistant.”

“Well, not just any assistant. I think she told me more as my godmother than my boss.”

“Godmother?”

She smiled, the way one did when they were surprised they were imparting new information. “Well, yeah, she’s a zână.”

“I didn’t realize she still practiced.”

“Sometimes she makes exceptions. When a kid really needs it.” Roxanne shrugged. “My dad ran out on my mum before I was born, and…” Despite the two nearly being eye to eye, she seemed small then. “My point is, we’ve been close since I was a baby, so you have nothing to be embarrassed about. We share things. Not in the office. In the office, I do office things.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh, which reminds me, you asked her for any files on the Hudson line, right?”

Avery’s attention sharpened. “I did.”

“I have things for you. Do you have a minute? It’s on my desk.”

Avery checked her watch again. The walk to the Mercy Wing and then to the magistrate’s chambers would take approximately…five minutes? If they walked quickly, she’d make it just in time. “Absolutely. I am not in any hurry.” It wasn’t a lie. “Do you have any aspirations of one day working here too?”

“Oh, no.” Roxanne laughed. “This is just to help me pay the bills. I don’t think I have the right head for any of this.”

“No?”

“Well, at least not what Velouette does, you know? She is so compassionate, even for people who probably don’t deserve it, and I’ve never seen her let any personal bias change that. I mean, she finds something to like in Justice Norton for goodness’ sake, and I’m pretty sure he was just blowing off that people were getting murdered when I came in.” Roxanne looked embarrassed and explained. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I just wasn’t sure if I should knock or wait. He makes me so nervous.”

Avery merely nodded.

“I get the frustration, kinda. I mean. I believe in justice and karma and that people should face what they’ve done…” She frowned thoughtfully.

“Velouette said you typically handled Patricia Aldridge when she’d come by.”

Roxanne started digging into her pocket for her keys. “I handle any visitors. I’m like her moat. I decide who gets in, that kind of thing.” She hesitated. “Why, what’s she done?”

“She’s a suspect in a case I’m working. Being able to see her file would be useful, but as I am certain you are aware…”

“It is sealed.” Roxanne nodded.

“Tell me, when you look up a sealed file, are you able to see all the names connected to it?”

Roxanne shook her head. “You would have to know the name of the person specifically, for a sealed file to come up. Even then, it does not tell you how they are connected to the case, just that their name is on the record.”

Well, so much for that idea. “What was your read on her? Patricia, I mean.”

Roxanne struggled a moment to find the office key among her large ring of keys. “Desperate?” She shrugged. “A little wild-eyed, I guess. I never thought she’d turn to violence or anything, but…”

“But you are not surprised that she might be responsible for the deaths I’m investigating?” Avery finished.

Roxanne looked ashamed. “Well…not exactly, I just… Have you ever wanted something so badly you didn’t care how you got it?”

Avery blinked away visions of blood on the floor and rubbed her palm absently on her coat to wipe away the sensation of her hand on the hilt of a sword. “Once.” The word was whispered.