A Raging Dawn by C. J. Lyons

Kravitz and Manny jumped. Ryder smiled. Leave it to Rossi to cut through the lawyer BS.
    “Now that we’ve protected your ass as well as your rapist client,” Rossi said, “give us the names of the men responsible for this.”
    She held the photo of Tymara’s battered, naked body before Kravitz. Kravitz took the photo and dropped it facedown on the table, her gaze never leaving Rossi’s as she gave her a smirking once-over, her fingers playing with a large emerald ring on her right hand. She took in everything, from Rossi’s no-nonsense flats to the dark circles beneath her eyes. Ryder fought an urge to insert himself between the two women, but he was confident Rossi could handle Kravitz.
    “I’ve heard of you, Dr. Rossi,” Kravitz said after a long moment of consideration. “You decimated one of my former associates during the Watson case.”
    “I remember. He kept me on the stand for over an hour, trying to get me to agree to an alternative theory as to how a twelve-year-old’s stepfather’s sperm came to be found on a vaginal swab during her rape exam. Trying to imply she’d somehow artificially inseminated herself and that the stepfather wasn’t involved. That he hadn’t raped her weekly for the previous four years before she found the courage to speak out.”
    Rossi leaned forward, inserting herself into Kravitz’s space, making it impossible for Kravitz to look anywhere but at her face. “We won. We got justice for that little girl, just like we will for Tymara Nelson.”
    “If I remember correctly, after he was convicted, the stepfather blew his brains out rather than face prison.” Kravitz gazed at Rossi with another condescending look. “There’s a thin line between justice and vengeance. You’re taking this case much too personally.”
    “I take all my cases personally.”
    “But justice isn’t personal. That’s why it’s blind.” She shook her head. “No wonder you burned out at such a young age. Only thirty-four and taking early retirement from the ER? Makes one think there’s more going on. Some kind of personal crisis, Doctor? Interfering with your work, impairing your judgment?”
    Rossi kept her expression neutral, ignoring Kravitz’s implied accusation. “Nice try, counselor. But my decision to take a sabbatical has no reflection on the fact your client is guilty. I have no problems at all changing my travel plans to ensure I’ll be present to testify again if Mr. Cruz decides to retry him.”
    “A sabbatical? Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Kravitz’s stare was heavy, weighted with challenge and skepticism.
    Rossi glared at the attorney. Beside her, Manny shifted in his seat. His ears were red, but other than that, he had his usual cocky game face on. But his gaze was riveted on Kravitz in a way that was intensely personal and more than a little possessive.
    Oh shit. Kravitz and Manny? Ryder had heard rumors. A relationship between an assistant district attorney and defense attorney pretty much blew all the rules out of the water.
    Kravitz dismissed Rossi with a one-shoulder shrug that sent her mass of curls rippling. Her gaze cut to Manny. “My client warns that he may not be aware of the identities of all involved in this unfortunate incident.”
    “No. He needs to give us names,” Rossi insisted.
    Kravitz deigned to glance her way. “He’ll give you everything he is able to give. What you do with it is none of our concern.”
    It was obvious Rossi didn’t like the sound of that. Neither did Ryder. Too much wiggle room. He leaned forward, his hand slipping onto her thigh, under the table, hidden. The tension that had knotted her muscles eased at his touch.
    “What’s it going to cost?” Manny asked. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Was it because he had a slam-dunk conviction to add to his scorecard or because of the attorney he was negotiating with?
    “You tell me.”
    “He pleads guilty on all charges,” Manny said.
    “And registers as a