To say that Nick had been left thinking was an understatement. He had been haunted by Valeria's every word, for he was sure they were all true.

And he had no idea how to fix anything he had done.

The rest of his week boiled down to burying his head in paperwork by day and drinking at night, never letting go of the thought that Valeria would soon be making a life for herself with someone else. He had hurt her so much that he really couldn't expect anything else.

He went from police station to police station, until in one of them, and after paying a substantial “gift”, someone confirmed to him that Valeria Williams had been charged with assault and sentenced on the same night. The case files were sealed, only the judge's name was on display, and Nick's stomach turned when he heard it had been Judge Vanderville. For as long as he could remember, he had known him to be a regular attendee to the Joneses' parties. But try as he might to meet with him, Vanderville refused to see him.

He t