"And I told him to go to hell." He finally lights the cigarette, takes a long drag. "But I won't be the last person he tries to buy or threaten or manipulate. He's desperate, Ms. Carter. And desperate men with money and connections are the most dangerous kind."
I clutch the folder tighter. "Thank you. For this. For warning me."
"Don't thank me yet." He starts to walk away, then pauses, looks back over his shoulder. "Just promise me one thing. When you take the stand, when you tell your story, don't hold back. Don't let them make you small or quiet or ashamed. You burn him to the ground, you hear me? You burn him so thoroughly there's nothing left but ash."
Then he's gone, disappearing into the crowd of tourists and joggers like he was never there at all.
I stand there for a long time,
