As they left the courtroom, the setting sun painted the city in shades of possibility and doubt. The power grid hummed its evening cycle beneath their feet, while above, the first stars emerged like watching eyes. In less than twenty-four hours, it would all be over - final arguments tonight, jury instructions in the morning, then the wait for a verdict that could come at any moment.

Let it be enough, Juniper thought, unconsciously reaching for Daniel’s steady presence beside her. Please, let it be enough.

“Hey,” Daniel’s voice was soft as he caught her reaching hand, his grip warm and sure. “You’ve got this.”

The way he said it - like a simple statement of fact rather than encouragement - made her heart skip. Sophia’s knowing smile behind them made the beat in her chest impossible to ignore.

One hour to prepare. Then everything would change.