After a tense exhale he lowered his hand and shook his head. With a sad note underscoring his words, he mumbled, “Yeah, Row. Damn me. That’s fine. If it makes ya’ feel better, go ahead an’ damn me all ya’ want.”

We stared at one another in almost total silence for a handful of heartbeats. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I wanted answers I wasn’t going to get, even from my friend. With that avenue closed to me, I was suddenly feeling very flustered. I suspected the only thing keeping me from losing any semblance of rationality I still maintained was the seething anger that filled my very being.

For that very reason, I clung to the outrage like a lifeline.

Ben turned and glanced out the fogged door once again, pushing it open for a moment to get a better view. When he looked back to me, he broke the silence. “The guys from the CSU just pulled up. They’re gonna hafta search the house.”

“I pretty much got that from the handful of papers. What are they looking for?”

“Look at the warrant. It’s all listed.”

“I did and it’s pretty goddamned ambiguous, Ben.”

“Yeah, well that’s how they write ‘em.”

“Obviously. So what are they really looking for?”

“I can’t tell ya’. You should know that.”

“Uh-huh, that seems to be your answer for everything right now.”

He shook his head. “They’re lookin’ for evidence, Row. Evidence.”

“Dammit, Ben. This is wrong and you know it.”

“Call your lawyer,” he said. “And light a candle…or burn some incense…or whatever the hell you Witches do. ‘Cause I’m tellin’ ya’ now, Felicity’s gonna need it.”

“This isn’t over, Ben.”

“Jeezus, Row, believe me…I hope like hell you’re right.”

“I want to talk to her before you go,” I demanded.

“She’s already in custody.”

“Yeah. No shit.”

“What I’m sayin’ is that means I can’t let ya’ talk to ‘er. Not now. Not yet.”