Danny made his way through the swarm of police officers towards the soundproof interrogation room with close to a million thoughts running through his mind. Most of them probably would have been helpful, if his head hadn’t felt like it had been crammed into a vice.

But though not many of his thoughts were clear, a few things he could deliberate. Danny knew he was supposed to enter into the situation objectively, but he also knew enough not to kid himself. He was involved emotionally now, and Jack had coined it. That made things difficult. He was still sharp, still experienced, and more than motivated. He was still a cop, questioning a witness. But he was also her friend. Because of that connection, he would do whatever it took to help her.

He didn’t know what that would mean for them. Only that he had to try.

But as prepared as he tried to feel, when he opened the door, a sadness crossed his features. There Jordan sat at the gray metal table in her dirty tank top and jeans, eyes red from crying, and a malicious scowl ready for whomever next disturbed her solitude.

Danny had seen traumatized teenagers before. Nearly every day on his job there was one of them. Teenagers typically trusted him, and more often than not, he was able to get through to them.

However, watching the scowl disappear from Jordan’s face, only to have it replaced by despair, caused Danny’s migraine to escalate.

Internally, he ordered himself to focus. There wasn’t time to be discouraged, not now.

That wasn’t what she needed.

Loosening his tie, Danny took a deep breath and strode into the interrogation room. “Yeah, I know how you feel,” he told her. The door shut behind him. “I wasn’t exactly planning on spending my day here either.”

It took Jordan a moment to speak, but when she did, it came out hoarse. “Who called you?” she asked.

“I was there when they took the call at the convent.” Taking a step forward, Danny took a seat across from her and leaned across the table. “I spoke to the officers who brought you in. They told me their side of the story. What I haven’t heard yet is yours.” He focused in on her. “What happened?”

At first there was nothing, not even a flicker in her eyes to show his words had been registered. But then, her wide eyes addressed him meaningfully. She nodded upward to the microphones and recorders above, and looked back, shaking her head. “We both know I can’t do that.”

He nodded. “What if the cameras were turned off?”

Jordan shrugged and murmured, “What would be the difference.”

Though made upset by her answer, Danny was quick to bounce back. “Alright, then give me someone else. Someone who made you do this. Who put you up to this?”

The whole time he spoke, the girl was shaking her head back and forth. “No.”

Watching her, he breathed a sigh of exasperation. “You won’t tell me anything in your defense. You can’t tell me who you were working with.” He leaned over closer. “How can I make this go away if you don’t give me something?”

“Simple,” Jordan shot back. Slowly, she had crouched over into herself. “You go back out there, and you tell them that I wasn’t involved. That I had nothing to do with this.”

A thrill of anger coursed through him at her request. “So you want me to lie for you?”

Now, she was getting upset. “It wouldn’t be lying-”

“Well, that’s good,” Danny said. “Because I think you’ve been doing that enough for the both of us.”

Jordan’s face shut like a car window. “When have I ever lied to you?” she demanded.

“Twice.” Danny held up two fingers. “Just now when you told me you had nothing to do with this, and two nights ago when you told me you were clean.”

Shaking now, Jordan’s hand slammed down on the table. “I am clean, and they can’t prove I had anything to do with this!”

Danny’s face quickly filled with disbelief. “Jordan, do you even realize how much trouble you’re in? What these people could do to you if you don’t start cooperating?”

“They can’t put me in jail.” She leaned forward, annunciating each word. “They’ve been in here with me for hours. They have no proof.”

“Wake up, Jordan.” Her eyes blinked at his words. Danny pointed out through the see-through mirror. “They have all the proof they need. You think they don’t know what you were doing out there? You think once they dust that bag of cocaine for fingerprints, yours aren’t going to be on it?”

Her face twisted even more as she found herself running out of arguments.

It took all of Danny’s willpower, but he kept his face straight and unyielding. He leaned in closer, so she had to look at his face. “These are serious people out there, Jordan. People who could make your life especially unpleasant, if you don’t find some way to cooperate with them.”

Her eyes went wild, and she jumped up from her seat. “Cooperate!?” She was sputtering now. “Wh-why should I do anything for them when all they’re trying to do is blame me! What I need is a little help. A little help from someone-”

“They are trying to help you. That’s where you’re lucky,” he tried to make her understand. He rose to his feet and opened his arms. “You’re not the one they want. They’re looking for someone else. All they want from you is a simple piece of information. A name, a face, an address. You give them that, and this all goes away. They give you a second chance.”

Jordan clenched shut her eyes. Her fingers stretched to their extent at her sides. “No,” she said on the verge of tears. “No, I can’t do that.”

Danny never lost his focus on her. “Why not?”

“Jesus, you don’t understand! I just can’t!”

“I think you could. But I think you’re afraid of what those people would do, if they found out you were the one who told on them.”

At that, Jordan’s open mouth closed shut. She swallowed backward, and immediately, Danny recognized the look upon her face. It was one he encountered often. It was fear, but also…a strange recognition.

Danny held back his triumph to show only his compassion. “Aren’t you?”

With a sigh, she turned her back on him to look the other way. “God, Danny.” She sniffed back as her lips quivered. “You don’t understand.”

“Jordan,” he said softly. “You can tell me.” He neared her. “C’mon, it’s over. You don’t have to protect them anymore.”

She only repeated herself more vehemently. “You don’t understand.”

But he was getting closer; he could feel it. He pressed what he thought was his advantage. “Just let me ask you something. Do want this person to get away with it? To walk away free while you take the blame? Because that’s what’s going to happen if you don’t do something.” He pointed to her. “Who are you even protecting here? Some dirtbag who left you in Fairton? He might as well have left you for dead-”

It was then that Jordan swerved around and burst into shouting. “I’m protecting myself!” she screamed.

Danny was shocked to speechlessness when he saw her face. She was crying now, openly before him.

She blinked, and put a hand up to her tears, trying in vain to gain her composure.

“Myself,” she said softly. “And Jason.”