Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Cameron

some ways less and some ways more;
Luke is surprised to hear of Jack Ford's death. He's long considered it and sometimes wanted to be the one to do it. But it's still unexpected to learn it's actually happened. He's much less surprised when Janet shows up at his office five days later, even though he has no idea how to talk to her. There's no right way to have this conversation.

"You okay?" he settles on, simply.

"I'm trying," she admits, which is her way of saying she's not without actually having to admit that she's not. "It's been a shock, but we've got some good people on it, and we're making progress."

"I didn't mean the case. I meant you."

"I haven't figured that out yet." Janet shakes her head. "Is it possible to hate him and still be upset that someone killed him?"

Luke nods. "Yeah, because I think I'm there."

He was never going to forgive Jack Ford for what he'd done to Janet. Never mind that he'd only met the man once. He'd heard all the stories and more importantly he'd seen the emotional scars Jack's crimes had left on Janet. Luke wasn't the forgiving type, and he certainly wasn't going to forgive someone who hurt the woman he loved. But because Jack's death was also causing Janet pain, he wished it hadn't happened.

"If there's anything I can do..." he starts.

Janet nods, knowing he's echoing the words she's already heard from a half-dozen people in the last five days. Everyone wants to be there for her and she knows they mean it. But she doesn't know how they can be. Just like when she was shot, they can't take away the emotional pain. She reaches across the desk and squeezes his hand, though, because she knows Luke is trying even though he's not great at it. She's proud of him for working on that even if it's come far too late for them.

"I'm not here to unload on you," she says. "I'm here because I need your help."

"Name it."

"Chris Gillespie, doesn't he have a brother who works for the DEA?" she asks. "I need to know if they have anything on Dexter Vincent. He's the drug dealer who may have killed my father."

"I'll talk to Gillespie right now," he says without hesitation, literally dropping everything on his desk. "You want to come?"

"No, I don't think he's even met me. Just bring me anything he's got." Janet puts a hand on Luke's arm as he's already halfway toward the door. "Luke, there's something else you should know."

He stops and looks at her, wondering how this conversation about her dead father somehow turned into him bracing himself.

"Dexter Vincent is connected to Whitehouse."

"What?"

"We think that's why he did it." Janet exhaled. "It's too early to call, but it looks like Whitehouse was also laundering money from Vincent. Taking drug money and moving it into these companies."

"What the fuck..." Luke trails off, rubbing at his forehead as he leans against the door frame. His heart is in his stomach. The case that cost Janet her mental health and him any chance of repairing their relationship. The one that will always stay with him because of her. "When are you going to be sure?"

"It depends on if Vincent gives us anything. But it may be worth reopening that investigation."

"No. Janet, I can't do that." He shakes his head. "After what that put you through. After what that put us through... I don't want to go through that again." He swallows hard because he needs out of this conversation before he cracks. "Let me go catch Gillespie for you," he says and walks out leaving her there. She won't be there when he gets back and they're both better off that way.

He doesn't want her to see him get upset.