Leland could usually stay level-headed. When a detective made a mistake that got him in trouble, he could keep calm. Even when he was caught in crossfire, he could stay calm. But somehow, now, he just couldn’t.

He usually didn’t attend his office Christmas parties. This year you’d insisted. Now that they were there, he stood in solitude, wanting to kill his own colleagues. They were too close to you. What he wouldn’t give to drag you away and remind you who your attention should be on.