**Chapter 7: Gospozha**
**Lindsey**
Lindsey used the spare key under the ceramic turtle and let herself into the house. No one was home yet, which meant she still had time to get things ready. Though the house wasn’t hers, she’d become accustomed to it, casually moving through the foyer, dropping her bag in the closet and hanging up her coat. It was a sacred ritual to her, to come here and put away everything that belonged to her, everything that she carried, and pick up a lighter burden.
As the thick coat rolled off her shoulders, she sighed and let the day fall away with it. She’d spent hours talking through fundraising and campaign strategies. They were stuck on when to announce and how. Some liked the idea of her doing it on the courthouse steps, reminding everyone that she’s the District Attorney, that she’s the final arm of the law that protects them from criminals. Others wanted her to do it somewhere casual, somewhere diverse. She already had a reputation as a ballbuster, and the argument was that she should show off her love of the community and her personality. They argued back and forth, all while Lindsey tried to focus on the cases she still had. The city didn’t stop needing a DA just because she was running for mayor. It was like she had an additional job that only cost time, stress, and money.