head. “But they overheard Bob scream at Nina that if she kept doing something, he’d make her wish she were dead.”
Jack and Liddell traded a long look.
“Bob Rothschild the county attorney?” Jack clarified.
“Yes. I hope I did the right thing telling you,” Jennifer said. “I just thought it might be important. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. Even that little snake in the grass.”
“You did exactly the right thing, Jennifer,” Jack said. “But I will have to talk to Karen and Sylvia.”
“I already talked to them and told them I was going to tell you first chance. They understand and will talk to you.”
“Thanks,” Jack said. That will have to be checked out, he thought as he knocked on Marlin Pope’s door. Inside, he could hear a raised voice, and it wasn’t the chief’s.
“Come,” Pope ordered, and they went inside.
“It’s about time!” Trent Wethington said and stood up.
Jack ignored the big show of indignation. “You wanted us, Chief?”
“Have a seat.”
Eric Manson looked uncomfortable, and Bob Rothschild was staring at his feet. Trent had his shirtsleeves rolled up on another pink shirt with white collar and cuffs, and his deep blue tie was loosened.
“Cooperation, gentlemen,” Trent said. “That’s the name of the game. Cooperation is what clears cases. Clear and timely communication clears cases. I hope I’m clear on that?”
“I’m sorry, Trent,” Jack said. He had witnessed the prosecutor’s “take no prisoner” stance before, and he didn’t want to waste time. “It’s my fault. There’s no excuse.”
This mea culpa seemed to quell Trent’s emotional tirade. He regarded Jack like a forgiving father. “I know you’ve got your hands full, Jack. But you must keep me apprised of any progress in future.”
Jack risked a look at Marlin Pope, who rolled his eyes. “Will do,” Jack said.
Trent turned to the police chief. “Are we any closer to finding that leak on your department?”
Pope’s eyes narrowed. “We,” he said, “haven’t determined that the leak came from my department.”
Trent cleared his throat. “Of course. I misspoke, Marlin.”
Pope continued. “But when we identify the person, I’ll be bringing charges against them. I trust your office will pursue criminal charges this time.” Jack knew he was referring to the past leaks of Larry Jansen and Deputy Chief Richard Dick that had gone unprosecuted.
This shut Trent down. Pope knew the prosecutor would never file charges if the person involved were an employee of either Trent’s office or the police department. It was tantamount to washing city laundry in public. In effect, Pope had just issued a challenge to put up or shut up.
“We’ll discuss it,” Trent said, and turned to Rothschild. “I suppose we’re done here, Bob.” The county attorney, who had not uttered a word, followed the prosecutor out of the office.
Eric Manson stood to leave as well, but Jack stopped him.
“Eric, I want to ask a favor. Do you mind looking up to see if Nina ever prosecuted Hope Dupree? You know, the victim in Harrisburg?”
“Cooperation is the name of the game, gentlemen,” Eric said in a voice mimicking that of his boss. “Or is it communication? I’m so confused.”
“Good one,” Liddell chimed in. “I didn’t think Trent allowed you to have a sense of humor.”
“I usually keep it in my desk,” Eric said.
Liddell said into Jack’s ear, “Should we corral Bob now?”
Jack shook his head. “Let’s talk to the women first.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Moira leaned back in her chair in frustration. “Where would I put important files in this mess?” Every flat surface in her new office was covered with paperwork, some of it loose, some in stacks, some in manila folders or in banker’s boxes that lined the walls. At first glance, the job of sorting and filing all of this had seemed an insurmountable task, but Moira soon settled into a rhythm and, like a marathon runner, found her pace. In the two hours after Jack hurried away, she had three-fourths of the task completed. At the very least she had divided active cases from closed ones.
Eric said he would have a temp worker take the boxes to their storage room in the basement. He had already taken Nina’s current caseload with plans to divide these among more senior people. That would allow Moira to start fresh after she was trained.
Eric also made the note that Nina was a pack rat, and Moira had to agree. In going through this stuff she had found cases going back twenty years or more. The Indiana statutes of limitations restricted the length of time the state