and hydrants, but that’s not the world I live in. I chose a career with higher stakes and things that truly matter to me.
Sympathy isn’t something I anticipated. So when Claire’s gaze softens and she takes a seat in the leather wingback across from me, I’m truly surprised.
“Of course he did. But when the evidence is tainted while it’s in police custody…” she trails off then inhales slowly and shakes her head, shifting her curly auburn hair around her shoulders. With her hands thrown up in defeat, she adds, “It’s on the PD for the way they handled the evidence. Not on us.”
Leaning forward, I look my boss in the eye and remind her who she hired and who I am. “It’s bullshit that they mishandled evidence and now Brass gets to walk.” Taking in a deep breath, I make it known that I have more to say. “He does deserve to rot in hell, but I never should have said that to anyone other than you and our partners. I am sorry,” I add emphasis to the last statement, my voice firm and then sit back in my seat. “I shouldn’t have said it. Now I know why you say you don’t talk to press after six p.m.”
“If you aren’t on point . . .” she begins and I finish her line for her, “. . . then don’t say shit.”
Claire’s an early riser and gets into the office before everyone else. Claire practically lives at work and handles the press above everyone else, unless it’s past 6:00. That’s her cutoff. Now I know my limit: No coffee, no talking.
“I think my new rule should be no press before coffee.” My muttered statement as I run my hand along the back of my neck forces a small laugh from Claire. If it can even be called a laugh since the sound is just a tad longer than a huff. Her smile lasts though, thank God.
“Are you pulling me off my cases?” I ask her and she shakes her head.
“No, but I will be giving you the cold shoulder in front of Tanner and Shaw. I can’t let them think you got off easy.” They’re new to the prosecution team. Shaw used to handle defense and Tanner is fresh out of law school.
“I was serious when I asked you if Jill bringing up that case got to you,” Claire states although it’s meant to be a question.
Eating up time by hiding behind a sip of coffee, I deny the stomach drop and the pounding in my veins. “I’m fine,” I answer her and then give her a tight smile followed by a distraction. “My mother called this morning, I got a ticket, and I smashed my hand in the door.” Holding up my hand as evidence, Claire winces.
“All before coffee?”
With a nod and a click of my tongue, I answer, “Without a single sip.”
Within half an hour, she’s out the door, my coffee is gone and all of it goes to the back of my mind as I force myself to actually get work done and make today productive at the very least.
Time slips by as I catch up on a case that goes to trial next week. I’ll be looking over Tanner’s shoulder and he’ll be pissed because of it, but it should be an open-and-shut case. The evidence is damning. It would take one hell of a defense or one hell of a fuckup for Tanner to lose this one.
I was so wrapped up in it that I didn’t see the missed call from my mother. There’s not a chance in hell I’m calling her back until I talk to Cadence. They got into it again.
If Cadence implied that she dates men who hit her because of what we saw when we were children, then my sister crossed a line. And that’s exactly what my mother said she told her. I’m not her psychiatrist, but I don’t understand why she’d say that. Mom said Cadence was drunk, but I just can’t see that and it was hard enough to decipher it all through my mother’s tears.
Intent on getting a cup of coffee from Brew House down the block, I head off, checking my phone and noting that my question to her from this morning asking if she’s okay has gone unanswered.
I have two more cases to prepare for and one of them is first-degree murder.
This … tension between my mother and my sister can wait until tonight. That