Rough Justice

'My loyalty to Steere ended when Mary got shot. My hands had her blood all over them, they still do.' Judy held out her palms, but Bennie wouldn't even look.

'That makes no difference.'

'It makes all the difference in the world! What's in your veins, Bennie? Ice?'

Bennie stood tall. 'You're a lawyer in my employ, Carrier. I hired you to work on this case, handpicked you and DiNunzio. It was a choice assignment, the most significant case in our office. Steere was supposed to be our calling card.'

'I understand that, but the case has gone wrong.'

'Nothing was wrong with the case until you filed that motion for a mistrial— without the client's authority. Before that, it was outside the record that Mary is in the hospital. It was outside the record that Marta is missing and that you found some magical notebook. As far as the case was concerned, nothing outside the record even existed.'

'I can't divide my brain that way. Outside the record, inside the record.'

'Bullshit!' Bennie shouted. 'You're supposed to be a trial lawyer. You filed motion papers against a client's express orders. He gets to define the scope of his representation, not you. If Steere is as smart as I think, he's gone forward on his own or hired someone else. You got my firm fired, and for conduct so egregious we could all be disbarred.'

'I was trying to find out who tried to kill Mary, and why.'

'Are you insane? That's not your concern. That's not your job. You got me fired, you got us fired, and so I have only one recourse.'

'Go ahead. Fire.' Judy grinned crookedly even though she felt like crying.

'You're fired. I'll send you the termination forms as soon as possible. I'll also send you some forms to report this to the disciplinary board. If you don't file them yourself, I'll file against you. Don't make me do it.'

'I'll think about the disciplinary board a little later, if you don't mind. I'm more worried about Mary than myself right now.'

Bennie couldn't let that pass. 'Don't think I'm not worried about Mary. I'm the one who sat there with her parents. But what you're doing— and what she was doing— was wrong. Ethically wrong.'

'But not morally wrong.'

'That's not your judgment to make. I took on Steere's representation, and you work for me. What happens to the legal system if each lawyer makes his own judgments about a client's morality?'

'Justice. Finally.' Judy stared at Bennie, who returned her gaze with equal fury.

'No. Nobody will have a lawyer they can trust. And justice doesn't have a chance.' Bennie yanked her jacket zipper up and turned to go. 'Enough. Clean out your office as soon as possible. Don't talk to the press.'

Judy held her head high. She didn't have anything to be ashamed of. Her only regret was hurting Bennie and the firm. 'I'm sorry it turned out this way. I'll see you at the hospital, probably. Or around.'

'Not so fast.' Bennie held out her hand and was pleased to see it wasn't shaking. 'You said you had a notebook. Give it to me and I'll turn it over to the police.'

'No.'

'What?'

'I'm not giving you the notebook.'

'You can't refuse me.'

'Why not?' Judy cleared her throat. 'You're not my boss anymore. I'm single again.'

Bennie didn't laugh. 'Stop screwing around and give me that notebook.'

'No.'

'You're keeping it from the police, who might be able to figure out what it means.'

'I'll figure it out myself. I know the case. I'm smarter than they are.'

'You're not trained the way they are. They're professional. They have tools, resources at their disposal.'

Judy's mouth dropped open in mock surprise. 'I can't believe my ears. Bennie Rosato, destroyer of cops, defending them? They almost deep-sixed you last year.'

Bennie pursed her lips. Shit. This kid was a whip. Too bad the firm was losing her. 'The cops can handle it.'

'Not tonight, in this weather. You said so yourself, they weren't even at the office. Did they find the notebook or did I?'

'It's not a competition, Carrier.'

'Yes it is,' Judy said, her voice suddenly urgent. 'That's exactly what it is. It's a race. I didn't find out in time to save Mary, but I can still save myself.'

Bennie paused. She should have realized it. Of course Carrier would have been scared. 'You're in greater danger if you keep it. Did you ever think of that?'

'It's my judgment, not yours. Like you said.'

Bennie didn't know what to say or do. She couldn't beat the notebook out of her, and Carrier was right about