accomplish. I was down testifying yesterday about drug courts. The
liberals don't want to see anyone go to prison on a drug case, and the
law-and-order types want to lock 'em all up, whether it works or not.
But you're done with drug cases now, aren't you?'
'Looks like it,' I said. 'Thank you again, Duncan, for giving me a
chance in Major Crimes.'
'Well, I know it's what you wanted. You might not remember this,
Samantha, but you told me that the first time I met you. It's the only
time a job candidate has ever admitted wanting to prosecute murder
trials. Most people try to hide that kind of ambition.'
'You asked me what appealed to me about being a state prosecutor after
having served as an AUSA, and I told you the truth. The feds rarely
get a murder case.'
'Still, it showed you had balls, if you can excuse the phrase.'
'You might not believe this, sir, but that's not the first time I've
heard that particular compliment. Some day we might even get a
gender-neutral word that captures the same gravitas.'
'See, that's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. You showed
that same personality during your initial interview. When you choose
to, you can say what you mean and still be very charming.'
When I choose to. For now, I chose to ignore the backhanded part of
the compliment. But if he didn't get to the point soon, that voluntary
charm of mine was going on strike.
'I asked you to go with the police to the Easterbrook home on Sunday
for a reason. You've proven that you've got a real compassion for
victims, and I know you've got the ability to be diplomatic and to show
this office in its very best light. I also thought it was a chance for
you to ease into the new rotation with an MCT call-out.
'But I assumed at the time that Clarissa Easterbrook would turn up.
Obviously, she did not, and as a result of my decision you're now on
one of the highest profile murder cases we've had in a long time. If
we're going to take you off it, we should do it sooner rather than
later. Less disruption for the family and for MCT.'
'I don't want to be pulled off,' I said. 'I've already talked to Russ
about this, and he's going to oversee as necessary.'
'My concern isn't with your experience or your skills. You're a
terrific attorney.'
'But you have a concern?'
'Susan Kerr called me today,' he said, sitting back into his chair and
steepling his fingers.
'She told me she was going to. I take it you know her?'
'It's hard not to know her when you've got a public life in Portland.
Bert Kerr had his hand in everything, a big fund raiser for progressive
causes. I remember when I first ran for this office, he bought me an
eighteen-year-old whiskey at Huber s and asked me what I was going to
do as district attorney. He wasn't happy with the typical sound bites;
he pressed me on everything: standing up to the police about reverse
drug buys, the death penalty, improving the quality of life for
neighborhoods. When we were done and I'll never forget it he said,
'You're about as good a man as we're gonna get for a job that puts
human beings in cages.' A month later, he raised $40,000 for my
campaign on a single night.
'Susan don't call her Sue or Susie was his new wife back then, and you
can bet the tongues were wagging. She was probably about your age,
and, my God, she was wild. Everyone assumed she was in it for the
money and would be banging the pool boy on the side. But once people
talked to her, they just fell in love. She never tried to act like
something she wasn't. And she came through for Bert in the end. He
was a mess his last couple of years, and she worked her tail off to
make sure no one knew it. A good friend of mine told me that by his
last days she was basically running the show, signing his name, doing
whatever she needed to create the appearance that Bert was still going
strong. So, yeah, she can throw her weight around with the best of
them, but I have a lot of respect for her.'
'What did she say about the case?'
'She said she appreciated the police coming to her home for her
convenience. She was also pleased to have an attorney on the case so
early. Less likely to have any problems that way. She wanted
assurances you'd be free to oversee things, which I. of course, gave
her.'
'But?'
He chuckled. 'Always jumping to the bad news, aren't you? As far as
buts go, this one was minor. Let me ask you: Where is this
investigation heading? Is the husband a suspect?'
'Not at this point. He hasn't set off anyone's hunch bells yet, and
he's alibied at OHSU all day Sunday. But he's not cleared, either, so
it's natural that the police are still keeping him in mind.'
