"Devil's corner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Scottoline Lisa)

EIGHT

"Get yourself a lawyer, kid." Bale bustled into his office, where Vicki had been told to wait for him.

"You have to be kidding."

"Not today. Strauss got a call from Melendez, Bristow's defense lawyer." Bale slid off his camel-hair coat, hung it carefully on a wooden hanger, and placed it on the wooden rack behind him, then sat down in his tall chair, shooting his cuffs by habit. "He's suing you-and the office-for official misconduct, assault, and battery."

"Assault and battery, on Reheema? She has six inches on me!"

"Melendez says she sustained a soft-tissue injury."

"But all her tissue is hard!"

"You twisted her arm, didn't you?"

"I couldn't! She was wearing handcuffs!"

"Not your best argument." Bale glared from behind his walnut desk, its surface marked by a clean leather blotter, stacks of correspondence, and a computer with the office's American flag screensaver, flickering madly. "You're missing the point. You shouldn't have put a finger on her, not a finger."

"I know. I'm sorry. But still-"

"No buts. You're a federal prosecutor. You behaved like a street brawler."

Vicki reddened. She was in the wrong, which sucked.

"And Melendez is filing suit on her behalf and on his own."

"What?"

"He doesn't have soft tissue, either?" Bale arched an eyebrow.

"I swear, I didn't touch him!"

"Says you pushed him. Your word against his."

"What about the ATF agent, at the door? He could tell you what happened."

"Oh, should we ask him? He wasn't even supposed to be there! Marshals bring prisoners up, not ATF. How'd you swing that?"

Vicki slumped in the chair. The ATF agent couldn't speak for her anyway. He had had to pull the three of them apart, like a group hug gone horribly wrong.

"I didn't think so. Either way, it's a lawsuit that could result in liability for you personally. Meeting with a defendant is within the scope of your official duties, but trying to kill one is not."

"You're not backing me?"

"Of course not." Bale's brown eyes went hard, like chocolate cooling. "You had no business setting up a proffer meeting, or a meeting of any kind, when you knew you had no case. There's just no excuse for it. What were you thinking?"

Gulp. "It was my last chance. I was gonna let her go after that."

"You shoulda dropped those charges first thing this morning. What did you use for a proffer letter?"

"The old one in the file."

"So Strauss's signature is on it? Strauss will love that, that's great." Bale pursed his lips under his mustache. "He talked with PR and they're press-releasing it. The media knows you were at the scene last night, and the press release sets forth your very sincere apology and explains that you were upset over the murder of an ATF case agent you knew very well. I dropped the charges against Bristow and she'll be released from the FDC by tonight."

No. "She knows those shooters, Chief."

"Melendez told me she denied all of it, and he believed her."

"Gimme a break. He's a man, and she's hot." Vicki felt her bile rising. "Chief, obviously, there's a connection between Bris-tow and the CI. The CI volunteered to testify against her, apparently out of the blue. I told you, there's a memo in the file."

"That's what you're pinning this theory on, a memo in the file? That's why you attacked a defendant and her lawyer?"

Not her lawyer, but never mind. "My CI gets shot a few days before she's going to testify and she's my whole case. It can't be a coincidence. There has to be a link."

"Melendez says you were out of control. He said that you have a big mouth for such a small woman, which I can vouch for."

"Thanks."

"Don't be a smartass. You need representation. Understand?"

"Understood." No lawyer would take this case without a five-thousand-dollar retainer, half of Vicki's savings. Her father would represent her for free, but then she'd have to tell him the truth, which was unprecedented.

"The locals are all over us now. We need good relations with the Roundhouse. I don't have to tell you that, do I? Don't make me sorry I convinced Strauss not to can your ass."

"I'm not fired?" Vicki felt her throat catch with gratitude.

"Suspended without pay, for a week." Bale rubbed his smooth forehead irritably. Rumor had it he was getting Botox injections, but Vicki would never again spread that around.

"Thanks, Chief."

"The only reason he gave it to me was that you won last month in Edwards. I went to bat for you because I know why you did it. You reacted emotionally. You were close with Morty."

Morty. Vicki looked away. A pale sun ray filtered through the windows of the corner office, landing on the electroplated plaques, etched crystal bowls, and hunk-of-acrylic awards. Black office manuals and rule books filled the shelves lining the wall.

"Hey, look at me," Bale said, and Vicki did. "I'm responsible for you now. One step out of line, and I don't go to bat for you again. You're still new here. Watch your step. We're not fast and loose, like the D.A.'s office. You got it?"

"Yes, Chief."

"Good." Bale's voice returned almost to normal. "Melendez also told Strauss you asked Bristow about some names. Jay or something. Teeg. You gave those names to the Philly detectives last night, didn't you?"

"Of course." Vicki had. She wasn't even lying.

"And to ATF, too?"

"Yes."

"So you're not completely crazy."

"No, not completely."

"It's Friday. Morty's memorial service will be on Monday. You will attend, then take the week off without pay. If anyone from Homicide calls you to look at a photo array, you'll go, but that's it. Be back at your desk on Monday and start redeeming yourself."

"What about my cases? I have a suppression hearing in Welton on Tuesday."

"I'll reassign it, and Malloy will watch your desk while you're away. Now get outta my sight." Bale's phone rang but he let the secretary get it. "Don't stop at your office, just go home and stay home. No talking to the press, and no more shenanigans."

"Okay, Chief. Thanks again."

Vicki left the office and closed the door behind her. She walked down the hall to her office, and when she turned the corner, the secretaries were standing up at their desks and behind them AUSAs were coming out of their offices.

And all of them were clapping.

Vicki said thanks to everyone, taking only her coat from her office. She didn't need anything else from it anyway. She had the Bristow file in her briefcase.

And she knew just where she was going.