As the new DA of Jefferson County, it would be more than a little beneficial to have the governor in his corner. The next few months were going to be the most crucial of Carson’s career. Pleasing the boss and the public was paramount. Wild, frantic sex acts flickered in front of his eyes. He could not take another risk like that. Could not allow his focus to be divided. His career had always come first. Now was not the time to allow that rigid discipline to falter.
“Asyouare well aware,” Wainwright said, using Carson’s words and relaxing more fully into the chair, “we’ve had our eye on Otis Fleming for two decades.”
Otis Fleming.Carson sat up a little straighter. Fleming had long been considered Jefferson County’s connection to organized crime, but no one had ever been able to prove it. No one got close to Fleming and lived to rat him out. Few tried.
“New evidence has come to light?” Carson eased back into his chair, matching his boss’s posture, but he was by no means relaxed at this point. Wainwright was correct. A high-profile case like this could put them both where they wanted to be career-wise.
Wainwright placed the heavy folder on Carson’s desk, then pounded it with the side of his fist. “Even better. We’ve found a weak link amid his faithful soldiers.”
Carson took a moment to absorb that information. “Is the witness in protective custody already?” If not, he probably wouldn’t be alive for long.
Wainwright shook his head. “This witness isn’t ours just yet. That’s where you come in.”
Ah, the insider hadn’t been flipped. Interesting. “Do we have enough leverage to do the job?” In these situations, leverage was everything. His heart ushered into a faster rhythm at the prospect of taking on this challenge.
“We have a start.” Wainwright slid the file toward Carson. “Study what we have. Dig up every speck of dirt you can find. Don’t stop until we have what we need to geteverythingwe want.” Wainwright pushed to his feet. “We can discuss your initial conclusions in my five o’clock with Senator Drake. You know how long he’s wanted to nail Fleming. I want you”—Wainwright pointed at Carson—“to show him how we’re going to make that happen.”
Carson stood, gave a resolute nod. “I’ll be prepared.” When Wainwright was gone Carson opened the file. Years of reports and compiled data on Otis Fleming filled page after page. If only 1 percent of the suspected criminal activities were proven, the man would be going up the river for a very, very long time.
Carson reached the dossier on the suspected weak link. Annette Baxter. Thirty, an associate as well as personal friend of Fleming. Carson didn’t recall having heard her name before. In fact, he was surprised to find Fleming’s weak link was a female. All of his known, close associates were male.
Curiosity hastened Carson through the initial read of the facts on the insider. He turned the page and found the first of several eight-by-ten surveillance photos.
He stared at the vivid image. Denial detonated in his brain. “Impossible,” he muttered.
Seconds turned into a minute with him staring at the photo, staring from every angle to be sure there was no mistake.
And there wasn’t.
Annette Baxter was thewoman... the stranger with whom he’d just spent the night having hot, dirty sex.
7
5:00 p.m.
Birmingham
Criminal Justice Center
Carson waited in the small lobby of District Attorney Wainwright’s office. Hesitation. Another first in what appeared to be the domino effect. One misstep led to another ... to cover one’s ass.
He’d worked with his mentor for five years, and never once had he experienced dread or uncertainty.
But he was damned sure feeling both right now.
The entire day had expired with him digging as deeply into Annette Baxter’s background as possible without leaving the sanctuary of his office.
There was not a doubt in his mind that he could get the job done. He was the Avenger. He never failed. But what had happened last night was exactly the sort of unethical behavior that could complicate matters.
Could ruin his career plans.
Yes, he was single, unattached, but this wouldn’t be about morals. This would be about the law. If he considered nothing else save for his own ambition and the certainty that he was the best man for the job, he could not—under any circumstances—recuse himself from this case. Yet his own actions had left him biased. That undeniable truth couldcome back to haunt him as well as the case in a major way. Could reflect badly on the entire office.
But to pass on the case would show Wainwright that Carson was capable of failure, of weakness. The man who filled the district attorney’s shoes could be neither weak nor a failure, professionally or personally.
“You don’t need to wait, Mr. Tanner.”
Carson stiffened at the unexpected intrusion. He propped a smile into place and turned to face Wainwright’s assistant, who’d reentered the small lobby and caught him off guard. Hesitation was not the norm for him. “I was just gathering my thoughts.”
