“I will,” Hope said with a defiant tilt to her chin. “I, too, have been doing this for many years, and I know a credible witness when I see one. I really hope you’ll take the time to watch the video of Amara’s statement. I believe you’ll find it extremely compelling.”
McDermott continued to stare at Hope until she finally blinked, turned and left the room.
An audible sigh of relief echoed through the group.
“So that’s my new boss,” Hope said with a grin and a wince.
“You’re a badass,” Sam said. “When you said you’d prosecute the case… Thank you, Hope.”
“I might’ve just tanked my career, but whatever. If it means standing up for what’s right, then so be it.”
Sam grinned at her. “Bad. Ass.”
“That’s a heck of a way to begin a professional relationship,” Archie said. “Coming in firing on all cylinders.”
“Agreed,” Sam said. “Thank you for laying out the rules for her, Chief.”
“I have a feeling that won’t be the last time I have to run interference for you all, so let’s use those chits wisely. We have to get along with her.”
Sam wondered if that would even be possible, but she kept the thought to herself when she dismissed the others to follow up on the leads they’d discussed during the meeting.
“I’ll report in after we process the house,” Haggerty said as he left.
“Thanks, Max.”
“This was the most exciting morning I’ve had in longer than I can remember,” Dr. Morganthau said when it was just Sam, Malone and Farnsworth in the room.
“Thank you so much for coming in, Norm,” the chief said.
“Nice to feel needed. I’ll review my report again with a fine-tooth comb and let you know if anything new pops.”
“We’d appreciate that,” Sam said. “Anything you remember could be valuable. Let me take you over to see Jeannie.”
“Oh, I’d love to see her.” He shook hands with Malone and Farnsworth. “Good luck with that new USA. I have a feeling you’re gonna need it.”
Malone grunted out a laugh. “She doesn’t scare us. We work with Holland.”
“Rude,” Sam said.
“I see how it is,” Morganthau quipped.
“She’s the boss of us,” Farnsworth replied, straight-faced.
“Haha, as if. Let’s go, Doc.”
“God, it’s good to be back here,” Morganthau said when Sam walked him toward Jeannie’s office next to the chief’s. “It gets in the blood, you know?”
“I know all too well. I try to imagine a life that doesn’t revolve around this place and the shit show of the day, and it just seems…”
“Boring?”
“I mean… I assume my husband will also be retired in this scenario we’re discussing, so I doubt I’d be bored with him to entertain me, but…”
“Nothing can replace the adrenaline rush of this place. Nothing.”
“I fear you’re right.”
“I am. I struggled with that for five years after I retired. Some days, I felt like I hadn’t accomplished anything that mattered. When you spend your career dealing with life and death and murder and prosecutors and the like, it’s not easy to walk away. But let me say this… You should walk when the time is right. There’s more to life than all this, even if it’s not as exciting.”
