Page 85 of Shadow of Justice
“Bullshit,” she said.
“What?”
“Bullshit. If I were in the corner office, I’d have had you take that case to trial now, too.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Not if …”
“Stop. There wasn’t going to be any better evidence against Jamie Simmons. This is as good as it’s going to get. And it’s damn good. You know he killed that girl. I know it. He knows it. And nobody delivers a killer closing argument like you do. I’m not worried about Bennett Cutler. What I haven’t been able to figure out is why you are. Until now.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not afraid of Cutler.”
“Yes, you are. Well, not so much Cutler. But you’re afraid of losing.”
“Kenya …”
“You never lose.”
“I lose plenty.”
“If you lose this one, then it wasn’t winnable in the first place. No matter who prosecuted it.”
I grumbled. “Ihatelosing.”
“There she is.” Kenya smiled. “So don’t. But I do have one question.”
“Fire away.”
“Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to run for prosecutor?”
“I wish people would stop asking me that. Yes. I’m sure. I like the job I have.”
“You promise it’s not because of Sam?”
“What? No. It’s not because of Sam.”
“Because some people might not like the sheriff dating the prosecutor. Some people might hold it against him at the polls.”
“I know. But I swear, that’s not why I don’t want to run. I really don’t want the job, Kenya.” I put a hand up. “I’m tired of having this conversation. Between my mother, Sam, now you, it’s getting old.”
“Maybe we’re all right. First there was Jason. He was always running for something. It made sense you wouldn’t want to. Then there was Will. And granted, he did need more of you than most kids. But he’s almost fifteen years old. He’s out there, Mara. In the world. Making his way. To a large extent, your work with him is done. He’ll always need you. But it’s okay for you to want something more now.”
“I like what I’m doing,” I said.
“So keep doing it. Nobody ever said you had to stop trying cases if you took the top spot. You don’t have to run the office like I did. And you shouldn’t. But it’s time for you to put your wants and ambitions first.”
I sat back. “I have. I’ll swear it on anything you’d like. I’m where I’m supposed to be. And I’m happy there. It’s your job, Kenya. You belong there. So what, you’re gonna sit here with your cat and your cocktails in the afternoon forever?”
She smiled. “It’s not a bad gig.”
“If you want me to be honest with myself, then you have to do it too.”
She took the last sip of her drink then set the glass on the table next to her. “You’re right.”
“I am?”
“You are. I’m not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet. I just wanted to make sure you really, really don’t want the job.”
Ramona came back. She hopped up on the chaise and settled herself in Kenya’s lap.
