“David. Hello.”
David Esposito was a formidable presence in the Brooklyn courts, their district attorney as adept at his job as he was at working the media. Tall and dashing, he had just the right amount of gray in his dark hair to make people feel he had the necessary gravitas to prosecute the criminals of the city and his broad shoulders filled out his suits to perfection. The media loved him, and lucky for her, his ADAs loved him, too.
He had an agile, exemplary legal mind, and he was a champion of his people. She loved working for him.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Of course.” She moved to take a seat on one of the benches that lined the hallway, but he gestured toward a small meeting room.
“Let’s go in there. I want to discuss something with you.”
“About the Landers case?”
He smiled as he waited for her to enter the room before him. “I read your brief. You’ve got it more than well in hand.”
Although she appreciated the compliment, it only added to her confusion. But he was the boss, which gave him the right to be a bit mysterious. Resolved to let him tell her in his own time, she took a seat at the small table that filled most of the room.
“I know how hard you’ve been working, Sera.”
“It’s the job.” She gave a light shrug, knowing that for the truth. “And I love the work.”
“Which is what I want to talk to you about.”
Although all lawyers were subject to scrutiny and the highest of expectations as to their behavior, the bar was set infinitely higher for the district attorney’s office. They were scrutinized, evaluated and, ultimately, held to a standard that was beyond the beyond. She’d always believed herself up to the task, but she knew there would be raised eyebrows as her pregnancy became widely known. She wouldn’t be fired for it—she had full confidence on that front—but she would get knowing glances. A fact that would only be further exacerbated by the reality that she wasn’t dating anyone.
Was that why David had pulled her into this discussion? Had her bathroom retch sessions somehow tipped someone off?
Her mind raced, and she nearly missed his words until she finally keyed back into what he was saying.
“I’m proud of all my ADAs, but you have to know, Sera, just how much your work stands out. Your dedication and your passion for the law is something to see. Our city is better for it, and my office is better for it.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s why I’m willing to give you time away to take advantage of this opportunity.”
“Away?”
He smiled at that, his expression lighting his normally serious face. “I’ve put you in for a borough-wide task force. It’ll be members from my office, the NYPD, the Coast Guard and several federal agencies.”
“A task force on what?”
“The drug trade is out of control. The governor and the mayor have been in talks with the Feds, and we want to put a team together to evaluate what can be done with the situation.”
“But I’m not a cop. I have no real knowledge of how to apprehend or take down criminals.”
“That’s why your contributions are so valuable. This is a problem we want to attack from every angle. From the jurisdiction to those running the ops to the way we prosecute. We need every mind on this and all the effort we can muster to get ahead of the enterprising criminals who make New York their home.”
It was a huge ask, and her pregnancy flashed quickly through her thoughts as a reason to decline. In fact, she nearly came out with it before Sera stopped herself.
Why say no?
What example did that set for her child? More, what did it say to herself? She was pregnant, not dead. And motherhood aside, she fully expected to have a long career in front of her.
Now would be the worst time to say no.
“I feel like I should ask you a few more questions, but you know I’m in, David.”
“I hoped so. Which is why you need to be at the 86th bright and early Monday morning.” David leaned forward and laid a hand over the back of hers folded on the table. “I’m going to miss having you in the office, but we’ll get your caseload redistributed. I want to keep you on the Landers case as well as the discovery on the Nicholson murders, but everything else will be shared out.”
Sera mentally calculated the workload. While both of those were huge cases, the reprieve from her other work would be welcome.
“It’s an amazing opportunity, David. I won’t let you down.”
He gave her hand a quick squeeze before he stood up, effectively ending their meeting. “That thought never crossed my mind.”
Sera walked the last few blocks from the subway, her umbrella up, albeit ineffectively, against the howling spring rain overhead. April had come in with a vengeance, and the city felt like it was practically underwater as she dodged puddles and what looked like a small lake at the intersection just shy of the 86th Precinct.
She’d opted for one of her pantsuits, but the thick rain boots pulled up over her calves, her slacks firmly tucked inside, were the height of frump. A fact she’d willingly overlooked as she anticipated dry feet for the day. The boots could be stowed in a corner of whatever conference room they’d be stuffed in this morning, so the fashion faux pas wasn’t permanent.
She hadn’t spent much time at the 86th, but she’d been here before. Captain Dwayne Reed ran an outstanding team, and she always enjoyed working with his officers when it was necessary for a case.
Captain Reed’s style of leadership—and his belief in his people—had caught on, and there had been clear winds of change blowing through the other neighborhoods in an effort to emulate the precinct.
We need every mind on this and all the effort we can muster to get ahead of the enterprising criminals who make New York their home.
David’s pitch for the task force had lingered in her mind all weekend as she prepared for this morning. She wanted to start off strong and make a good impression, meeting the other professionals she’d work with for the next several months.
Could they get ahead of the criminal element?
