Page 22 of Dead Air
"Especially then." Claire handed Lawson a glass. "No one wants accusations of bending rules for a colleague."
Lawson set the untouched water on a side table. "What's the point then?"
Claire paused with her own glass halfway to her lips. "Wow. Never thought I'd hear Erin Lawson question legal procedure."
"Four months sober." Lawson pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sleepless nights. Voice recordings saying my name at a murder scene. Now, learning the podcaster digging through my past worked for the firm that represented our prime suspect."
"The firm represented him." Claire emphasized the distinction. "Not Blackwell personally."
"Still." Lawson sank back into the chair. "This whole thing …"
"Is getting to you." Claire sat on the edge of her desk. The informal position contrasted with her courtroom demeanor. "I understand what it feels like when cases hit too close to home."
Lawson nodded. Claire had faced her own demons two years ago with the Anthony Bates case. A wrongful conviction she'd overturned that had dredged up personal history. Old wounds reopened in public view.
"How did you handle it?" Lawson asked.
"Well, as you know, poorly at first." Claire smiled without humor. "Stopped sleeping. Stopped eating properly. Became the case instead of working it."
"Sounds familiar."
"We're similar that way." Claire's gaze held steady. "Too invested. Too willing to burn ourselves down to find the truth."
"Monica deserves justice."
"You deserve peace." Claire set her glass down. "Those two things might not arrive simultaneously."
Lawson considered this. Five years pursuing justice while peace remained elusive. Now Blackwell threatened what little stability she'd managed to construct.
"An interview with Blackwell …" Claire began.
"Is necessary." Lawson stood. "I need to know what she knows. What she suspects."
"Be careful. She's built a career extracting information from reluctant sources."
"So have I." Lawson gathered her notes. "Thanks for this. I owe you."
"Professional courtesy." Claire returned to her desk. "Besides, I never trusted Hutchinson and Associates. Too polished. Too connected. Their attorneys always acted like they knew judges personally."
Lawson paused at the door. "You think Blackwell maintains those connections?"
"Worth considering." Claire reopened her laptop. "Legal networks run deep. Former colleagues become valuable sources."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Lawson left Claire's office and stepped out into the midday heat. Savannah in August felt like walking through soup. The humidity pressed against her skin, immediately dampening her shirt between her shoulder blades.
Her phone chimed with an email notification as she reached her car. Department address, marked urgent. She opened it while starting the engine and cranking the air conditioning.
FROM: Chief Wallace
TO: All Personnel
SUBJECT: Internal Affairs Liaison Assignment
In light of recent public scrutiny regarding the Monica Landry investigation, the department has assigned Lieutenant Eli Park as temporary Internal Affairs liaison to the precinct. Lieutenant Park will review case materials and coordinate departmental response to media inquiries.
All personnel involved in the original investigation are directed to cooperate fully while maintaining standard protocols regarding active cases.
