“I know that the last thing on any of your minds at a moment like this is work,” McKenney continues, “but it is vitally important that we continue our mission of speaking up for victims. Now more than ever, we have to live up to the standard that Lauren Wright set for all of us. The best thing you can do to honor her memory is to go back to work and do your job in a way that would make Lauren proud. Dana Goodwin will serve as acting chief. Any questions, please direct them to her. We’ll be holding a memorial service for Lauren in the coming weeks.” He surveys the room. “Okay. That’s it. Thank you, everyone.”

The population of the Special Victims Bureau scuffles out. After the room clears, I approach McKenney.

“I think that went very well,” he says.

“Yes,” I say, because everyone knows Drake McKenney likes to be complimented.

“Dana, one of things that has always impressed me about you is that you’re a straight shooter. So let me return the favor for a moment and give it to you straight. What I said in there, I meant every word of it. One of our own has been killed, and we need to do everything we can, not only to bring Lauren’s murderer to justice, but to keep doing our jobs. The sad reality, however, is that there are going to be others who will use this tragedy for their own political ends. I gather you know that I’m thinking about challenging Lubins next time around. I have no doubt that our fearless mayor is going to use Lauren’s murder to score some political points. Which means that the longer the case goes unsolved, the better it is for him and the worse it is for me. That’s why I need someone loyal to this office on top of this investigation. To make sure we get the guy who did this, even if he’s one of hizzoner’s asshole buddies. And if all that happens, you will have my eternal gratitude.”

“I understand,” I say.

And I do. He doesn’t want someone loyal to the District Attorney’s office. He wants someone loyal to him. And he thinks that’s me. The quid pro quo he’s offering is that if I do his bidding on this, I can remove the “Acting” from my new title and become Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.

In the last twenty-four hours, I’ve gone from the near certainty of being unemployed to being promoted to one of the most powerful legal positions in New York City—at least in an acting capacity.

All I have to do to make it final is to ensure that Richard Trofino is arrested for his wife’s murder.

13. ELLA BRODEN

13.

ELLA BRODEN