Supreme Justice

Chapter Sixty-two

It was raining in Portland when Dana’s plane touched down, but it always rained in Portland, so she didn’t read the foul weather as an omen. Dana drove her rental car to the hotel where she’d stayed on her last visit to the City of Roses. After she checked in, she headed for Mary Garrett’s office. While she walked, she debated the morality of what she was about to do, a debate that had begun to rage as soon as she’d hung up the phone after speaking with LuAnn Cody. If she went through with her plan, she might learn the truth, but a murderer might go free. If she used deceit to get what she wanted, justice might be served, but she would have to betray a trust.

Mary Garrett rarely greeted visitors at the door to her office because their height disparity became apparent as soon as they met, but she made an exception for Dana Cutler.

“Come on in,” Garrett said when her secretary showed Dana in. “I can’t thank you enough for the work you did for Sarah.”

Dana’s features didn’t betray the guilt she felt. “I just wrote the stories. You wrote the petition for cert.”

“I have no doubt that your exposé had a lot to do with cert being granted.”

“Since the justices never reveal their reasons for granting cert, we’ll never know how much influence Exposed had on their decision. What matters is that there is a good chance you’ll get Woodruff’s case reversed.”

Garrett motioned Dana into a client chair and took one next to her.

“You were mysterious on the phone about why you’re visiting,” Garrett said. “What’s up?”

“I have a strange request, Mary.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“I want you to hire me as an investigator in Sarah’s case. It won’t cost you anything. I’ll charge you one dollar.”

Garrett cocked her head to one side. “Why do you want to be my investigator?”

“To protect your client. I may have figured out something about her case, but I won’t know if I’m right until I examine the contents of Max Dietz’s office. When I was here last, Monte Pike told me it’s in the evidence room because Mr. Dietz’s case is still open. I could have gone to Pike with my suspicions, but I’m more interested in seeing if I’m right than helping either side in this case.”

Garrett wasn’t smiling now. “You have me thoroughly confused,” she said.

“Good. If I’m right, the less you know about what I’m thinking, the better off you and Woodruff are.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I don’t expect you to. Think of it this way: If Monte Pike is with me when I examine the evidence, he can use anything incriminating I discover against your client. But the attorney-client privilege will shield me from his questions if I’m Sarah Woodruff’s agent. So, will you get me into the evidence room?”