for an entry-level spot in one of the misdemeanor courts. In the intervening years, she had worked every position at the courthouse except that of her boss and his first assistant. Normally, the first assistant would be the natural choice for successor, but Braden Marcus loved the administration side of the office and had absolutely no interest in subjecting his life to political scrutiny. Ryan didn’t crave the public eye, but she wasn’t about to live out her career without ascending to the top spot. If she didn’t, she would be a failure. Ryan Foster didn’t fail.
“What about the Edwards case?”
“Edwards? That’s a slam-dunk. No liabilities there. You focus your efforts on managing your prosecutors and show up to try that case. I’ll handle the rest.”
Ryan nodded assent but crossed her fingers behind her back. She would do more than just show up. She would star in the stage production of Ross Edwards Gets the Needle . The case might be a slam-dunk, but with some special effects, it could also be her ticket to becoming the next District Attorney of Dallas County.
*
“If I never hear the words ‘necessary and reasonable’ again, I’ll be happy as a clam.” Brett would never understand how any lawyer could enjoy working document-intensive white-collar cases. She grinned when she thought of her mother, the CPA. Joan Logan would regale her family over the dinner table with tales of credits and debits gone astray and beautifully crafted journal entries. While Brett’s brothers leaned forward with eager interest, Brett rearranged peas on her plate, wishing she were in her room reading a mystery. If she’d taken more interest in her mother’s discussions when she was younger, she might be like her brothers. Both of them were successful, rich, and married. Ostensibly, they were happy.
Brett was successful. She had awards and accolades to prove it. Rich and married she had yet to cross off the to-do list she’d been issued when she became an adult. Happy? She didn’t give happiness a lot of consideration. She did the work she did because it felt right. Rich might feel right too, she thought. And married? She had written that particular venture off her list. Marriage and work were a combination she couldn’t seem to make work. Her happily married, successful parents and brothers couldn’t wrap their minds around Brett’s resignation to a solitary existence.
“Brett, are you dreaming about what you’re going to buy me for Christmas with all the money Ms. Jarvis and her many ambulance companies are going to funnel into the firm?” Tony slid into the seat across from her desk. He waved a hand in the air as if to waken her from her trance.
Brett knew she did well in spite of herself. Tony managed the purse strings of her firm with a tight grip. If it weren’t for him, she would be both single and destitute. Brett had stolen Tony from the federal public defender’s office where he had worked as a paralegal for a number of years. She recognized that his strong work ethic and ability to manage a daunting caseload would translate into the kind of manager she needed for her business. She had never made a better decision. Tony was motivated not only by his own desire for success, but by the fact he had a wife and two teenagers relying on him for support. She often wondered how he made a home life work since he spent so much time invested in the success of her firm. Why was everyone else able to achieve a perfect blend of personal and professional life?
“You know, Tony, I don’t thank you enough for taking such good care of me.”
“No sentimentality, Logan. I’m just doing my job, and I do it out of a strong sense of self-interest.”
“Whatever. I swear I will dedicate the next week to work on the Jarvis case. I’m going to see my folks this weekend. I’ll get a referral from Mom for a new forensic accountant. I knew more about debits and credits than that last bozo we consulted. Ms. Jarvis
“What about the Edwards case?”
“Edwards? That’s a slam-dunk. No liabilities there. You focus your efforts on managing your prosecutors and show up to try that case. I’ll handle the rest.”
Ryan nodded assent but crossed her fingers behind her back. She would do more than just show up. She would star in the stage production of Ross Edwards Gets the Needle . The case might be a slam-dunk, but with some special effects, it could also be her ticket to becoming the next District Attorney of Dallas County.
*
“If I never hear the words ‘necessary and reasonable’ again, I’ll be happy as a clam.” Brett would never understand how any lawyer could enjoy working document-intensive white-collar cases. She grinned when she thought of her mother, the CPA. Joan Logan would regale her family over the dinner table with tales of credits and debits gone astray and beautifully crafted journal entries. While Brett’s brothers leaned forward with eager interest, Brett rearranged peas on her plate, wishing she were in her room reading a mystery. If she’d taken more interest in her mother’s discussions when she was younger, she might be like her brothers. Both of them were successful, rich, and married. Ostensibly, they were happy.
Brett was successful. She had awards and accolades to prove it. Rich and married she had yet to cross off the to-do list she’d been issued when she became an adult. Happy? She didn’t give happiness a lot of consideration. She did the work she did because it felt right. Rich might feel right too, she thought. And married? She had written that particular venture off her list. Marriage and work were a combination she couldn’t seem to make work. Her happily married, successful parents and brothers couldn’t wrap their minds around Brett’s resignation to a solitary existence.
“Brett, are you dreaming about what you’re going to buy me for Christmas with all the money Ms. Jarvis and her many ambulance companies are going to funnel into the firm?” Tony slid into the seat across from her desk. He waved a hand in the air as if to waken her from her trance.
Brett knew she did well in spite of herself. Tony managed the purse strings of her firm with a tight grip. If it weren’t for him, she would be both single and destitute. Brett had stolen Tony from the federal public defender’s office where he had worked as a paralegal for a number of years. She recognized that his strong work ethic and ability to manage a daunting caseload would translate into the kind of manager she needed for her business. She had never made a better decision. Tony was motivated not only by his own desire for success, but by the fact he had a wife and two teenagers relying on him for support. She often wondered how he made a home life work since he spent so much time invested in the success of her firm. Why was everyone else able to achieve a perfect blend of personal and professional life?
“You know, Tony, I don’t thank you enough for taking such good care of me.”
“No sentimentality, Logan. I’m just doing my job, and I do it out of a strong sense of self-interest.”
“Whatever. I swear I will dedicate the next week to work on the Jarvis case. I’m going to see my folks this weekend. I’ll get a referral from Mom for a new forensic accountant. I knew more about debits and credits than that last bozo we consulted. Ms. Jarvis
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