Nothing Lost by John Gregory Dunne Page A

we’ve got Jocko as the real victim, and Strong says, really confidential, ‘I think there are special interests involved with an agenda of their own.’ I ask what special interests he has in mind, I assume he means women, but he just stands up, and he says, ‘I don’t want to get into that, I want to take the high road.’ Then real confidential. ‘I hope this has been helpful, young lady,’ he says, and I say it certainly has been educational, but that Brittany Barnes was not going to withdraw her charges. And Leo says, ‘Well, we’ll see how well she adapts to a courtroom environment.’ ”
    It was the sort of stupid thing Leo Cassady would say. He’d grown sloppy renting the legislature. “Then what?” J.J. said. As if he didn’t already know.
    â€œI sling my bag over my shoulder, I say thank you very much, I head for the door, and when I get there, I turn around and I say, like Columbo, ‘I just have one more question, Dr. Strong.’ ‘Fire away,’ he says. Cool. Like he’s on the sideline. Time running out. Watch the clock. Make every play count. Go for the two-point conversion. But like Leo the lawyer, I’ve done a little homework myself. And I say, ‘Your daughter. Riley.’ ‘The apple of my eye,’ he says. ‘Nineteen,’ I say. ‘Lacrosse player.’ You know where this is going, don’t you?”
    All too well.
    â€œAnd I say, ‘If it’d been Riley dragged down three flights of stairs, sneezing out her teeth like they were enameled snot, would you re-admit Jocko to the program, treat his anger issues?’ That did it. Strong gets in my face, waving his finger under my nose, and he says, ‘Just one minute, young lady,’ and I say, ‘Forget “young lady,” I’m a state investigator. I carry a badge, I carry a gun, and I have the power to arrest.’ Leo says this interview’s over and the flack says this could cost Jocko the Outland Trophy.”
    â€œThat explains it then,” J.J. said.
    â€œExplains what?”
    â€œCassady’s got the A.G. on the horn before you hit your car, and the Worm brings me in for a heart-to-heart, he says, actual words, you’re off the reservation.”
    â€œMy name is Vasquez, not Geronimo.”
    â€œVery good, Allie. Very, very good.”
    â€œHe wants to fire me.”
    â€œNo. He wants me to fire you.”
    â€œSo I guess I’m not your sandwich babe anymore.”
    J.J. made her wait for a moment. “I told him I wanted to hear your version,” he said finally. “And I’ve got to say it’s a good deal more colorful than I was led to believe.”
    â€œThat means you don’t believe it.”
    â€œNo. It means the truth is in the details. The Gatorade and the Outland Trophy. And Leo Cassady threatening Ms. Barnes with a courtroom environment. You can’t make that up.” He paused, taking her in. “This is all on tape?”
    Allie nodded.
    â€œYou make a duplicate?”
    She nodded again. Of course. Allie would have made sure she was covered in case the Worm made a move against her. She always covered her back. And her flanks. Minority thinking. “Give it to me, and I’ll give it to the A.G.”
    â€œThat should make his day.” She looked at J.J. “Is Poppy really going to run against him?”
    He tried to maintain a professional posture. As ridiculous as he knew he sounded. “This office is not influenced by the career ambitions of the state’s elected representatives.”
    â€œYou go right on believing that, J.J.”
    There was a knock at the conference room door, and Harvey Niland, his number two chair, entered, followed by Patsy Feiffer dragging a wheeled evidence trunk behind her. Harvey was nearing retirement. How I do not want to end up, J.J. thought. Harvey Niland at sixty. Looking tired, thinking tired. For ten