Chapter 8
chapter
eight
Lawson followed Claire into a second-floor office overlooking Forsyth Park.
The space wasn’t flashy, more lived-in than swank, but sunlight from tall windows gave it a genteel Savannah charm.
A row of desks and battered bookcases suggested this was a shared arrangement, not the kind of corner suite high-priced firms flaunted downtown.
Claire’s desk sat nearest the window, papers stacked in two uneven piles.
From Lawson’s angle, she could only make out the museum letterhead peeking from one, and the legal-size formatting of the other.
"The Savannah Historical Society still gets most of my hours," Claire said, catching Lawson’s glance. "But I’ve taken on three cases in the last month. Testing the waters."
Lawson nodded. Claire's gradual return to law after the Anthony Bates case made sense. The museum provided stability while she rebuilt her practice and herself. "Looks like you're getting busy."
Lawson paced between bookshelves while Claire typed. The oak floorboards creaked under her boots. Three hours of sleep left her running on caffeine and adrenaline.
"Sit down before you wear a path in my floor." Claire never looked up from her keyboard. Her fingers moved with mechanical precision, tapping out search queries. "Legal databases aren't designed for speed."
Lawson dropped into the visitor chair. "What do we have so far?"
"Leah Blackwell. Columbia Law. Top ten percent of her class." Claire scrolled through search results. "Started her podcast during her final year of law school. It gained traction while she clerked for Judge Markinson in the Second Circuit."
"After her clerkship, she joined Hutchinson and Associates as an associate in their white collar criminal defense division." Claire's eyes narrowed at something on the screen. "Only stayed a year before leaving when the podcast took off."
"Corporate law?"
"White collar criminal defense. Interesting.”
Lawson leaned forward. "What?"
"Hutchinson specialized in high profile clients." Claire turned the monitor so Lawson could see. "Politicians. CEOs. Celebrities with legal problems."
The firm's website displayed marble columns and mahogany paneling. Partners posed in tailored suits with practiced smiles. Power disguised as professionalism.
"Why leave that for podcasting?" Lawson asked.
"Money." Claire continued typing. "True crime exploded after the Serial podcast went viral. Corporate sponsors. Book deals. Netflix adaptations. Top podcasters earn seven figures."
"Not idealism then."
"I never said that." Claire pulled up another screen. "Looks like Blackwell was working on the Wallace case for a while before publishing the first season."
Lawson knew about the Wallace case. Business partners in real estate development. One murdered, the other convicted on circumstantial evidence. Blackwell's investigation had exposed prosecutorial misconduct. Wallace walked free after twenty years in prison.
"She got results," Lawson admitted.
"She got attention." Claire continued searching. "The Wallace case went viral. Five million downloads. New York Times coverage. Speaking engagements."
"You sound skeptical."
"I'm a defense attorney who overturned a conviction." Claire finally looked up. "I believe in justice for the wrongfully convicted. I also understand career advancement disguised as moral crusading."
Lawson circled back to the earlier point. "Hutchinson and Associates. Any connection to Savannah?"
Claire returned to her search. "Checking court records now. Their client list is mostly New York based, but larger firms often have satellite offices or take cases with national implications."
Lawson stared out the window while Claire worked. Forsyth Park stretched green and manicured below. Joggers circled the fountain. A yoga class formed geometric patterns on the grass. Normal life continued while she hunted ghosts through computer records.
"Found something." Claire's voice sharpened. "Hutchinson briefly represented Victor Mendez in 2020."
"Mendez." The name clicked immediately. "The mechanic."
"First suspect in Monica's murder." Claire pushed a printed file across the desk. "Picked up two days after the shooting. Released three weeks later when charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence."
Lawson flipped through the file. Victor Mendez. Thirty-eight at time of arrest. Auto mechanic with connections to the Rafferty operation. Allegedly serviced vehicles used for drug transport. His garage sat four blocks from the warehouse where Monica died.
"We could never connect him directly to the shooting." Lawson scanned the case notes. "Anonymous tip placed him near the scene that night. His alibi had holes. But forensics found nothing definitive."
"According to this, Hutchinson sent a junior attorney for his bail hearing." Claire pointed to a notation. "Charges dropped before they got further involved."
Lawson frowned. "Why would a Manhattan law firm represent a Savannah mechanic on murder charges?"
"Exactly." Claire leaned back in her chair. "Small time mechanic gets a white shoe New York firm for representation? Someone with money or influence arranged it."
"Someone connected to Rafferty."
"Likely."
Lawson turned to the final page. Case closure form signed by the district attorney. Reason for dismissal: Insufficient evidence to proceed.
"This was Blackwell's firm." Lawson looked up from the file. "She would have had access to case details. Witness statements. Police reports."
"Not necessarily." Claire raised a finger. "Large firms compartmentalize. Associates work on assigned cases only. Client confidentiality is sacred."
"But she might have seen something. Heard something in office conversation."
"Possible." Claire turned back to her computer. "Let me check if she was directly involved."
Lawson resumed pacing. Victor Mendez. The name brought back memories of interrogation rooms. Mendez sitting stone-faced across the table while she fired questions. His calm denial of involvement. The frustration when forensics failed to place him at the scene.
"No direct connection." Claire pushed away from her desk. "Blackwell worked in corporate liability during that period. Different department from criminal defense."
"Still the same firm." Lawson stopped at the window. "Might explain her interest in Monica's case."
"Or complete coincidence." Claire closed her laptop. "Thousands of cases pass through firms like Hutchinson. Most associates never see files outside their department."
"I don't believe in coincidences."
"You believe in conspiracies." Claire stood and stretched. Hours at the computer left creases in her silk blouse. "Which reminds me. Judge Byrd filed the temporary restraining order against the podcast."
Lawson turned from the window. "When will it take effect?"
"These things take time." Claire poured water from a crystal decanter. "Legal proceedings move at their own pace."
"Even with an active judge filing it?"
"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.
Chief Wallace
Lawson stared at the screen. Internal Affairs. The department rats who investigated other cops. Bringing one in meant trouble. Bringing one in with explicit orders to review Monica's case meant serious trouble.
A second email arrived before she could process the first.
FROM: Lt. Eli Park
TO: Det. Erin Lawson
SUBJECT: Meeting Request
Detective Lawson,
I've been assigned to review the Monica Landry case in light of recent public attention. Please plan to meet with me tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Conference Room B.
Bring all notes, files, and materials related to the original investigation in your possession.
This is a formal inquiry. You may bring representation if desired.
Lt. Eli Park
Internal Affairs Division
The car's air conditioning blasted cold air against her face, yet sweat still beaded along her hairline. Internal Affairs. Formal inquiry. Representation. Language designed to intimidate officers into compliance.
Lawson closed the email and put the car in drive. Five years of carrying an unofficial copy of Monica's case. Five years of quiet investigation outside official channels. All potentially exposed by an Internal Affairs review.
Blackwell's podcast had achieved its first victory. The department now investigated its own. And Lawson stood directly in the crosshairs.