Chapter 73
Yuki stood and started to head out of the courtroom. Most of the spectators had already bolted for lunch. Leaning against the rear wall was a hulking figure she knew all too well.
As Yuki approached, Parisi said, “Big cases, big problems. Little cases, little problems.”
She smiled at the old saying. “No cases, no problems.”
“I’d say you’re doing a pretty good job,” the DA told her. “Drug cases with multiple defendants are never easy. And having Angela Torres leading the defense only complicates things. I don’t think I’ve ever met a lawyer with a more misleading first name.”
That comment made her smile. Parisi in general tended to make her smile. His wiry red hair had a certain effect too. He wasn’t necessarily paternal, but somehow he still gave her that comfort.
Parisi stepped to the side and slipped onto one of the spectator benches. He motioned with his head for Yuki to join him. She glanced around the courtroom to make sure no one was still there. They were alone.
Parisi said, “I had a drug case years ago that lasted three and a half weeks. The Chronicle blasted me constantly, claiming I was unfairly targeting the dealer. I took it on the chin almost every day.”
“Was this the Ronald Jackson case? Jackson was convicted. You were vindicated.”
“My point is, you can never tell what’s going to happen in a trial. Or how people are going to perceive it. You’re doing a good job here. Don’t change how you approach it.”
Yuki sighed. “I’ve just never had so many witnesses change their minds about testifying.”
“I heard you figured out a workaround on one of them. Did you really bring in cops just to make him feel safe on the stand?”
“I did. And the really gratifying thing is that the cops have been coming back every day. This morning they even had their buddies in the rear of the gallery. I hope it’s because they like the interaction in court. My fear is that they’re just coming to get a look at Angela Torres.”
Parisi laughed at that. “She’s attractive.
No doubt. But she’s not attractive enough to pull cops into a courtroom.
They prefer being on the street and in the thick of things.
The guys coming in here every day could find a pretty woman to look at elsewhere.
The ones here are the cops preparing themselves for when they become detectives.
Or Narcotics agents. Or maybe just the ones wanting to be better street cops. ”
Yuki gave Parisi a sidelong glance. “Admit it. Did you hear the trial’s going so badly you felt like you had to give me a pep talk?”
“I heard that you’re doing everything a prosecutor should do. I heard that you may or may not have been threatened the other night. And I know for a fact you’re a dynamite prosecutor. I came down here just to tell you that.”
Yuki smiled. She restrained herself from giving this big red-haired mountain a hug. But she did manage to say, “Thanks for the support, boss.”