The Bed You Make

Chapter 12, continued

It certainly wasn't much of an intervention, Dara thought. She stepped into the District Attorney's office prepared to do battle. To her surprise the only people there were her former employer Schultz and Police Commissioner Mac Scorpio.

“Come in,” Schultz waved. “I am glad you could come.”

Dara's gaze bounced back and forth between the two men. This meeting was their idea. She was content to let the first move be theirs as well.

Mac Scorpio's watchful eyes belied his casual pose. The moment Dara entered the room his gaze swept her from head to toe, taking in all the details in between. “I understand congratulations are in order,” he said.

“Yes,” Schultz chimed in. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” Dara replied simply.

District Attorney Schultz steepled his fingers and peered at Dara. “It seems that there have been some big changes in your life lately. Well, I am about to have some big changes in my life, too. I wanted you to hear about them from me.”

Dara frowned. This meeting was not following any of the various scenarios she had imagined before coming. “Why would I need to know about the ‘big changes' in your life, sir?” The young attorney was genuinely perplexed. “I don't even work for you anymore.”

“That's true,” Schultz said. “But just be patient with me for a few minutes.” He gnawed at the inside of his cheek. The gesture, which Dara had seen countless times before, meant that the words to come were important ones.

“My wife Meg was smart as a whip, far smarter than me. One of the first things she did when she married me,” Schultz began, “was to start planning for my retirement. She set everything up so that all I had to do was just keep working toward our ‘nest egg', she called it.” Schultz was lost in sadness for a moment. “Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I finally made myself go through some of her things, you know? Keepsakes, birthday cards, stuff like that… and I found a box full of stock certificates she had been keeping in the top of the closet. Telecommunication stocks that my broker says are worth a small fortune. So…I am going to do it.”

Mac and Dara exchanged quick glances. Twin expressions of confusion were mirrored on their faces. “I think,” Dara said, “that I have missed a step in your conversation.”

Schultz leaned forward. “I am retiring – effective immediately. And I want you to step into the job and finish out the three years of my term. The city council is ready to approve your appointment.” Schultz gave Dara a knowing look. “This would be a big step in that plan you have to become a federal justice. So…”he looked expectantly at Dara, “Can I give the city council the green light?”