Dara tapped on the closed door. This was not something she was looking forward to. The man on the other side had been good to her in his own gruff way.
“Come in!” District Attorney Schulz bellowed. “Don’t keep banging on the door!”
Dara took a deep breath and pushed the door inward. “Sir, I need to speak with you.”
“Well,” the older man barked through bites of the gigantic roast beef sandwich he held within his large hands, “what is it, Jensen?”
“I resign.”
DA Schulz choked on the indrawn breath he attempted while his mouth was full. His eyes grew impossibly wide, and Dara could not discern whether it was a result of his perilous medical situation of the moment or his complete shock at her announcement. Nonetheless she hurried around the paper-strewn desk and began to pound him firmly on the back.
“Sir?”
“Dammit, Jensen! What kinda joke was that?”
She knew going in that telling him of her decision would not be an easy task. “It’s not a joke, sir. I resign. Effective immediately.”
“Now wait a minute! You can’t just up and leave this office shorthanded. Did something happen I don’t know about?”
Dara shook her head vehemently. “No,” she insisted. “The past four years have been wonderful. But an opportunity has come up that I can’t let pass.” She forestalled his inevitable question with an upraised hand. “I can’t talk about it,” Dara explained cryptically. “But I am sure you will hear about it soon.”
Sadly she rose from her seat and extended a graceful hand. “Thank you for all your support and encouragement. I won’t forget it.”
In a daze, Schulz accepted her hand and watched dumbfounded as one of his most promising employees walked out the door. He snatched up the telephone from atop his desk and began to dial furiously.
“Hello,” he said when a voice on the other end greeted him warmly, “let me speak to Commissioner Scorpio.”
