Page 81 of The Proving Ground

She huffed in a way I took as sarcastic.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, what? What’s wrong with my witness?”

“It’s not your witness. It’s just the idea of an ethicist. I guess everybody should have one.”

I noticed the wineglass on the table was empty.

“You want a refill?” I asked.

“No, I already had one,” she said.

“Did something happen at work?”

“Nothing I can talk about. Just more of the same old, same old. Treachery and backstabbing in every office.”

I was actually relieved that it was a work situation that had her down and not the ongoing trauma for once.

“Come on, Mags, tell me what’s happening.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. You can read about it in tomorrow’s paper.”

“TheTimes? What are they going to say?”

Maggie blew out her breath and relented.

“It’s going to be a one-two punch. A story that says, based on unnamed sources inside my office, that I have been ‘incapacitated’—that’s the exact word—since the loss of my home in the fires. And then, for good measure, there will be an editorial calling for me to step down if I can’t move on with my life. From the same editorial board that endorsed me for DA after the recall.”

“Fuck that.”

“That’s what I say. Fuck that. I’m not stepping down.”

“And you have no idea where this is coming from?”

“I have an idea, but nothing I can hang a hat on. I have enemies on the inside.”

“How did you hear about this? When?”

“When the reporter called me for comment. I was blindsided, allright, which is a sign that maybe Iamincapacitated and should step down.”

“That’s not happening.”

“I know. I’m just saying that’s how it will look in theTimes.”

“Then you have to go on the offensive, Mags.”

“You think I don’t know that? Mickey, just let me deal with it. It’s my problem and I’ll handle it.”

My phone started to buzz. I took it out of my pocket and checked the screen. It was Cisco. I wanted to take it but sent it to voicemail.

“Go ahead and take it,” Maggie said.

“No, it’s Cisco,” I said. “I can call him back. Who was the reporter who called you?”

“No one I know. Danielle something or other. I’ve never heard of her before.”