Wild Justice (Nadia Stafford 3)

I was on my last stretch when my cell phone rang. It was Neil.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked when I answered.

"Nope, just out for a run."

A short laugh. "I told myself you wouldn't do that on vacation, but I should have known better. I've got a name on your mystery lawyer. A very interesting name."

Jack was heading toward me at a brisk walk.

"Sebastian Koss," Neil said.

I stopped walking. "The Sebastian Koss?"

"The only one I'm aware of. I'm going to guess you know who he is?"

Oh, yes, I knew who he was.

Back at the hotel, I called Emma for a lodge check before doing some research on Koss.

"The guy is Sebastian Koss," I said to Jack once I had what I needed. "A big name in Toronto legal circles. He was a Crown attorney."

"Crown . . . That's prosecution, right?" Jack said.

I nodded. "Americans call them district or state attorneys. I had never even heard that Koss had once been a defense lawyer. Neil hadn't, either, and had no idea Koss worked on the Aldrich case. For a guy who went on to make such a reputation for himself, he got off to a poor start--he was completely forgettable on that case."

"So he's got a rep. Tough on crime?"

"Yes, but here's where it gets interesting. Koss's 'thing' is victim advocacy, particularly in cases involving women and sexual abuse."

"Huh."

"Huh indeed. If you were a defense lawyer with a client accused of rape, you'd do everything in your power to keep it away from Sebastian Koss."

"You admire him."

"I do. Victims' rights. Women's rights. Hard-line justice. Everything I believe in, he did. With a vengeance."

"Sounds like a good guy." He paused. "As long as he stays in Canada. Away from me."

"No shit, huh?" I gave a short laugh. "Actually, though, he hasn't lived in Canada in years. He quit law almost a decade ago and went into full-scale advocacy. Consultant. Lecturer. He started in Ontario, but he's been in Chicago for the last five. That's part of the reason I didn't recognize him at Aldrich's. I'm sure I've seen photos, but it would have been a long time ago. Plus he wasn't exactly dressed like a successful lawyer."

"Never had any contact with him? As a cop?"

"I didn't as a cop, but I did have contact of a sort, after the Wayne Franco shooting. He'd quit law by then, but he sent me a letter, extending his support and offering to help me find an attorney. I called him. We talked for a bit. I wasn't pursuing any legal avenues, but I appreciated the offer. I remember being surprised he contacted me. I guess now I know why."

"Remembered you. Amy, at least. Knew who you were."

"He didn't mention that, but from what I just saw online, that's not surprising. I found an interview where he talked about making the switch from defense to prosecution. He did it very early in his career, apparently after a case that really bothered him and made him decide he'd prefer the other side of the courtroom."

"Aldrich's case."

I nodded. "The timing is right. He saw Aldrich get off, and he didn't like it. He switched sides. Years later, he contacts me to offer his help because he remembers that, maybe feels guilty for being part of the defense team."

"So now he's with Contrapasso."

I looked over as I reached for my coffee.

Jack continued, "Law-and-order guy. Big on justice. Victims' advocate. Former lawyer. Played both sides. Canadian connections. Now consulting. Useful stuff."