“I don’t suppose you’ve been here long enough to know anyone in the office.”
“No. I called Bran. He thinks she’s okay, but working well with local law enforcement agencies isn’t necessarily a good indication for us.”
“No. But it’s not like we get to pick and choose.” Tess hesitated. “Will she be the one to make the decision whether to prosecute Hayes?”
He waggled a hand to indicate there was a possibility. “I’m sure she’ll consult with her immediate boss, and my guess is something like this will go all the way to the top. The prosecuting attorney is a guy named Troxell. Joseph Troxell. He’s up for re-election in November.”
“The Hispanic vote has to be really significant in this county.”
“It is. I’ve heard he leans to the conservative side, though.”
“A conservative should be strong on law and order,” Tess said indignantly. “Not letting a murderer skate!”
“Hey.” He smiled crookedly. “I agree with you. I’m just saying he’ll be weighing which side brings him an electoral advantage.”
“You notice how little coverage there’s been in the news so far?”
His mouth tightened. “Oh, yeah.”
“If they don’t charge that creep, I’m going to raise a huge stink,” she told him. “So be prepared.”
Zach tipped his head. “I’ll be cheering you on.”
Her spine stiffened. “But not doing the same?”
“I can’t unless I quit my job.”
“Because of the way they’re pressuring you?”
“No, because individual police officers are not allowed to speak out at will. A designated spokesperson represents the department. The chief or sheriff will be behind the podium for press conferences. Only occasionally is a deputy or detective allowed to answer questions.”
Of course he was right. And quitting his job so he could speak out on behalf of Antonio would be a drastic career move.
“I understand,” she said.
The silence was almost comfortable. Tess rested her head against the cushion, giving an occasional push with one foot on the floor to keep up a slow rocking. She didn’t look at Zach.
“Once we’ve given our statements tomorrow, there won’t be any point in threatening me, will there?” she asked.
“My guess is we’ll be interviewed repeatedly. Certainly by the DA if she’s not sitting in on tomorrow’s meetings. Leading up to trial, if it comes to that, she’ll spend more time with both of us, too. Tess...it won’t be over until Hayes is convicted.” Zach sounded grim. “Witnesses frequently recant before a trial. If he is convicted, his friends will be pissed. It’ll be a condemnation not only of him, but of the way they conduct themselves as officers, too. You’d better not go one mile over the speed limit when you’re on county roads. The response time might be really slow if you call 911. There are any numbers of ways to make you pay.”
She stared at him. “What about you? They obviously think I’m the one likeliest to give way to pressure and change my story. Which I find really insulting, by the way. But if you testify in court against a fellow deputy—”
“Unless there’s a major shift in attitude at the sheriff’s department, which I don’t see as likely, I may as well tender my resignation. I think Portland Police Bureau would hire me again, but I might have trouble getting in anywhere else,” he said, echoing her thoughts.
“Wonderful. The deck is kind of stacked against us, isn’t it?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Kind of?”
Tess made a face at him.
His smile was surprisingly relaxed. “Yes. There are consequences to telling an unpopular truth. But you knew that, didn’t you?”
“I admit I didn’t think it out. I was too mad.”
“You and me both.” Lines deepened between his dark eyebrows. “Tess, nobody would blame you if you chose not to give a statement tomorrow or...softened what you have to say.”
“I would blame me,” she said sharply.
After a moment he nodded. “Okay. Then let me suggest again that you try to get a few hours of sleep. You want to be at your best tomorrow.”