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“Besides, as the city with the second-highest crime rate in Maryland after Baltiht now?”

“Totally Stillsoht about this one Hernandez wasn’t retarded, just kind of slow And he only spoke Spanish The court assigned a translator to help Baxter get his story Even then, she didn’t get much, froht either So she ended up relying on that psych defense”

“Well, that’s Baxter’s problem, isn’t it?”

“Sure So why do I keep wondering what he wasn’t telling her?”

“Again, not your probleht to remain silent, doesn’t he?”

“That’s not supposed to refer to what you tell your own attorney”

Finnegan gawked at Marinelli “Quit worrying about it, you duuinea You did your job and the public defender did hers You won End of story” He grinned “Now, sit back, s Dick”

Marinelli nodded Big Dick Dawson, Culver City State’s Attorney He’d be happy There’d be good headlines in the Culver City Chronicle’sedition—the kind of headlines that couldn’t hurt a State’s Attorney co up for re-election in six months Marinelli sat back and s

Threea new case file, when the phone rang

In , the familiar voice boomed from the receiver “Dan, it’s Dick Dawson My office Now”

Big Dick He could certainly live up to his nickname sometimes Marinelli noticed that Dick Dawson never failed to use both na hiuys na around the State’s Attorneys’ Office who he et mistaken for

Marinelli stepped into the corner office furnished in dark walnut, plush beige carpeting and navy drapes Big Dick was at his desk, scribbling so He had a full head of short, mostly-dark hair that, as usual, appeared to be coraying sideburns Without looking up, he waved Marinelli toward him and said, “Sit”

Suppressing the urge to tell the old , Marinelli sat and waited

Dawson put down his pen, folded his hands on the desk and gave Marinelli a grilasses “That priest-killer, Hernandez? He’s asking for a new trial”