Chapter 7 — Sadie Park

Sadie Park was an Assistant US Attorney, thirty-eight years old, with a record of successful prosecutions that was the envy of half the federal building and a personal manner that witnesses described, variously, as "very direct," "somewhat alarming," and "the most organized person I have ever met." She and Nora had worked together twice on cases with federal dimensions, and both times Nora had come away with the impression of someone who was good at this work because she genuinely cared about what it was for, which was rarer than it should have been.They met at a park bench, which was Sadie's suggestion. "Not the office," she'd said on the phone, when Nora had called that morning. "If you're telling me what I think you're telling me, we want to have this conversation somewhere without a phone system." A pause. "How much trouble are we talking?""A convicted man who's innocent. A police lieutenant on a killer's payroll. A professional contractor who's probably still in the region."Sadie Park had been quiet for four seconds, which was — Nora had come to understand from their previous work — the specific duration of Sadie's "significant new development" pause."Bench in Franklin Park," she'd said. "One hour."She arrived with two coffees and a yellow legal pad, and she listened to the full account without interrupting, which was a professional courtesy that Nora appreciated enormously. When Nora finished, Sadie looked at the legal pad, which was now dense with notes."The folder," she said. "It's admissible?""It's a compilation of documents that are each individually sourced. Bank records from financial institutions, property records from public filings, Marcus's analysis which is interpretive but supported. The originals of everything he cites still exist in the public record." Nora paused. "The folder itself is the roadmap. The evidence is in the things the folder points to.""Your witness — Derek Chu.""Willing to talk. Not yet formally committed. He was threatened by Whitmore after the trial.""That threat is itself a crime," Sadie said. "Witness intimidation, potentially obstruction. That's a federal charge that bypasses your department entirely." She made a note. "Morrow's conviction?""The forensic evidence — the fingerprint and the fiber — I haven't been able to independently challenge those yet. I know they were planted. I can't yet prove how they were planted.""You don't have to prove that to get a conviction vacated. You have to establish sufficient new evidence of actual innocence, which you appear to have in the financial trail and the second contractor. What you need is Calloway.""Creston. Forty miles north. That's all I have.""That's enough to start." Sadie closed the legal pad. "I can get a federal warrant for Meridian Consulting Group's records within twenty-four hours if your financial documentation is as strong as you're describing. That gives us Calloway's paper trail without touching your department." She looked at Nora. "I need to ask you something directly.""Ask.""The photo array. You conducted it. Your name is on it.""Yes.""You're telling me you conducted a legitimate procedure on a contaminated foundation, which makes you a tool of the frame rather than a conspirator. I believe you. The documentation supports it. But you understand that the defense in the vacatur proceeding is going to—""Come after my credibility. Yes." Nora looked at the park. "I know. And they should. I ran a case that put an innocent man in prison. The fact that I was manipulated doesn't mean I bear no responsibility." She paused. "I want Morrow out. After that, whatever accountability looks like for me, fine."Sadie looked at her for a moment. Then she made another note."Go to Creston," she said. "Find Calloway's base. Don't approach him — he's a professional and you're alone. Just find it and call me." She stood. "I'll have the Meridian warrant by tomorrow morning.""How are you doing this fast?"Sadie Park picked up her coffee. "A sitting police lieutenant knowingly framing an innocent man for murder, with a professional killer still in the region?" She raised an eyebrow. "I've been waiting for a case like this for four years. I'm motivated."