“Weigh the facts as presented — that’s the job you’ve accepted and it’s your charge. The facts, ladies and gentlemen. The facts will convince you that my client is not negligent, and that my client performs an incredibly valuable service for our city of San Francisco.”
Cindy’s mind leaped ahead as Kramer thanked the jury and took his seat.
She saw the front-page headline in her mind — SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL SUED FOR MALPRACTICE, the block of twenty victims’ photos and the rest of her story carried over to page three.
This trial was the stuff of books and movies.
Twenty people had died.
And whether or not the hospital was guilty, the evidence would shock people.
They would take it personally. And patients who were admitted to Municipal would be scared for their lives.
Hell, she was scared just listening at this trial.
Womans Murder Club 5 - The 5th Horseman
Chapter 23
IT WAS MIDMORNING, four long days since we’d found Caddy Girl dead in the Opera Plaza Garage. I’d just come back from a meeting with Chief Tracchio, who told me that he was rotating some staff, moving some of my people out of Homicide to plug openings in other departments. Tracchio wasn’t asking for my input, just informing me.
I hung my jacket behind the door, still seeing the chief in my mind, ticking off the reasons on his chubby fingers — Budget cuts. Too much overtime. Gotta backfill here and there. It’s just temporary, Boxer.
It was infuriating, crippling, bureaucratic bs.
And now I had a pounding headache behind my right eye.
“Tell me something good,” I said to Jacobi as he walked into my office, parked his large butt on my credenza. Conklin followed him in, moving with the grace of a lynx, crossing his arms as he leaned against my doorway. Hard not to stare.