Free The Dark End of the Street: New Stories of Sex and Crime by Today's Top Authors by Jonathan Santlofer, S.J. Rozan Page B

morning and I always brought lunch.
    Seiver was a lifer who had always called them like he saw them, regardless of the whims of politics and public morals. This explained why after twenty-two years in the DA’s office he was still filing misdemeanors off cases spawned in the unincorporated areas in the west county.
    This is also why we were friends. Dean Seiver still called them like he saw them.
    I had not been here in a while but his office had not changed a bit. He had so many cases and so many files stacked on and in front of his desk that they created a solid wall that he sat behind. He looked up and peered over the top at me.
    â€œWell, well, well. Mickey Haller.”
    I reached over the wall and put the bag down on the small workspace he kept clear.
    â€œThe usual,” I said.
    He didn’t touch the bag. He leaned back and looked at it as if it was a suspicious package.
    â€œThe usual?” he said. “That implies routine, Haller. But this is no routine. I haven’t seen you in at least a year. Where you been?”
    â€œBusy—and trying to keep away from misdemeanors. They don’t pay.”
    I sat down on the chair on the visitor’s side of his desk. The wall of files cut off most of his face. I could only see his eyes. Finally he relented and leaned forward and I heard him open the bag. Soon a wrapped sandwich was handed over the wall to me. Then a napkin. Then a can of soda. Seiver’s head then dropped down out of sight when he leaned into the first bite of his sandwich.
    â€œSo your office called,” he said after taking some time to chew and swallow. “You’re representing one Linda Sandoval on an indecent exposure and you want to talk about a dispo before I even file it. Remember, Haller, I have sixty days to file and I haven’t used half of them. But I’m always open to a dispo.”
    â€œActually, no dispo. I want to talk about making the case go away. Completely. Before it’s filed.”
    Seiver’s head came up sharply and he looked at me.
    â€œThis chick was caught completely naked on Broad Beach. She’s an exhibitionist, Haller. It’s a slam-bang conviction. Why would I make it go away? Oh, wait, don’t tell me. I get it. The sandwich was really a bribe. You’re working with the FBI in the latest investigation into corruption of the justice system. I didn’t know it was called Operation Brisket.”
    I smiled but also shook my head.
    â€œOpen your shirt,” Seiver said. “Let me see the wire.”
    â€œSettle down, Seiver. Let me ask you, did you pull the case after my office called?”
    â€œI did indeed.”
    â€œDid you read the deputy’s arrest report and did you compare the information to the statute?”
    His eyebrows came together in curiosity.
    â€œI read the arrest report. The statute is up here.”
    He tapped a finger on his temple.
    â€œThen you know that under the statute the deputy must visually observe the trespass of the law in order to make an arrest for indecent exposure.”
    â€œI know that, Haller. He did. Says right in the report that she came out of the water completely naked. Completely, Mick. That means she didn’t have any clothes on. I think it’s safe to say that this academy-trained deputy had the skill to notice this distinction. And by the way, do you know how cold the Pacific is right now? Do you have any idea what that would do to a woman’s nipples?”
    â€œIrrelevant, but I get the picture. But you miss the point. Read the report again. No, wait. I have it right here. I’ll read it to you.”
    I took the first bite of my own sandwich, and while chewing it pulled the file from my case. Once I swallowed I read aloud the arrest summary, which I had highlighted when I had reviewed the case file the day before.
    â€œâ€˜Suspect Linda Sandoval, twenty-nine years of age, was in the water when responding deputy responded