Conflict of Interest
By Ayesha Haqqiqa
Disclaimer: The characters used in this story are the property of Dick Wolf; no profit is made from this story, but I hope you enjoy reading it!
Thanks,
Gwen, for the idea!
It had been a rough week, and Jack McCoy was glad it was almost over. Just a few papers from his last case to file, and he’d be able to go home. He looked up and noticed Nora’s door was open. This would be the perfect time to ask her if she’d like to go out to dinner. They had been dining out together for a few months now; Nora seemed to enjoy his company. Their relationship had never gone beyond good food and good conversation, and it kept Jack from feeling lonely.
“Hey Nora, have anything planned for tonight?” he asked as he sauntered into her room.
Nora, who had been straightening her desk, looked up. “Yes, I do, Jack. Mayor Bloomberg just called. He’s asked me to talk with his aide.”
“Looking to stick his nose in your office?” Jack asked. “That’s why I hate politics.”
Nora wrinkled her brow. “No, the Mayor just thought having one of his men observe the workings of our office for a few weeks would allow him to better understand how his policies effect our jobs.”
“That’s nice,” Jack said. “So you’re meeting this Junior Whiz Kid this afternoon? I hope the meeting isn’t long.”
“Junior Whiz Kid?” Nora laughed. “I don’t call Josh Miller that. He’s an accomplished lawyer, and a bit older than you.”
“Joshua A. Miller is coming here?” Jack asked. “He’s earned a reputation for taking care of big businesses in trouble. Do you think Bloomberg thinks you’re doing a lousy job?”
“Mr. Miller to see you, Nora,” Stace, the secretary said at the door. She escorted Josh Miller into the office. Miller was a distinguished looking man with sharp, chiselled features and a well-trimmed goatee.
He turned to Jack. “Couldn’t help but overhear your remark. Don’t worry about this office. I’m here to observe, not interfere.”
“Josh Miller, Jack McCoy,” Nora said, a bit embarrassed.
Miller held out a hand and Jack shook it. “I thought I recognized you. You prosecuted the Stephanos case, didn’t you?”
“I made a deal,” Jack said sternly. “Mr. Stephanos got what he deserved.”
Miller shook his head and held up a hand. “I’ve no doubt of that. I remember the case-and its suicidal aftermath—because Mrs. Stephanos brought me in to pick up the pieces. I was able to keep the business afloat, and make a nice commission in the process.”
“I’m glad for you,” Jack said formally. “Well, I’ve got work to complete. I’ll see you Monday, Nora.”
“Glad to have met you,” Miller called as Jack left the room. He turned to Nora. “He’s all fire and intensity, isn’t he?”
“And no manners,” Nora sighed. “Thanks for putting up with him.”
Miller laughed. “Oh, I don’t mind. If it wasn’t for you prosecuting crooked businessmen, I’d be out of business.” He looked at Nora and smiled. “I know you’re doing a good job here. And the Mayor does, too. He’s just unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the DA’s office. Since I’m a practicing lawyer, but not one doing criminal cases, he thought I could come around for a few weeks, see how things operate, without there being a conflict of interest.”
“Oh, I see no problem with that,” Nora smiled back. “Where do you want to start?”
“Dinner at Tavern on the Green, on me,” Miller said. “That way, we can get acquainted, and you can tell me your philosophy of law.”
Jack was still in his office, filing reports, when Nora and Josh Miller left, laughing and talking. He glared in their direction, and stuffed the papers into the file carton. What was really bothering him, he thought to himself. Miller wasn’t a bad lawyer, and, as far as Jack knew, Miller always treated his clients fairly. Maybe it was the fact that his clients were all rich and paid him princely amounts for consultation. Jack got up and went to the rack to put on his coat. He’d never regretted going to work for the DA’s office instead of one of the corporate hives downtown. Why was Miller bothering him so?
He picked up his helmet and walked down to the elevator. He was glad there was no one with him as he rode down to the parking garage. He noticed Nora’s car was still there; no doubt Miller had driven her to dinner in his Porsche. He unlocked his bike, cursing the fact that there was a scratch on the fuel tank. Vandals. Well, the Yamaha only had 50,000 miles on it—not near enough to consider buying a new one. He shoved the helmet on his head and got on.
How the bike wound up by Tavern on the Green he didn’t know. But there he was, driving slowly past, just in time to see Josh Miller helping Nora out of a gleaming white Mercedes sportscar. Oh great, a Mercedes instead of a Porsche. At least it wasn’t a Beemer. Jack sighed and drove to his apartment in the converted brownstone.
“Really, Mr. Miller—I had no idea you’d gone to Columbia,” Nora said as they ate their salad.
“Ms Lewin, it’s Josh—please.” Miller smiled and placed his hand on hers.
“Then it’s Nora for me,” she replied with a smile.
Jack looked in his refrigerator. There was a piece of stale pizza, and some ancient boxes of Chinese takeout. He peered into one and found the contents covered in mold. Disgusted, he dumped the food in the sink and turned on the disposal. He sighed and dialed up his local deli.
By the time dessert came, Nora and Josh had discovered they had both attended Columbia Law School, they both liked modern art, and they both hated Mexican food.
“I really admire you, Nora, giving up a secure tenure to take on a rather thankless job,” Josh said as he drank his coffee.
“I look at it as a challenge,” Nora replied. “I’ve spent years teaching law theory. I felt it was time to put it in practice again.”
“You were with the DA’s office at the beginning of your career?” Josh asked.
“Yes, but only for five years. Then I met Dan Lewin, and….”
“He was a good man,” Josh said, “ and a good architect. We worked together on the Willowham Foundation project.”
Nora’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “I didn’t know you were involved in that project for the homeless,” she said.
Josh smiled. “Contrary to what some may think, I’m not just in this profession for the money. I regularly contribute to City Meals on Wheels and sit on the Board of the Willowham Foundation.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Nora said. “I’ve supported both causes for years. I still think that to diminish crime, we must offer hope.”
“An interesting concept,” Josh said. “What say we go back to my place and talk some more?”
Jack sat in front of the television set, mindlessly flipping the channels. What good was it to have cable when there was nothing on? He stood up, knocking the crust from his Rueben sandwich to the floor. Cussing under his breath, he picked up the crust and threw it in the wastebasket. Well, his apartment could do with a good cleaning. That would be a wonderful way to spend Friday night.
He was picking up dirty socks when the news came on the television. He’d kept the set on for background noise, so he was surprised when he heard a voice that sounded somewhat familiar. He turned to see a smiling Josh Miller standing next to Michael Bloomberg.
“…and Joshua A. Miller, my good friend, will act as liason between my office and that of the district attorneys in all five boroughs. “
Miller came up to the microphone. “I wish to thank the Mayor for entrusting me with this important job. I hope that I can get to know each of the DA’s on a personal basis. I will be acting as a liason not only to the mayor, but between them as well.”
Jack threw a dirty sock at Miller’s smiling face.
“Have you met with Haverston in Queens yet?” Nora asked as Josh mixed her a drink.
“He’s next on my list,” he said. He handed Nora her drink and sat down beside her on the couch. “I know that—sometimes—there have been problems between the DA’s in the different boroughs. Why do you think that happens?”
Nora sipped her drink thoughtfully. “Clash of egos, to some extent. No one really wants to give up any of their power. Sometimes it’s justified. If Queens has a stronger case against a defendant, they should get the nod.”
“But it’s more than that, isn’t it?” Josh asked. “Aren’t there—political considerations as well?”
“Now that you mention it,” Nora agreed. “I’m still a novice when it comes to political affairs. I guess I’ll earn my place—or lose it—in the election this fall.”
Josh leaned over. “I’d like you to earn it,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do to help out, let me know. I’ve been dabbling in politics for a long time, behind the scenes. I want to see you stay in office.” His eyes gazed into hers; she could feel his breath on her cheek….
Jack turned off the television and put on a CD. Old Beatle tunes fit his mood, especially As My Guitar Gently Weeps. He finished stuffing his dirty clothes into a laundry bag and began picking up his law magazines, which he stacked haphazardly on the side of his desk. It was only when he picked up the newspaper clipping of Nora’s appointment to the DA’s office that it hit him. He was jealous. Jealous of Josh Miller, who got to spend the evening with Nora.
He’d gotten used to going out and getting a bite to eat with her. It had made him feel less lonely. Josh Miller had invaded his comfort zone, and he resented it. But he’d never asked Nora for any kind of commitment—heck, they didn’t even have an understanding. He sat down on the couch and ran a hand through his hair. Dammit, he hated this.
Josh escorted Nora to her door. “Thank you for a wonderfully informative evening,” he said.
“I suppose that now you’re going to take the other DA’s out to dinner to get to know them,” Nora smiled.
Josh shrugged. “Perhaps. But the meal won’t be as fun as it was with you.” He reached over and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Monday morning found Nora walking to her office, humming. Jack McCoy caught up with her outside her door.
“Good morning, Nora,” he said. “When I came in, I saw your car was already here, and I thought you’d come in early.”
Nora shook her head. “Josh took me to dinner, and then to his place. We lost all track of time, so he just took me home. I decided the car was safe enough here, and took a cab in to work. Why? Did you need to see me about something?”
“No, not really,” Jack muttered.
Nora nodded absently. “Well, if you do, please check with Stace. I have a meeting with the Mayor and Josh at two.” She smiled as she entered her office.
The day didn’t go well for Jack. The circumstantial evidence in the Cohen case was thrown out on a technicality, and he found himself on the phone, talking rather sharply to Anita Van Buren, who replied in kind. He slammed the phone down, hard, breaking the plastic cover. Frowning, he looked at the crack, trying to figure out how to fix it.
“I hope you have better luck with fixing the phone than you had with that lamp,” Nora said as she entered his office.
He looked up at her and glared. “The lamp works, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, but it took you three tries to find the short in the wire, and I was certain you’d get electrocuted before you did,” she replied. “What happened to the phone, anyway?”
“The Cohen case went south, due to improper police procedures dealing with the evidence,” Jack said. “I informed Lt. Van Buren when I got back from Judge Wright’s chambers, and things got a little heated.”
“That explains it,” Nora said. “I’d just called the 2-7 on another matter, and Van Buren sounded a bit defensive.” She paused and watched as Jack fiddled with the cracked piece, wiggling it back and forth. “You know, if you leave it alone, I don’t think it will bother anything,” she said finally.
Jack looked at her and frowned. “What is it you want, Nora?” he asked gruffly.
“I want to talk with you about your relationships with the DA’s in Kings County and the Bronx,” she said.
Immediately, Jack became defensive. “Look, I’ve always tried to get along with—“
“I know, Jack, I know,” Nora said, concerned. “What I want to know is what seems to start the disputes? Don’t look so glum, Jack, I’m asking all the EADAs, not just you. Josh asked me to get a handle on the problem.”
“Oh, Josh did? That’s nice,” Jack said.
“I don’t know if I like that tone, Counsellor,” Nora said as she narrowed her eyes at Jack. “This is a serious matter, and I expect cooperation, not sarcasm.”
Jack looked at Nora and sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was to get her mad, and that was exactly where this conversation was heading. He ran a hand through his hair and muttered, “Sorry. A tough day.”
“From the very beginning, from the look of you this morning,” Nora said softly as she sat down in the chair by the desk. “Anything the matter?”
“The main problem is when we find that the other DA’s office has slipped up on a case,” Jack said, ignoring her question. “They don’t like being told they’ve convicted the wrong person. That’s happened a couple of times. I’ve always tried to talk with them first, but I guess diplomacy isn’t my strong suit.”
“Nor is subtrafuge,” Nora remarked. “Something is bothering you, Jack. It’s affected your performance today. If it is something job related, let me know. If it’s personal and none of my business, tell me, and we’ll drop the subject.”
Jack looked at her. “Personal,” he said.
Nora sighed. “Well, I hope it is something you can work out. My door is always open. Of course, I understand if you’re more comfortable talking with someone else. But please, talk to someone.” She leaned over and put a hand on his. “I hate seeing you so miserable.”
Jack merely shook his head, avoiding her eyes. If he looked at her, he knew she would know what the problem really was. He was able to continue the conversation, keeping strictly to relations with the district attorney’s offices in other boroughs.
When Nora left, he stood up and looked out his window. He hadn’t realized how much this was affecting him. It must be pretty bad for Nora to notice.
Serena came in. “Brisco and Green just called. They’ve uncovered a possible witness to the robbery and murder, and have recovered a watch that matches the one that we think Cohen took off his victim.”
“Have them pin it down this time,” Jack said. “And make sure they get the evidence to the property department ASAP.”
Serena smiled. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that, Jack. They were calling from the property department to assure me they had everything in hand. I have the impression they heard an earful from their lieutenant.”
“Who heard an earful from me,” Jack replied. He paused. “Well, at least it got results. Well now Nora won’t think I look so miserable.”
“Nora said that?” Serena asked in surprise. “I wonder why. It’s been a tough day, but you’ve looked fine to me.”
Jack grunted. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“I wasn’t committing perjury,” Serena said stoutly. “Nora’s just not down in the trenches to know what we have to put up with some days. You want me to go down to the 2-7 for the interrogation?”
“Let’s both go,” Jack said, going over to the rack and putting on his suit jacket and then his coat. “I want to see if this witness they found is worth two cents.”
The next few weeks found Jack McCoy burying himself in his work. He told himself that it was because the crime rate had gone up. Things were always a little more active the first few warm days of spring. But he couldn’t help but notice that Joshua A. Miller came by Hogan Place on a regular basis. Jack wondered if he left the offices of the other District Attorneys smiling and joking. He knew that Josh and Nora dined at least twice a week; if Nora didn’t mention it, Stace, her secretary would.
Nora started spending a lot more time out of the office than in. Campaign season was heating up, and, with Miller’s help, she was rounding up supporters and, more important, contributors.
“It’s so nice having someone to help me who knows the ropes,” she said one evening as she and Josh enjoyed a drink in her apartment. “And yet, you’re not jaded by politics. It seems to stimulate you.”
“Maybe that’s because I like to work behind the scenes,” Josh said as he draped an arm around her. “Nora, you’re a breath of fresh air in this city. Your integrity. Your defense of the law.”
Nora smiled. “I could say the same for you, Josh. You’ve been a breath of fresh air for me, too—and a lifesaver when it comes to my campaign. I’m so glad we’ve become friends.”
The next Friday found Jack McCoy in his office, staring at a brief. It was the last thing he had to read before he went home, and he was loathe to finish it. For the truth was, he didn’t want to go back to his lonely apartment for another weekend of staring at the four walls, wondering what to do. If he was lucky, he’d be here until the wee hours, writing his response….
“Jack, what are you doing here so late?” The words, accompanied by gentle shaking, woke him up. He looked up at Nora’s concerned face. “It’s one in the morning, Jack,” she said.
Jack sat up and yawned. He stretched his arms and said, “Then what are you doing here at this hour?”
“I just finished speaking at a fundraising banquet, and I came by to pick up some work I forgot to take home,” she said.
“Well, I was working on a response to Arthur Gold’s brief when I fell asleep, I guess,” Jack said, picking up the paper again and squinting at it.
Nora put a hand on his arm. “Jack, it can wait until Monday,” she said. “You need to go home and get some rest. I’ve been concerned about you. You’ve been working awfully hard lately.”
“That’s what I’m paid for,” Jack said stubbornly, holding onto the brief. He looked at Nora’s concerned face, and his voice softened. “Won’t take more than an hour or two to finish this.”
“Jack, I’m not going home until you do,” Nora said, sitting down.
Jack frowned at her. “Nora, I’m fine. I can get home safely, though I am concerned about you. Is your driver here, or were you accompanied by Josh Miller?”
“I took a cab,” Nora said. “I only use the car for official business. And Josh Miller wasn’t there tonight.”
“What, has he taken a shine to someone else?” Jack said, instantly regretting the words.
Nora looked at him incredulously. “What in the world do you mean, Jack?”
“Well, he’s helping you in your campaign, and I thought—“
“That’s not what you thought, Jack McCoy!” Nora looked at him. “Look at me—don’t turn away! Just because I don’t prosecute in the courtroom doesn’t mean I can’t read a person’s face when they’re lying! Why, Jack, you’re jealous!”
Jack looked at Nora sheepishly. “I’m just tired, Nora,” he said lamely.
“Uh-huh. And if I buy that you have a bridge to Brooklyn to sell me,” Nora said. “Come clean, Jack. Is it Josh that’s been bothering you all these weeks?”
Jack got up from his desk and turned to look out his window. At least now Nora couldn’t see his face. “I’m just tired,” he repeated.
Nora came up to him. “You are one stubborn Mick,” she said softly. She sighed, and touched his arm. He turned and looked at her. “Jack, Josh Miller is merely a friend, that’s all. He has introduced me to some people who are helping me with my campaign. He’s come in handy as an escort to a couple of dinners, and he’s given me some good insight into the way we can improve communications with the DA’s in the other boroughs. And that’s all.” She studied his face. “You know, I’ve missed our dinners together. That was a simpler, easier time in many ways. Campaigning is hard work.”
Jack cleared his throat. “Well, whenever you want to take a break from work, why not give me a call? I’ve missed our dinners together, too.”
“Tell you what,” Nora smiled. “I don’t have anything on the docket for Sunday. What say we meet at Martinos for salad and pasta?”
“All right,” Jack said. The old comfortable feeling was coming back to him, and he smiled, too.
“Good,” Nora said. “Now, put up that brief and come downstairs with me. We can share a cab.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jack said, as he cleared his desk.