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time.’
    â€˜Twelve. This August.’
    â€˜Tough man to work for?’
    She frowned. ‘Is everything you say going to lead to a negative response from me? Is that your intent?’
    â€˜I don’t follow.’
    â€˜You start out with “a tough man to work for”? And if I say yes, then do you keep probing? Trying to get me to tell you all of his negatives? And does that lead to you measuring my responses and weighing whether I might be a suspect in his death? Because, I am not going to be a person of interest, Mr Archer. I don’t like the tone of your voice.’
    A lady who had seen twelve years of lawyers, probing for the defense, for the prosecution.
    â€˜Whoa.’ Archer motioned for a timeout. ‘Miss Waronker …’
    â€˜Mrs.’ Her voice very firm.
    â€˜
Mrs
Waronker, I’m not playing games here. I’m not a trial attorney. Just a cop trying to solve a murder. I want to know this man inside and out. I want to know who his friends were, who his enemies were, who his contacts were. The question was somewhat of an icebreaker. I’d heard he was a little harsh in his opinions, in his judgment. Let’s start over, OK. It is not my intention to back you into the corner.’
    Her eyes boring into his, she studied him for a moment, and he straightened his posture, shifting his shoulders.
    â€˜OK. Yes, he was tough to work for.’ She spit out the words. ‘He could be a real son of a bitch at times. Demanding as hell, but I put up with that for twelve years. There was another lady who didn’t last twelve years. There’s a story there. I suppose,’ she hesitated, ‘I suppose I should point out that there were some good things about him too.’
    Archer nodded, folding his hands in his lap. He had the distinct impression there really weren’t too many positive qualities about the deceased.
    â€˜All right, let’s start there.’
    Sue Waronker leaned forward, her elbows on the dark wooden desk. Letting out a slow breath she said, ‘I’ve lived the last twelve years making excuses for Judge David Lerner. That was my job. And, Detective, I’m paid to do my job. You give me a check and I’ll do almost anything you want done. Almost. Understand? And, I’ve been led to believe that part of my job is to support the judges in this division. Not just Lerner, but the others as well.’
    Archer nodded, hoping to encourage her narrative.
    â€˜Well, one of those judges is no longer among us. While he was alive, I lived with his arrogance, I put up with his superior attitude and the harsh sentences that he passed on young men and women in this city. It was a job that I sometimes couldn’t stomach, Detective. Judge Lerner destroyed a lot of young lives – especially the men’s – and their families because of harsh penalties that very few of those people actually deserved. He wasn’t the only one on this floor. But I worked for him and I apologize to anyone if I turned a blind eye to some of his corrections.’
    â€˜You say this without a background in the justice system? Without any education in criminal law?’
    The lady gripped the edge of her desk, her knuckles white.
    â€˜I say this, Detective Archer, with a compassion for people. Judge Lerner and Judge Warren,’ she hesitated, ‘and there are others, believe me, I’m sorry, but there are, were, several judges who seemed to revel in harsh sentencing on young people who I believe deserved a second chance. It’s my thought, but as you point out, I haven’t one good reason or qualification to make that statement.’
    â€˜Mrs Waronker, I was simply pointing out that there may be legal reasons beyond your, or my understanding. No offense.’
    â€˜I’m going to be totally honest with you, Detective Archer. You seem to have been honest with me.’
    His innocent face on, Archer smiled.
    â€˜I worked