Page 38 of The System

Carina nodded and said, “You got on the visitor’s list?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good.”

“We’ll see. This is the first visit since we met and she nicknamed me Picket Fence.”

“She did not.” Carina laughed a little.

“She did.”

“Creative.”

“Yeah, I’ll give her that,” Kieran agreed. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” Carina shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other.

“Um… Kenna Crawford called me. She wants an interview with me.”

Carina laughed and said, “That didn’t take her long.”

“You know her, too, right? You’re all friends or something.”

“I know Dylan and Ada better, but yes, I know Kenna and Ripley. I babysat their two kids a few months ago.”

“Is she what she says she is?”

“A reporter? Yeah,” Carina replied. “But I’m guessing that’s not what you meant.”

“No. Is she a good person? Does she actually care?”

“Oh, yes,” Carina said quickly. “You can ask Hollis and Raleigh. She took care of them. Even Ada, who didn’t want to be involved in another story, still worked with Kenna for an update episode on her brother’s case a couple of years ago, I think.”

“So, I shouldn’t worry about Marin doing an interview?”

“Marin? I thought you said she wanted an interview with you.”

“She does. But she also wants one with Marin.”

“Makes sense.” Carina shrugged.

“So, Marin should trust her?”

“Oh, God, no,” Carina replied with a laugh. “I mean, trust Kenna as a person? Yes. But should Marin do a pre-trial interview with anyone other than her attorney? No way.” Carina shook her head. “And I’m saying that as the prosecutor who would very much love to see that interview footage and use it in court.”

“Then, why are you saying it?” Kieran asked.

“Because you asked me, and you don’t deserve to be lied to or manipulated to help me win a case that I can win on my own without having to do that.”

“Confident, huh?” Kieran said with a smile.

“Not confidence, Kieran. Evidence. I have it all. Diego doesn’t. You need to understand that it’s either going to be a deal for Marin, or she goes to trial and gets life without parole.”

“So, I need to convince her not to do this interview, then?”

“Yes, but that’s really Diego’s job. How is he allowing this, by the way? Is he going for some ineffective assistance of counsel for an appeal since he won’t win at trial?”

“He doesn’t know yet. Kenna got Marin to agree this morning. I don’t even know how she got through to her, honestly, but she’s a reporter, so… She probably has her ways. I called and left Diego a message, but I came here to try to talk her out of it myself.”

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