Page 3 of Pursuit of Happiness

“Is that so?”

Meredith gestured toward the wall of rules. “This speaks moreprosecutor than defense attorney.”

Stevie settled into the seat beside her. “Ah, that’s right. Youworked for the US Attorney’s office once upon a time.”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Did you like it?” Stevie asked.

Interesting question. Meredith couldn’t remember the last timesomeone had asked her about her time as a prosecutor. “Looking back, yes, butat the time I remember feeling boxed in. Young AUSAs don’t get to exercise alot of discretion.”

“Interesting observation. I would’ve expected you to saysomething about how your time as a prosecutor gave you valuable perspective andall that.”

“Oh, I can say all that,” Meredith said, “but I get theimpression you aren’t really impressed by political bullshit.”

“Would it be bullshit?”

“Not entirely, but there’s not a ton of room for nuance when itcomes to sound bites. Which brings me to the subject of this meeting. I get thefeeling you were feeling a little boxed in with the time limits during thehearing.”

“You read that right,” Stevie said. “If something’s importantenough, it seems like you would want to hear everything there is to say on thesubject.”

“And you think we don’t get much done now. Just wait and see howlittle we’d accomplish if everyone got to say their piece.” As she spoke,Meredith studied Stevie’s face, certain she’d seen a twinge of disappointmentafter she’d brought up the hearing. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who’d had anulterior motive for tonight’s meeting. Before she could test the water further,Stevie smiled and said, “Are you hungry?”

Meredith’s head spun at the abrupt change in subject, but shedidn’t let it show. “Starving. Is the food good here?”

“Basic bar food, but yes. Trust me to order?”

“Absolutely.” Meredith sat back and watched Stevie negotiate withthe bartender, occasionally looking over to confirm that she was okay with theselections. Meredith didn’t say anything other than to nod her assent. She wasused to everyone deferring to her choices, and it was nice to have someone elsetake control for a night.

“We can move to a table if you want,” Stevie said once she’dcompleted their order.

Sensing that Stevie was only making the offer for her benefit,she demurred. “I’m fine here if you are.”

“Good.”

A moment of silence slipped between them, but instead of beinguncomfortable, it felt natural, like they were old friends enjoying a night outwith the knowledge there would be many more. Meredith raised her glass and tooka drink, enjoying the idea of spending more time with Stevie.

“Do you really believe that mandatory minimums work?”

Again with the abrupt change in subject. Meredith took a momentto consider before shaking her head. “Not always, no.”

“Then why the fuss about getting rid of them?”

“What do you suggest in their place?”

“Better treatment options for prison populations. More optionsfor probation with treatment. Stop filling the prisons with low-level drugoffenders.”

“I agree with you in theory.”

“I hear a but.”

“But nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Treatment programshave their own issues.” Meredith ticked off the points. “Cost. Recidivism. Whentreatment is dangled as a way to get out of prison early, people will do or sayanything to get a clean bill of health. Put them back on the streets andthey’ll be using again in no time without ongoing treatment which most convictsdo not continue once they get their get out of jail free card. Then there’s theproblem that many times the people you want to help avoid mandatory minimumsaren’t addicts at all so they don’t qualify for the sentence reduction a treatmentprogram would give them.”

“You really know your stuff.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Meredith was genuinely curious.

“I don’t know. I guess I thought you were pretty far removed fromyour days dealing with criminal law.”

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