Page 36 of 25 Alive

Parisi asked, “Any questions so far?”

There were none.

“All right, then,” he said. “In consultation with the mayor and San Francisco’s presiding judge, a new trial judge has been chosen to preside over Dario’s trial.”

Credendino said, “Mr. Parisi, you’ll be relocating the trial to another location, we’ll select a new jury, and so on, correct?”

“That’s correct, Counselor. The details are to be determined, but maximum security will be required. That’s mandatory for everyone hereandthe defendantandthe new jury. Obviously, all involved will be sequestered for the duration, and the jurors’ names will not be revealed.”

Questions followed. How long would it take to gather enough people for jury selection? Was there a space large enough for a trial and with enough room to separate the jurors from the attorneys and one another?

Parisi said, “Until the trial is relocated, my office is responsible for the defendant’s safety, and police security is available to those who want it. That’s round the clock.”

“I’d like twenty-four hours to consider your suggestion,” Credendino said.

“It’s not a suggestion,” said Parisi. “The new judge, along with the input of the San Francisco presiding judge, will determine the location and the date. They will discuss moving arrangements with me or Ms. Castellano and confer with defense counsel, but it is their joint decision alone.

“However, Mr. Credendino, you can always resign from representing your client. That’s your decision.”

Parisi stood. The rest followed, all leaving the room without speaking.

Yuki had many concerns.

Mainly for everyone’s safety.

CHAPTER57

YUKI FOLLOWED HER boss and mentor back to his office, which fit snugly into the southeast corner of the DA’s suite on the second floor. That back corner was as far as Parisi could get from the constant chatter coming from the maze of cubicles filling every free inch of space allotted to his department. But to his mind, he still wasn’t far enough away.

Parisi reached his desk and, while still standing, grabbed the receiver from his ringing desk phone.

He said into the mouthpiece, “Becky, I’m in a meeting. I’ll call them later.” To Yuki, Parisi said, “That was the press, of course. In the middle of this tragedy, there’s still no escape from the everyday crap.”

He logged into his computer, scrolled down, typed a note, and sent it. Then he turned his attention to Yuki.

“So, let’s talk. You want to know who, what, where, when, and why.”

Yuki set her laptop case down on the carpet beside the leather chair opposite Parisi’s desk. Parisi’s assistant, Becky,came in, said hi to Yuki, apologized for interrupting, and asked Parisi to step outside for a moment. Parisi threw an exasperated sigh and excused himself, and Yuki leaned back in the chair. She thought about Parisi’s “who, what, where, when, and why,” and he was exactly right, but she was sure that something within those five little words was going to surprise the hell out of her.

She lifted her eyes to the clock on the wall behind Parisi’s desk. It was the round, schoolhouse type, but on the face of the clock was a graphic of a snarling red bulldog.

Len had never told her the story of the clock, but given its prominent placement, he clearly loved it. It was 11:06 bulldog time when the legendary DA reentered his office, settled into his chair, folded his hands on the desktop, and said, “I’ve got about ten minutes.”

Yuki said, “Len. Tell me the plan.”

“I can only tell you some of it. The details are still in the works.”

“Tell me what you can.”

“We don’t have a start date on the new trial,” said Parisi, “but we have a judge. Robin Walden.”

“I’ve heard of her,” Yuki said. “Military, right?”

“Right. Judge Walden served on a military court. She’s best known for upholding a death sentence—”

“I remember now,” Yuki said. “Kuwait. An army private went nuts and shot up a bunch of tents one night, killing two fellow soldiers and wounding a dozen more.”

Parisi said, “Good memory, Yuki.”

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