He didn’t know that federal jurisdiction wiped out local influence.

He didn’t know that the precinct commanders he bragged about having in his pocket had no standing in a federal court.

I picked up my desk pen and wrote three names on a clean yellow legal pad: *Chloe Vance*, *Brenda Vance*, *Charles Vance*.

Under their names, I listed the possible criminal violations: felony assault of a minor, destruction of evidence, and witness intimidation.

A cool breeze rattled the loose glass in the window behind my desk.