After dark on that Monday, Sandy sat in her car behind the Jardin Café waiting for Norma Martin. In truth, she wanted the mother and daughter to be possible suspects. Nothing personal, Sandy actually wanted everyone in the world to be a suspect. If you're accused of murder, you can't have too many others who are also suspects.
If she could develop other possible suspects, then Kagan could talk about them in front of the jury. He could make each suspect appear to be a possible killer and get those doubts into the jurors' minds. If in doubt, you must acquit.
The first time Sandy drove out to the Jardin Café, she had encountered the daughter, Elena, whose explanation of her affair with Towson was fascinating and perhaps contrived. Sandy wanted to meet Norma Martin and try to get her talking. Try to get her, her daughter or the family connected somehow to the murder.
Sandy's plan was to light a fuse by mentioning La Familia, then wait and see what blows up. That's what she did. And that's what happened. The mother became visibly agitated and screamed at her to wait outside.
Her phone buzzed, it was the law firm in Philadelphia. "Hey, Joanna. You're working late. How's Walde & Walde doing without me?"
"Honey, you've got a big problem up here. Your absence has not gone unnoticed, to put it mildly. Ron is coming all apart. He told me to get you on the phone. Be gentle with him, he's been covering your cute little tail all week. Here he is."
Her boss came on the line. "Sandy, what are you doing to me? Eberhard didn't miss you until they started discussing two of your field cases at Friday's staff meeting, then it hit the fan. Are you listening?"
"Yes, Ron, go on." She guessed what was coming.
"He called me on the carpet. In short, he said you're fired. I stretched things and told him your fieldwork on those cases was complete. I said everything was cool, and you'd be back for this Wednesday's staff meeting. You have to be there or else."
"Thanks for the cover. I love you guys and my job. I'm not going to give it up, but-."
"But, nothing! Get your ass back up here by Wednesday, or you'll blow it. Law students from schools all over the east coast are lined up waiting to replace you, and they'll work for free just for the internship."
"Ron, I know it's not your problem, but you see my brother is in deep shit. I think I'm doing some good, but it's going to take awhile longer, unless I get a break of some kind."