Log:Mindjacked, Scene 3

Mindjacking 2019/08/22

3

Mr. Gillis seemed rattled by the interview. He seems to be starting to connecting something with Carpenter and Night Marshal, but isn't sure what that connection is yet. But he may be willing to deal if an offer can be made for his information. That means having to go to the District Attorney's office.

Carpenter heads into the district attorneys' office suite and says to the receptionist, "Hey there, Mr. Smith. Is Miss Garcia in?" He shows his badge as a formality and habit, even though the receptionist knows who he is.

"I know who you are, Jack," the receptionist laughs. "Yes, she should be in her office," she says, waving him on.

While the D.A.'s offices are busy, it seems Chamberlain isn't in his office. Carpenter does see Tamara Garcia walking from a meeting room towards her office, carrying some case files. Even when just in the office, she walks like she's on a mission. Short heeled shoes, pantsuit, her hair loosely draping over her shoulders.

Carpenter grins. "Force of habit. Sorry, Tommy." He heads down the hall to catch up with the assistant DA. "Tamara! Do you have a minute? It won't take long. It's about the Gillis case."

Tamara finally slows and looks his way. It's a few more steps before she stops. "Hi, Jack. Yes, I can spare a minute. Come into my office," she says, holding out her files to motion him to go first. A paper slides out just enough for Carpenter to spy details on the local 'alleged' mafia boss.

Carpenter nods and heads into her office, holding the door for her.

"Still have your manners, I see," Tamara says in what may be a soft tease as she walks in, steps around her desk, and sits down. "Go ahead and close the door and have a seat." She sets her crime boss case file aside and starts pulling up the Gillis case on her computer.

Carpenter smiles slightly, closes the door, and sits down in the chair available. "Have you been assigned the case? Or is it on Richard's docket to deal with?"

Tamara reviews the file. "Ohhh, the RACE baiter," she says in judgemental tones. "Richard has bigger fish to fry. This one's part of my case load."

Carpenter nods. "Yeah, that's the one. I recently questioned him a bit, with his lawyer present of course." He rubs his chin, "I think he was put up to the mental attack by Andrew Daily, based upon some witness statements from the scene. Daily 'happened to be there', filming the incident. I suggested to Gillis that he might be given a lighter sentence if he revealed why he did it. Meaning, who put him up to it. It's your choice on how to make deals...or if you want to at all. But I wanted to put it on your radar."

Carpenter shrugs, "I know the primary witness statements came from masks, which could make it a bit tougher to deal with."

"Andrew Daily? That bombastic idiota who shouts alien conspiracies and humans first propaganda?" Tamara asks. Jack recognizes that tone of hers. A pinch of righteousness, a dash of eagerness. She gets up from her seat and steps closer to Jack, sitting on the edge of her desk to get more close and personal. "You think he'll give up Daily?"

Carpenter nods. "I think it's a possibility. That's what I'm hoping. I think the case against Gillis is pretty strong, despite a lot of it being circumstantial. Mental powers are hard to prove in court. But there are enough witness statements to make the connection pretty solid. Get a good jury, and I think it'll be a lock." He smiles. "And I think Gillis knows he's on shaky ground. So he might give up the person who put him up to it. Assuming they're not set up like a terrorist cell or something, that likely means a direct contact by Daily."

Tamara purses her lips to weigh the pros and cons. "The mental powers are the problem. I'll ask for a lighter sentencing, IF he admits to the use of mental powers, and gives us who put him up to it. See if he can give us any concrete evidence of a deal." She smiles slyly. "He gives that? I can drop the assault with a deadly weapon charges and drop it down to just destruction of public property. He'll serve considerably less time, and have probation on the table."

Carpenter nods and smiles, "That sounds perfect. Should I get a statement directly from Daily about why he was there?"

"Yes, the more information we have, the better. It's too convenient for him to have been there," Tamara says as she clasps her hands around her knee. "We can compare it to what the masks said, potentially."

Carpenter nods. "Anything else you need from me?"

"Hmm, see if you can get any of his footage. Or find any footage that may have captured Daily before the incident," Tamara suggests.

Carpenter nods. "Good idea. Traffic cameras might have picked something up. I'll take a look." He gets up and heads to the door. "Give me a call if Gillis decides to talk. That'll open things up considerably. But we'll need as much proof as possible to get a slam dunk."

"Security footage in the area may have helped. Or someone else filming the incident? There may be soemthing on social," Tamara recommends as she uncrosses her legs and stands up from the table, watching him head up. "All business, as always," she comments, then gets back to business. "Go get that evidence for me, Cowboy." An affectionate term she sometimes called him for his love of Westerns.

Carpenter takes a deep breath as he thinks about it. His 'all business' facade weakens. "Things have been crazy as of late, I know. Would you like to get together for a drink sometime soon? Now that the pressure of having the world explode has been...well...removed?"

"I'm busy tonight," Tamara answers. It's a little short and clipped. But then she loosens up a bit as well. "But maybe Monday night?"

Carpenter smiles. "Monday sounds good. I'll be in touch." He gives her a wave, and heads out to the hall, closing the door behind him.

Tamara smiles to herself after he leaves, then heads back to her chair for work.