Log:Manageable Cases

The Lady in White 2020/05/15 Night Marshal|Carpenter Tamara 5

Elvis' Diner

Tamara reached out to Carpenter after having been buried in her work for quite some time. Just to catch up over casual dinner after work. She sits in one of the booths waiting, already sipping on a chocolate maltshake.

Carpenter walks in, only a minute or two late. He waves to Tamara and walks over to the booth. He smiles and takes a seat, "Hey there."

Tamara waves and smiles, though she looks worn down from work. She's already undone the bun she often wears for work and has allowed her hair down. "Hello, Jack," she says warmly. "Been a while. I figured I'd better arrange a meetup, or we never would," she chuckles. "How are thing?"

Carpenter smiles. "Things are...going pretty well. How about you?"

Tamara smiles, but it's the way she smiles when she's caught on to something. "Oh-ho? Pretty well? That doesn't sound quite like you, Jack. Something's up," she suspects. Or she's baiting him to give up something. "I'm desperately trying not to drink tonight. That's why I picked a place with no alcohol."

Carpenter shrugs, "My case load has been a bit light as of late. I'm sure that my luck will change, but I'm enjoying it for the time being." He tilts his head, "So, what's hte problem you're dealing with?"

Tamara still studies Carpenter. "Hmm. So you wrapped up that murder in Harrisburg already? Or that missing person? For a moment I thought you finally got assigned a partner," she tsks at her guess being wrong. "My case blew up. The one that would've slowed the Capellis. After my star witness crumbled, it wasn't enough to convince the jury. I lost the case. Chamberlain isn't too happy about it."

Carpenter frowns, "Sorry to hear it. At least hte witness is still alive. But that doesn't help with a conviction.

"Better they're alive and I lost the case then dead and lost," Tamara concedes. "Though I can't help but think he purposely flubbed his testimony after getting rattled," she sighs and slurps her malt. A plate of chili cheese fries gets delivered to her and the waitress asks if Carpenter wants anything. "You're free to share these if you want," Tamara offers. Sure, she wants the whole plate to herself, but she knows she shouldn't.

Carpenter nods to the waitress with a smile. "A couple of scrambled eggs. Three pancakes. A couple of links of sausage, and a coffee. Thanks."

"One Home Run, coming up," the waitress smiles and taps that into a small PDA. She steps away briefly and drops off a mug of hot coffee. There's already sugar and creamer at the table.

Carpenter does grab one of the fries after the waitress walks away. "Thanks." He nods again, "Well, I guess he can't be tried for the same thing again, right? Even if there's additional evidence?"

"If we can get additional evidence," Tamara sighs. "Chamberlain is deciding if we are filing a notice of appeal after he reviews the case himself. In the meantime, we're hoping more evidence will present itself. We aren't closing the case just yet. And after being taken hostage at the courthouse last month, Chamberlain's lightened my case load. He says I need a break." She sounds a little resentful about that.

Carpenter raises his brows, "You also had someone try to kill you not long before that. Having a short vacation wouldn't be a bad idea, Tam."

Tamara sighs, because Carpenter -does- have a point. It does take away some of the sting of indignation being reminded. "Alright. Maybe. I'm not even sure what I'd do for a vacation."

Carpenter chuckles. "Read law texts on the beach?"

"Mm. Now that I could get into," Tamara laughs.

"What about you, Jack? You've had to have maxed out your vacation hours by now," Tamara teases as she snacks on a chili fry.

Carpenter smiles...."I took some time off not too long ago. A beach vacation, even. But...then I had to take some time off for medical leave. I suppose I'm probably due for another vacation, though."

Tamara takes another fry. "Beach vacation and medical leave? Maybe you are." She hesitates a moment. "I'm still seeing a therapist after what happened at my place. So I'll give you the advice you gave me. Are you seeing a counselor or therapist?"

Carpenter smiles. "I did for a bit, yeah. After the incident at the coffee shop on the east side. I'm not currently.

Tamara raises a brow. "So you're 'cured'?" she asks, not convinced.

Carpenter shakes his head, "No. You're never 'cured'. That's not how it works." He takes another fry. "My feelings are manageable. That's all. I don't freak out now near the coffee shop."

Tamara nods gently. "Okay. For a moment I thought you were ditching your own advice." She then offers a soft, supportive smile. "I'm glad it's helped. I still sometimes jump when I'm at home when I hear a noise. But it's not as bad as it was."

Carpenter nods. "Don't worry. If I need to, I'll talk to someone again." He smiles slightly. "It was good advice for you. It works for me, too."

Tamara smiles back as the waitress drops off Carpenter's brinner Home Run plate. "Well, I'm glad you're actually taking your own advice."

Carpenter smiles to the waitress. "Thanks." He then starts to tuck into his food. "You know...Tam...if I didn't manage to talk to someone about that kind of thing once in a while, I'd shut down."

Tamara is surprised by that. "Really? I had no idea. You always seem so...solid."

Carpenter shrugs, "As I said...once in a while. The diner thing...was actually worse than seeing Dr. Destroyer in person. It was...more...visceral."

"That sounded more like a war zone from what you said and the reports," Tamara agrees. "I know I wouldn't do well in either."

Carpenter shivers as he thinks about it. "War zone is probably the most accurate description, yeah."

Tamara looks concerned, her hand reaching out to offer a reassuring touch. "I'm sorry I brought it up, Jack."

Carpenter smiles and relaxes as Tamara touches his hand. The contact definitely seems to help. "It's...okay. I'm better. But that's not going to go away. Not entirely. I just hope my reaction to it becomes...less frequent.

Tamara gently strokes his hand a few times before withdrawing. "It will in time. That's what my therapist keeps telling me," she says gently. "I'd feel a lot better if you had a partner to watch your back."

Carpenter smiles. "I might, too. No idea when that will happen, though."

"Maybe approach Landry again? She was your partner. You'd think she'd have assigned you a replacement that stuck by now, since that was her old job," Tamara chuckles. "Or is that WHY she hasn't?"

Carpenter shrugs, "I...don't know. Maybe? That might be why she hasn't yet. It's in her power to do so."

Tamara squints a little. "Did you do something to piss her off ever?"

Carpenter laughs, "You're kidding, right?" He smiles, and takes another bite of his food. "All the damn time." He laughs again.

Tamara laughs and shakes her head. "Well there's -that- mystery solved, Detective," she chortles and eats a fry.

Log:Rookie Tagalong