Neon Dragon by John Dobbyn Page B

the delicate balance of power, at least on civil rights issues.”
    â€œCome on, Connie. Do they still care that much about civil rights? What bastions are left to fall? We’ve got legislation on open housing, job discrimination, voting.”
    â€œAnd still the most segregated society north of Birmingham. For all of the legislation, how many blacks live in Brookline? How manywhites live in Roxbury? If you had a child, would you send him to school in Roxbury?”
    â€œGranted, and that’s my point. You can’t tell me those tired old men still think they’re saving the world from the rising minorities. Hell, you could pack the court with Bradleys and in ten years Brookline still wouldn’t send their kids to school in Roxbury. It’ll take more than Bradley to change that.”
    Munsey held both palms up. “I’m only telling you what I see. But I’ll tell you two more things.”
    He cut off the discourse while the antipasto plates were cleared and the finest magic I’ve ever seen worked on veal was placed before us. Vincenzo served it personally, and again remembered to close the door behind him. Munsey spoke before a bite of the veal was tasted.
    â€œYou’ve got two facts here. First fact, the boys go into a tizzy when this Bradley business breaks. Then there’s another flurry of activity when the great Lex Devlin comes out of retirement for the defense. Fact two, coincidentally our crusading prosecutor offers a deal of leniency that runs against her personal best interests. Not in character. Can we agree on that?”
    Munsey paused while Mr. Devlin nodded.
    â€œWhich leaves us with the question, is there a connection? And if so, what’s the grip they have on her?”
    â€œAnd more to the point, Connie, why would they care enough to pull that kind of string, if in fact they have influence over her to begin with? No, I don’t see it. They may have a rooting interest in who joins their club, but I don’t buy the civil rights angle as anything serious. They’re not that afraid of Judge Bradley.”
    Munsey sat back with his eyebrows raised for dramatic effect.
    â€œCorrect me if I’m wrong, Mr. Devlin, but was it not yourself that called me out of concern over the strange turn of events?”
    â€œI know, and I appreciate the information, Connie. I don’t think that’s the answer, though. You know, there’s another possibility. We could be looking in the wrong direction. Maybe the DA found a serioushole in her case and dropped back to a charge she thought she could prove. A conviction on a lesser charge would still be better for her than losing the case outright.”
    Munsey dropped his voice a little, and I noticed he was looking right into Mr. Devlin’s eyes.
    â€œI’ll say just one more thing. The last time I can remember the bees stirring in the hive this way goes back to the
Dolson
case.”
    I was looking at Mr. Munsey, but I could almost feel the effect of those words on Mr. Devlin. I could tell that Mr. Munsey was taking it in, too.
    â€œYou know yourself, Lex, there was a lot more to that case than ever came to the surface.”
    Mr. Devlin’s voice was quiet and heavy, but not unsure.
    â€œLet it rest, Connie. There’s no connection. Is that all?”
    â€œThat’s the best I can do, Lex. I’m one of their breed, so they’re happy to have me as chief clerk. But they don’t invite me to sit around the campfire.”
    Lex nodded. “Thanks, Connie. We’ll carry on the war with an eye to our backs.”

12
    WE LEFT THE MARLIAVE at about one o’clock. The parting handshakes took place on School Street, with Mr. Munsey walking north toward Tremont Street, Mr. Devlin walking south toward Washington Street and ultimately the office, and me cutting behind Old City Hall, ostensibly to catch the train for Harvard Square to check out Bradley’sfriends.