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shock. “I’m sure this news is hitting you like a ton of bricks, and for that I apologize. As for why you’re hearing it from me, there was a daylong political haggling session between my office and the Brooklyn D.A. Our side argued professional courtesy; theirs argued professional jurisdiction. Our side won. So here I am.”
    To his surprise, Morgan gave a humorless laugh. “Your side won. But you lost. What happened—did you draw the short straw?”
    “Huh?” Whatever he’d been expecting, it hadn’t been this.
    “Who am I kidding?” She answered her own question. “The D.A. just handed you your instructions and showed you the door. It makes perfect sense. You and I are acquainted. We have a comfortable, positive working relationship. Plus, you knew my father, maybe even worked a few cases under his direction. Therefore, you were the logical choice to break the news to me. How civilized of both D.A.s. Or how self-serving, depending on how you look at it. Is it my reaction they’re worrying about, or is it Arthur’s? Because I’m stunned and unnerved. I have been for the past few hours, since I got word. As for Arthur, he doesn’t know yet. But if I had to venture a guess, I’d say he’ll be infuriated to find out that my parents’ murder investigation was botched and that whoever really killed them is still out there walking the streets.”
    Charlie stared. “You already knew about Schiller?”
    “A friend told me. He wanted to spare me the pain of hearing about it from a stranger, or worse, from the press.”
    “I see.” A long pause as Charlie regained his composure. “You either have a very well-connected friend, or we have some serious leaks. This news wasn’t supposed to get out before you were told—personally.”
    “I’m sure that’s true. But at this point, it’s immaterial.” Morgan forced a tight smile. “Stop looking like you’re about to face a firing squad. I don’t believe in shooting the messenger. The news is out, its initial impact over, and I’m still in one piece.”
    He eyed her speculatively. “We’ve never really spoken about your parents, other than the niceties. You know I was fresh out of law school when I came on board at the Manhattan D.A.’s office. Your father was an icon. Every newbie hero-worshipped him, including me. He was a brilliant prosecutor, with dead-on instincts. I never met your mother, but I heard she had a heart of gold.”
    “She did.”
    Charlie blew out his breath. “Their murders sent shock waves through the entire system. I can’t imagine what it did to you. You were a ten-year-old kid. Not only did you lose your parents, but you were at the crime scene.”
    “I found their bodies,” Morgan supplied tonelessly. “And you’re right. You can’t imagine. But you can guess. It changed me forever.”
    “And now you’ve got something new to deal with—this news about Schiller.”
    “True. But my coping skills are a lot stronger now. So’s my will. I’m not going to sit passively by and let the job of finding my parents’ murderer become another item on someone’s to-do list. I’m going to move it along.”
    That got Charlie’s attention. He went very still. “Meaning?”
    “Meaning I’m going to start out by assessing just where this matter stands in the various law enforcement offices.” It was her turn to lean forward. “Tell me, Charlie, how ticked off is the Manhattan D.A.? Angry enough to push Brooklyn to initiate a whole new investigation? Or is this a back-burner case, icon or not?”
    He was walking a thin line and he knew it. “I’m not sure how this will play out. The old-timers are ripping. Especially the ones who were close to your father. They want resolution. The younger crowd’s a different story. They only know Jack Winter as a name. Bottom line is, reopening the investigation will require resources. Lots of them. It’s been seventeen years. The trail is cold. So is the case.”
    “We could heat it up.