Jigsaw (Black Raven Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

panel and the one alternate. It was sent directly from the email account of the chief Amicus Curiae counsel, with a personal note. Her personal note of the evening thanked the judges for offering her the position.
    In the memo, the Amicus team provided a short summary of what had been accomplished in Monday’s trial proceedings. Forensic investigators from France had testified, explaining the minute details of the metro bombings. One issue that had been avoided by the French investigators was an analysis of how the bombings compared to known attacks by the Maximov-in-Exile organization. The answer to that was simple and direct, and one that Samantha and her team could sum up in a few short words. The metro bombing wasn’t similar to prior attacks, which had been linked to obvious political motives. The Amicus team also took the official trial plan for the next day and provided the American judges updates on what should be accomplished with each witness, based upon proceedings thus far.
    Samantha also provided the position of the Amicus team on the latest discovery issue—the French investigative teams had drawn their discovery requests narrowly and the evidence they had produced to support their conclusions seemed scant. When the French forensic investigators testified earlier that day, they concluded that there was a link between the metro bombing and the Maximov organization, but Samantha didn’t see it. Neither did the defense lawyers, who went to town attacking the conclusions.
    Essentially, the French team wanted the teams from the other countries to accept their conclusions, without providing evidence. The lack of direct evidence had been a concern that bothered Morgan. It was now her worry, and the first order of business of the court on Tuesday morning was going to be argument regarding whether the French had to produce the full contents of their files.
    She put the paper down, drank from a bottle of lukewarm water that she’d opened hours earlier, and hit send.
    “Done.”
    “Congratulations on officially concluding your first day as our chief,” said Eric, combing his fingers through his perpetually unruly red hair, his serious green eyes showing the strain of the day.
    “Bittersweet, but thank you.” She glanced past Eric through the large window into the dark Paris night. As her gaze took in the beauty of the Eiffel Tower and the crystal-clear night, strobe lights erupted into a glittering and blinking show, prompting her to glance at her watch.
    10:30.
    Perfect timing for the end of day memo from the Amicus team, which was expected to be delivered to the judges between 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. Not bad timing at all, considering that Morgan had died less than thirty-six hours earlier. She felt a lingering twinge of sadness at his death, accompanied with a moment of trepidation over the responsibility that had fallen into her lap.
    Shortly after Morgan’s death on Sunday evening, the judges from the United States decided to offer Samantha the lead position. When Judge Theodore O’Connor made the call, she’d accepted immediately. Now, with the whirlwind of the first day of ITT proceedings behind her and the nightly briefing memo on its way, she finally had a moment to ask herself whether she was up to the task of taking his place.
    “The system is slow.” With a frown, Charles straightened his navy blue wool cardigan, bent forward, and clicked at his laptop’s keyboard. “You cc’d me, right?”
    “Yes. I cc’d all of us.” As she waited for the email sent notification, her moment of self-doubt dwindled away. Am I up for the task of being chief? Absolutely. She’d been born for opportunities like this and had worked hard to ensure that when chances for advancement came her way, she could capitalize on them. Law school had been grueling, but she’d finished number one in her class.
    Obtaining her masters in international law had also been tough, but she’d excelled in that program as well. She’d