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and, until today, Parker Sinclair's office mate, buzzed them into the building.
    She was waiting for them on the landing outside her apartment door. As they reached the top of the stairs, Assad gazed at her for a long moment. She did not look the part of a conservative federal law clerk. Dakota wore a tight-fitting blouse that was cut low at the neck displaying the alluring curves of her breasts and a tight skirt accentuating her long, smooth legs.
    "Ms. Cameron, we really appreciate you letting us come by on such short notice," Assad said.
    "No problem," Dakota said.
    Her voice was sultry and her eyes seemed to sparkle when she spoke, both of which Assad suspected drove the male clerks in Petrov's chambers to distraction. The detectives followed her into her apartment. It was small and exceptionally clean with pressed-wood furniture and worn shag carpet. They sat on a futon couch in front of a coffee table piled high with books, including The Brethren, The Nine, Supreme Conflict, and The Kincaid Court-staple best-sellers featuring the Supreme Court.
    "Coffee?" Dakota asked. Both detectives declined.
    "I'm not in the mood for any, either," Dakota said, holding up a huge mug. "But if I don't drink enough, I'll get a major caffeine withdrawal headache."
    "Your job," Assad said. "It must be pretty demanding." He looked into her eyes, trying hard not to blink as she stared back at him. He was accustomed to women responding to him, and used it when necessary.
    "Yeah," Dakota replied. She crossed her legs and fussed with her hair. "The law clerk community refers to the grinding two years with Judge Petrov as `the gulag."'
    "He works you hard?"
    "Yeah. He's not like other judges. He's much younger than most, for one thing, and he doesn't ever seem to sleep. And while most judges require only a one-year commitment, he requires a two-year clerkship. So between writing decisions and helping him prep for speaking engagements and public appearances, it can be hard. Not everybody makes it through."
    Assad gave her an admiring stare, then said, "We're trying to find out if there's anyone who'd want to hurt Parker."
    Holding the mug with both hands, she took a sip of coffee. "I can't think of anyone. I mean, he wasn't all that well liked at the court, but that's just because he made the other clerks look bad. He worked around the clock and was one of the judge's favorites. Petrov's a'feeder' to the Supreme Court, so there's a lot of competition."
    "Feeder?" Milstein asked, lightly bouncing a pen on the notepad in her hand.
    "'There's a handful of appellate judges the justices turn to when interviewing for clerks. Every year, at least one of Petrov's clerks moves up to the Supreme Court. At least that's how it used to be before Black Wednesday."
    "You're hoping for a spot?" Assad said, pointing his chin at the books on her table.
    "Any clerk who said they weren't would be lying. But there's no telling what's going to happen until new justices are confirmed. Mind if I get some more coffee?" she said getting up and walking toward the drab kitchen off the living room.
    "Of course not," Assad said, watching as she carefully filled her mug from a pot perched in a coffeemaker.
    When she came back, she sat a little closer to Assad and seemed to forget Milstein was in the room.
    Assad asked, "Was there anyone in particular at the office who didn't care for Parker or had issues with him?"
    "Not really. Nothing overt, anyway-more passive-aggressive, petty stuff."
    "Like what? Can you think of any examples?"
    "Like not including him when other clerks went out to lunch or drinks-that kind of stuff."
    "He have a girlfriend?" Milstein asked.
    "Not that I know of," Dakota answered, still looking at Assad. After a moment she said, "We dated a little." She fussed with her hair again.
    "Dated," Milstein said. "Past tense?"
    "Yeah, Parker and I decided we were better as friends."
    Holding Dakota's gaze, Assad gently asked where she was last night. She replied