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We’d scheduled an hour visit Tuesday morning, with Ralph having forty-five minutes alone with Jerome, and me joining them for the final fifteen. This gave Ralph an opportunity to do his thing on the plea deal, without my presence muddying the waters. Ralph had said if he couldn’t convince Jerome in forty-five minutes, no extra amount of time would change the man’s mind. If the deal went through, Roger and ASA Hart would set up a plea date, where Jerome would make his final appearance in court. That meant the final fifteen minutes would hopefully be the last time I saw Jerome. Working at the Public Defender’s Office, I’d learned to not underestimate the value of a last visit. As an investigator, it made it easier to shut that door and focus on the rest of my cases, emotionally and intel
