Maybe she should turn down the job.
But no, that would look bizarre, too, declining a position she’d just applied for after acing the interview. It wasn’t credible to say she’d had another offer. Nobody would believe that. Besides, after their conversation, she didn’t want to say no. She felt closer to Judge Conroy than ever before. The judge saw Madison as a younger version of herself. She could become an important mentor. They might even be friends one day. Was she really going to turn down this incredible opportunity because of Danny? That would be too unfair.
Of course, she’d have to tell eventually. She would tell. This just wasn’t the right moment.
The judge stood up and stuck her hand out for shaking. It was hanging there, becoming more awkward by the second.
“Thank you, I’m thrilled to accept,” Madison said, and shook her hand warmly.
“I’m so glad. We need you to start right away. See Nancy on the way out. She’ll give you the employment forms to complete. I’m so looking forward to working with you. Welcome aboard.”
“Thank you, Judge. I won’t let you down.”
The veteran of many practice interviews and numerous real ones, Madison recited those parting words automatically. But as she walked from the office, her smile faded. The truth was, she’d already let Judge Conroy down, and not in a small way. She lied to her face about having a brother. And not just any brother—a drug defendant in the judge’s own court. Not only did she feel terrible about it, but once the judge found out, the consequences could be severe.
They’d fired the last intern. What would they do to her?
6
Nancy, the case manager, sat behind the receptionist’s desk.
“She offered you the position, didn’t she?” she asked, eyeing Madison narrowly as she exited the judge’s office.
“How did you know?”
“She likes the Harvard kids, and you were the only Harvard kid.”
Gee, thanks. This lady was not warm and fuzzy, that was for sure.
“Take a seat, there’s paperwork,” Nancy said, coming over to the waiting area, a folder in her hands.
They sat side by side on the sofa. Settling her glasses on her nose, Nancy spread the forms across the coffee table.
“Here we go: employment form and NDA. They’re quite detailed. Would you like to sit there and read all the fine print? Or I can just walk you through.”
Nancy glanced at her watch impatiently, making clear what the right answer was. A good lawyer read documents before signing. But Madison was afraid to annoy her.
“I’d appreciate that,” she said.
“Starting with the NDA—that’s a non-disclosure agreement,” she said, enunciating like she thought Madison was incapable of understanding.
“I’m familiar with those from contracts class.”
“Forget everything you think you know. This NDA goes well beyond what you’re used to, because Judge Conroy has unique security concerns. You can’t discuss anything about this internship with outsiders. And absolutely nothing about the judge. Not what she says or does, who she meets with, what she wears, the papers you see on her desk. Her friends, her pets, her home address. It’s all confidential. That may seem extreme, but it’s for her security.”
“I understand.”
Nancy flipped the form to the signature page. Madison took a deep breath and signed on the dotted line.
“Now, the employment form. We use this with our law clerks. It asks for a lot of specific information that you may not have on hand at the moment. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and so on. Of past employers, references, roommates, housemates, family members. Basically, everyone you know.”
Family members. Shit. She would have to put down Danny’s name, then. Well, of course she would—she’d been planning to tell the judge about him anyway, to clear up the misunderstanding. She just didn’t want to do it on a personnel form, with no context. This was too big a deal. She’d pretended to be an only child, with no siblings. It would look like she lied. Well, because she did lie. To a federal judge, a woman she admired and felt a meaningful connection to. The judge felt it, too. She’d surely feel betrayed. This required an explanation, and an apology. She needed to go back in there and clear things up. Now.
She got to her feet.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Nancy said.
“There’s something I need to tell Judge Conroy.”
“The interview’s over. Sit down.”
“But—”
“I said sit down.”
Nancy spoke softly, but with an edge to her tone that couldn’t be ignored. Madison obeyed.
“If you want to succeed in this office, Miss Rivera, you need to understand something from the start. The judge is a very busy woman with an extremely important job. We’re here to support her, not distract her. If you have questions, or concerns of any kind, you come to me, or ask the law clerks. You do not, under any circumstances, approach the judge. Is that clear?”
“But when we talked in the interview—”
“She can be quite warm,” Nancy said dismissively, like that was a character flaw. “It creates a misimpression.”
“A misimpression. Exactly. You see—”
“No. You need to understand, you’re here to do legal research under the supervision of the law clerks. Your contact with Judge Conroy will be limited to observing her in court. You’re not to knock on her office door or try to initiate small talk or get face time. I know you Harvard kids are hot to network. But if you want to succeed here, keep your head down. Complete your assignments in a timely fashion. And never bother the judge. Are we clear?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. The form. Take it home. Fill it out, sign the bottom. You’re affirming the truth of your responses under penalty of perjury—”
“Perjury?”
Her mouth went dry. There it was—possible criminal charges if she didn’t write Danny’s name down. Yet no way to speak to Judge Conroy in advance to clear up the misunderstanding. This was a freaking disaster, and she didn’t know who she was madder at—Danny or herself. She swallowed hard, hoping that the panic didn’t show on her face.
“Is that a problem?” Nancy said, giving her a sharp look.
“No, of course not.”
But Nancy was eyeing her suspiciously.
“Just so you know, I go over these things with a fine-tooth comb. Any misrepresentations or inaccuracies will be reported to your law school dean, as well as referred to the FBI for investigation.”
“I assure you, that won’t be necessary,” Madison said, as an anxious pulse beat in her throat.
“I hope not. Bring it back tomorrow when you start the job.”
After coming to terms on the hours Madison would work, they said good night. Nancy saw her out, shutting the chambers door firmly behind her.