Chuck Forbes

Samantha would tell you that the only men she loves are her daddy and her French Bulldog, Vinnie. But her most recent case has her working closely with her former high school sweetheart. Chuck Forbes has been on the fast track into the Major Crimes Team since joining the bureau after college. Their past relationship almost kept Samantha from joining the DA's office. Luckily, Chuck set the tone on that first case and there haven't been too many awkward moments since. The sparks are there, though, and it has been a while since Samantha's divorce . . .

From Judgment Calls:
To say that Chuck Forbes and I go way back is to sanitize the situation considerably. I didn't think Chuck would tell all to his cop buddies, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had said something in a certain way with that grin of his that would clue a guy into the gist of his reminiscing.

Russell Frist

Samantha's new boss in the Major Crimes Unit, Russell Frist, has a reputation in the District Attorney's Office. He's been known to make some lawyers cry. At six foot three, 250 pounds, with perfect salt-and-pepper hair and a resonating voice that rumbles from his torso, Russ Frist is an imposing figure. But he's also a good prosecutor and a straight shooter.

From Missing Justice:
Compassion is a straight path to burnout. I wasn't yet to the point where I looked at a person's murder simply as a trial challenge, but, when I did, I'd rather approach my cases as a passionate competitor like Frist than yet another of the lazy plea-bargaining bureaucrats we keep around here.

[Samantha] "Is it still my case, or should I go ahead and tell MCT to call you the next time they find a shoe in the gutter at four o'clock in the morning?"

"Nice try," Frist said, shaking his head and smiling. "But whereas some people who held this job in the past were lazy fucks who'd rather play golf than practice law, I want to make sure we do things right around here, even if we all have to work our asses off. Including me. So keep your MCT phone calls, and we'll talk later about how to split the work if the need should arise. I never said who'd be first chair, now, did I?"

Sergeant Tommy Garcia

With his white teeth and perfect smile, Tommy Garcia is smooth enough to be in politics. As a sergeant on the city's Vice Division, Garcia presents Samantha with a challenge she can't resist. Playing on her sense of justice, Garcia brings Samantha a case that will consume her and place her in the path of danger in the Portland's world of drugs and under-age prostitutes.

Samantha Kincaid on Tommy Garcia:
That smile had led me to believe he was a nice guy when I met him for the first time three years ago, and I had been right.

Grace Hannigan

It's a good thing that Grace and Samantha are life-long friends; otherwise, Samantha might hate her. After all, Grace is gorgeous and she can eat anything without gaining weight. She's also one of the funniest people Samantha knows. One can only guess at what Samantha would be like if she didn't have Grace to balance out the dreariness of the DA's office.

Samantha Kincaid on her Best Friend:
Grace cuts hair. It's a good thing she's got the kind of job where a guy can make an appointment to see her on a risk-free basis, or she'd never get a date.

Martin Kincaid

Samantha's father, a retired forest ranger and recent widower, finds comfort in routine -- gym, yard work, television programs, target shooting, checkers with his 90-year-old neighbor, and tormenting Samantha with memories of awkward years (especially her ill-fated attempt at becoming a vegetarian). An avid gun collector and target shooter, Martin has been cursed with a daughter who has never been amenable to his many attempts to convert her. He's never been fond of her lawyer friends -- especially her ex-husband. It's a shame Samantha didn't inherit his good judgment.

From Judgment Calls:
I love that my father laughs louder at his own jokes than anyone else. I wonder if he knows the people doubling up around him when he talks are enjoying Martin Kincaid's contagious delight with life and not the substance of what he's saying.

Vinnie Kincaid

Samantha's French Bulldog, Vinnie, became the main man in her life the day her divorce became final. Vinnie gets upset when Sam comes home late, but luckily, he is somewhat understanding of her demanding job -- once the snorting begins, she knows all has been forgiven. Chuck is convinced that if Vinnie could speak, he would sound just like Buddy Hackett.

From Judgment Calls:
Vinnie's basic needs are met when I'm gone. He has his own door in back that goes out to the yard. An automatic feeder keeps him portly. He's even capable of entertaining himself. I'm pretty sure he thinks his rubber Gumby doll is his baby. But at the end of the day, he's a momma's boy and needs me to talk to him.

I have no idea how other people manage to be needed by whole other tiny individual people and still maintain their sanity.

Jessica Walters

Known to many as "Nail'em to the Wall Walters," Jessica Walters doesn't mince words, and doesn't like to plea bargain. The only female supervisor in the District Attorney's office, Jessica has never given Samantha the time of day –- until now.

From Missing Justice:
She was leaning back in her chair with her stocking feet on the desk, one hand holding the phone to her ear, the other tapping her trademark pencil on her armrest. The person on the other end of the line was having a bad day that was getting worse as the conversation continued.

"You're smoking crack if you think I'll agree to probation . . . . I don't care if your guy's in denial, Conaughton. As far as I'm concerned, the most important part of your job is to smack him out of it. I'm not the one who needs a talking to, but you'd rather waste my time from the comfort of your office than haul yourself to county for a much-needed sit down. . . . I'm hanging up now, because it's not going to happen. Either take the forty months or confirm the trial date. Call me back with anything else and I'll stop talking to you."

She set the handpiece in its cradle as gently as if she'd been checking the weather.