Presumed Innocent

The Night Saints are a Kindle County gang and a motif throughout the novel. Rusty made his mark with the Night Saints investigation, which began during his fourth year at the prosecutor’s office and continued for four years. He developed an extensive network of connections through the course of the investigation. References to the Night Saints throughout the novel indicate Rusty’s deep network and also his success and competency at his job. He gained his nickname, “Savage,” during the Night Saints investigation. Both Kumagai and Lionel Kenneally call him Savage, both with different implications. Kumagai seems to use it scornfully; however, Lionel uses it as an indicator of his respect. It represents Rusty’s success and his social standing and credibility in the Kindle County law enforcement and justice systems.

Rusty also uses his extensive network, developed during the Night Saints investigation, to make progress in the B file investigation and in his own case. The Night Saints also connect to the B file that Carolyn was investigating before her death. As it turns out, the man who bribed Judge Lyttle, Leon Wells, is a Night Saint. When Rusty and Lip visit Leon, they revisit the Grace Street projects and share a memory of going there at a pivotal point in the investigation.