For the People Chapter 30

As Kudrow executes the ritual buttoning of his coat, Kate's history with fashion tells her that his suit isn't cut as precisely as the ones he'd previously worn to court. "More of a man of the people, today," she murmurs to herself. That would suggest, as she suspected, that he plans to call just folks witnesses, most likely more fellow demonstrators.

Kate's instincts are proven correct when a man, Joseph Leonard Pine, takes the stand. "Mr. Pine," Kudrow asks, 'what's your occupation?"

"I'm a farmer."

"We don't find too many of those in New York City. Where do you work?"

"I have a spread on Pine Island – the Black Dirt Region. It's the most fertile soil in the world, bursting with life."

"And as a farmer, how do you feel about life, Mr. Pine?"

Joseph straightens in the witness stand, throwing back his shoulders. "It's precious, holy. That's why I go to demonstrations against murdering so-called clinics."

Sighing, Kate rises from her seat. "Object to the characterization of murdering so-called clinics. Clinics provide vital testing that can save lives. They don't murder."

"You can save the speech for your closing, Ms. Beckett. However, the jury should not regard Mr. Pine's description as fact," Willis instructs. "Continue, Mr. Kudrow."

"Mr. Pine, at these demonstrations, did you become acquainted with Mr. Duffy?"

"Yeah, I met Linwood. I made a sign with a picture of what a baby looks like in the womb. And I made it big, so people watching on TV could see it. Linwood helped me get it out of my truck and held up the other end for a while. And we talked a bit."

"What did you talk with Mr. Duffy about?" Kudrow asks.

"About how we both wanted to save the babies. And he said he'd do everything he could to protect them."

"Were those Mr. Duffy's exact words, that he'd do everything he could to protect the babies?"

"I don't know if those were his exact words. There was a lot going on, a lot of noise. But they were something like that. Oh, and he said something about murderers burning in…." Pine turns to Judge Willis. "Can I say 'Hell' in court?"

"If that's your testimony concerning what the defendant said," Willis advises, "you may."

Pine nods. "Yes, Linwood said murderers would burn in Hell."

"Thank you, Mr. Pine." Kudrow turns toward Kate. "Your witness, Ms. Beckett."

Kate rises at her place. "Mr. Pine, you indicated that the defendant held up the other end of your sign for a while. How long a while?"

Pine shrugs. "I don't know, maybe an hour. I wasn't watching the time. After that, he said he had something he had to take care of. So I found a buddy of mine I'd met at other protests to help me. He held it the rest of the day."

"Did you see Mr. Duffy again after that?" Kate inquires.

"No."

"So Mr. Duffy helped you get your sign out of your truck, helped you hold it, and talked to you for about an hour and that was it?"

Pine rubs a roughened hand over his face. "I guess you could say that."

"How many demonstrations have you attended, Mr. Pine?"

"Over the years, at least fifty."

"And in your experience with these demonstrations, do people normally show up for an hour and leave?"

"Some, if they have to go to work or take care of their kids."

"Did Mr. Duffy say he had to go to work or take care of children?"

"No, he didn't, just that he had something to do."

"Did Mr. Duffy do anything else that in your experience was unusual for a demonstrator?"

"Maybe. He jumped around a little, got people looking at him."

"Is there anything else about Mr. Duffy's behavior at the protest that you recall, Mr. Pine?" Kate presses.

"No Ma'am, there isn't."

"That's all I have."

Kudrow stands. "No recross, Your Honor.

Willis turns to Pine. "The witness is excused. Fifteen-minute recess."


"Is it going the way you thought it would?" Rick asks when Kate makes a quick call.

"Pretty much. No shrink yet, but Kudrow hasn't announced his next witness. Still, I hope the jury is seeing Duffy as making short but attention-getting appearances at demonstrations. I'm trying to make his behavior seem as deliberate and thought out as possible, to undermine Kudrow's arguments. So far, so good, I think, but it looks like he's going to keep at it." Kate's phone beeps. "I've got another call. It's from Dr. Goodman's office. Talk to you later, Babe."

"Ms. Beckett?" the caller inquires.

"This is Kate Beckett."

"Dr. Goodman is being called away on family business, and she'd like to get you in before she leaves. She's aware that you're usually in court, but she was wondering if you could make it in at seven this evening."

Kate considers that Judge Willis has been ending the court day pretty close to the dot of five. "That should work."

"Good. I'm Kerry at the front desk. We'll all be here late, so call if something comes up and you can't make it."

"I will." Kate shoves her phone back into her jacket pocket. She has a decision to make that has nothing to do with the trial. And she'll have to make it pretty fast.


Dr. Goodman smiles apologetically. "I'm sorry to pull the schedule change on you at the last minute, Kate. Do you have any concerns you'd like to discuss before we take a look at how the baby's doing? How have you been feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine except for wishing I didn't have to pee so often."

"A wish shared by almost every patient I've ever had. Unfortunately, there's only so much space inside moms, so the bladder draws the short straw. You know the routine by now. Lie down and let's see what's going on in there. Do you still want the baby's gender to be a surprise?"

Rick raises a questioning eyebrow at Kate. She circles her belly with her hands, trying to form a mental picture of the little being inside. Damn! Rick isn't the only one who's curious. And he was right. She isn't crazy about surprises. She would also love to start buying some of the tiny things that suddenly look impossibly cute to her. "No, tell us."

"OK, then, you can keep watching the screen."

Goodman carefully scans the developing baby. "Everything looks good. Size is on target. Strong fetal heart activity. Nothing where it shouldn't be. But I can't – ooh, there! It's a girl!"

Kate studies Rick's face for signs of disappointment but sees nothing but a massive grin. He claps his hands together. "Wait until Alexis hears she's going to have a sister! And Mother will welcome the idea that I am outnumbered even further. Are you going to tell your father?"

"He'll want to know, but he might still buy a little baseball glove. He bought one for me. But I eventually found motorcycles more interesting than baseball. I think that was a disappointment to him."

"Kate, I don't think anything you've done has been a disappointment to your father. He was scared to death at the thought of the bad guys wanting to shoot you every day, but I don't think he was ever disappointed. As fathers of stubborn and accomplished females, we share a certain fellowship. And we'll both have a stake in this baby, especially since he'll be the only grandfather she'll know."

Kate grins back at her husband. "Dad's definitely buying her a baseball glove."