For the People Chapter 74
Kate watches as in his closing, Wittenbros once more paints Jason Jordan as more saint than sinner. When he finally finishes spinning his web of half-truths and outright deceit, Kate rises to give her rebuttal. The jury's already seen her heartbreaking video, but that was days ago before Wittenbros put on the case for the defense. They need one last look to wipe Wittenbros' spew from their minds. But she needs the right argument to introduce that look.
"Mr. Wittenbros would have you see the defendant as a noble prince charging in to rescue princesses unjustly imprisoned in repressive family towers. The defendant, however, wanted Naomi, Tzippi, and Amelia to do a lot more than let down their hair. He wanted to take advantage of the very inexperience that Mr. Wittenbros claims oppressed them. While many young women of a similar age might have recognized the warning signs of a predator, the defendant's victims believed him that he was interested in their company for a simple trip to the movies. The defendant exploited that innocence, first to lure them to a secluded area of a park and then to banish that innocence forever.
"Mr. Wittenbros would also have you believe that these young women made false accusations against the defendant out of their own feelings of guilt and shame. To be sure, they had those. But what Naomi, Tzippi, and Amelia felt was more profoundly traumatic. You've all seen the video I'm about to show you before, but now I need you to look more closely."
The quality of the video could be better. The few seconds show Amelia running to the platform while making a desperate but futile attempt to hold her dress together. But when she turns her head, the camera catches her face for a fleeting moment. Kate freezes the image. "Look into Amelia's eyes. What you see is not guilt, but the pure terror of a woman who will never feel safe again. The defendant instilled that terror in Amelia, Naomi, and Tzippi. For that, he must pay and pay dearly."
"So how long do you think it will take for the jury to come back?" Rick asks as Kate stretches out on the couch, propped against the comforting warmth of his chest.
"It could take days. There are multiple charges stemming from each victim, and if they're doing their job, they have to deliberate over each one of them. And I was studying the jurors' faces as I had them look at the subway camera's image of Amelia's face. Ten of the twelve were horrified, but there were two, one man and one woman, who appeared a little skeptical. The other jurors may have to win them over, and God knows how long that could take."
"So what are you going to do while you're waiting?"
"I have my usual flood of pleas for minor offenses, and I have to start preparing for the mariachi murder trial."
"So you did get that one."
"The official word came down today. Originally Shapiro was going to give it to Vu because I was a possible witness. But I didn't see anything relevant. I didn't even know the defendant was there. And you know I had no idea at the time that Geraldo was poisoned or about his business. As far as I knew, he was just a trumpet player. Ryan and Esposito uncovered all the evidence against the defendant later. Also, Shapiro knows I have a long history working with the boys, which should expedite my preparations for the case. So the whole thing should go pretty fast."
"Do you know about a judge yet?"
"No, but my prep will be the same regardless of who hears the case. How about you? More mentoring?"
"No, I think I've set the young minds on the right track for now. I'll be finishing up the last few chapters of 'The Smaller You Are, the More You Pay.' And if your Dad needs an assist on digging any more into Brown Rock and Neighspec, I may stick my hand in there too. It could make either an epilogue for my present book or be part of a larger premise for the next one."
"I think you enjoy writing your exposés of actual greed and malfeasance more than you ever enjoyed writing the Storms or the Heats. Alexis and Martha were always complaining about your procrastination while writing those."
"You should have heard Gina."
"I did, a couple of times when she called the precinct trying to hunt you down. But with the new books, sometimes I have to drag you kicking and screaming from your computer."
"Like I'm a genuine writer or something?"
"Maybe. Do you feel more like a genuine writer?"
"I do," Rick admits. "With Storm and Heat, it was like I was playing a grown-up game of pretend."
"Maybe not so grown up."
"Point taken. But there's nothing childish about trying to expose the evil out there. I'm not using my characters to play some larger-than-life role. I'm more like Toto pulling back the curtain and revealing the wizard for the mountebank that he was. But today's snake oil salesmen can do a lot more damage than the phonies in L. Frank Baum's days. I get deep satisfaction from exposing their machinations to the light of day."
"I can see that. And I'm proud of you for it."
"I'm proud of me too."
Kate pokes two fingers into Rick's ribs. "You're the only one I know who would admit that."
"My work drives me to place an ever-increasing value on honesty. Anyway…." A loud complaint pours from the baby monitor. "Uh-oh! That sounds like both wet and hungry, with perhaps some boredom thrown in. It's time for New York City's first couple of crime-busting to transform into ta-dah! Super parents!"
Kate shakes her head as a guffaw whooshes through her lips. "Let's go."
"So you really are leaving the bench?" Judge Leah Maynard asks Judith Kitteridge.
"Yes, I am," Kitteridge confirms. "I checked out the suites in the building where Bobby has his office. I could set up a practice in any one of them, without much difficulty by just taking on some of his overflow. And I can accept some court appointments too. Working with attorneys who understand how a courtroom is supposed to operate has always made my job easier. I imagine the other judges around here would find it a relief to have me appear before them."
"I know I would," Maynard confides. "So when are you looking at making the jump?"
"I want to work my way through my docket. That may take me a few months. But I'm going to let the governor's office know that she'll have to make another appointment, so they can start going down their list for one the legislature will approve. That could take a while too. Still, I imagine that I'll be gone before the end of the year."
"Which will make one hell of a Christmas present for Bobby Donnellan," Leah suggests.
Kitteridge blows out a long breath. "I hope so."
"Any idea who the governor might consider as an appointment?" Leah asks.
"She will be running for office again, so she might want someone with enough name recognition to help her score a political point or two. And it also would help if it's someone who wouldn't butt heads too much with Gidon Shapiro."
Maynard nods. "I can think of someone who's appeared in both of our courts who fits that bill."
"Yes," Kitteridge acknowledges. "So can I."
