For the People Chapter 96

"Are the People ready to proceed, Ms. Beckett?" Judge Moran asks as court reconvenes.

Kate stands. "Yes, Your Honor."

"Call your next witness."

" I call Lindy Schaffer."

After the clerk swears her in, Lindy perches on the edge of the witness chair.

Kate smiles her encouragement. "Ms. Schaffer, how are you employed?"

"I work as a server at The Almighty Taco."

"And do you ever do any other kind of work?"

"I get an occasional – too occasional – acting gig."

"Did you train to be an actor?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I went to the High School of Performing Arts. After I graduated, I studied acting at Juilliard for four years."

"So you feel qualified to take jobs as an actor?"

"Yes. And when I've had them, I've received good reviews. But there are a lot more actors in New York than there are jobs. Usually, about 90% of us aren't employed in the field."

"So you serve tacos?"

"Yes," Lindy admits.

"In the course of your current employment, did you meet the defendant?"

"I did. He was one of my regulars, number two plate: three tacos, rice, and guacamole."

"And while you were serving the defendant, did you engage in conversation?"

"We did. He told me he thought I looked like an actor."

"And how did you react to that?"

"I was flattered. I knew he plays Jason on Jason's Plain. I thought his opinion should mean something."

"Did the defendant say anything else to you?"

"The next few times he came in, we talked about acting and how hard it could be to get a break. Then he invited me to dinner. He said we could go someplace fancier than The Almighty Taco and brainstorm on how to jumpstart my acting career."

"And did you agree to have dinner with him?"

"I did. We decided he could pick me up at home after I was finished at work and take me to Sardi's."

"And did the defendant pick you up and take you to Sardi's?"

"He did. I was really excited because the after-theater crowd was there. Patti LuPone was at the next table, and Audra McDonald was across the room. I thought I was dreaming. Clint pointed at those stars and said that someday people would be looking at me like I was looking at them. And he told me he could hook me up with the right casting directors to make it happen."

"Did the defendant take you anywhere besides Sardi's?"

"He said he wanted me to have a nightcap with him. I thought we'd be going to a bar, but he took me to his apartment."

"And what happened at his apartment?"

"He poured drinks, doubles of tequila. We had wine with dinner, so I didn't want that much more alcohol. But he downed all of his and started teasing me that I had to loosen up and…."

"And then what?" Kate asks softly.

"And then he grabbed my dress and started pulling it off. He ripped it. I told him to stop, but he told me that if he was going to act as my agent, he deserved a commission. He…."

"Take your time," Kate urges. "Just tell the court what happened."

"He pulled my dress off and my underwear. Then he pushed me down on the rug."

"Did you call for help?" Kate asked.

"I tried, but I don't think anyone could have heard me. He put his whole weight on top of me so I could barely breathe. Then he forced himself into me."

"I know it's hard, Lindy, but you have to tell the jury exactly what the defendant did."

Lindy straightens in her seat. "Clint Sawyer forced his p***s into my v*****a. He raped me. Then he took me home as if nothing had happened. I told him I'd tell the police what he did, but he laughed at me. He said nobodies like me accuse stars all the time, trying to make a name for themselves. It would be my word against his, and they'd believe him. And then he warned me that if I said anything to anyone, he'd see that I could never get another acting gig in my life."

"So did you go to the police?" Kate asks.

"Not then. I was afraid he was right."

"But did you tell someone eventually?"

"I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I could barely work. I just kept reliving what happened until I couldn't stand it anymore. So I called a rape crisis center. I told the counselor there, and she convinced me to go to the police."

"And what did the police do?"

"What they could. They talked to me. They said they would question Clint Sawyer. But it was too late to get any evidence from my body, and I'd thrown away my dress. They told me they didn't have enough to press charges."

"But did you talk to the police again?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"A Detective Mercer. He told me that there might be other charges against Clint and that I needed to talk to someone at the DA's office."

"And did you?"

"Yes. I talked to you, Ms. Beckett."

"And is what you told the court today what you told me then?"

"Yes, it is."

"Thank you, Ms. Schaffer. That's all I need from you."

"Cross, Ms. Camden?" Judge Moran inquires.

Lyssa rises smoothly from her chair. "Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Schaffer, you testified that you studied acting both at Performing Arts High School and at Juilliard. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"And do you consider yourself a well-trained actor?"

"Yes."

"And actors often play roles that are opposite to the truth, don't they?"

"I'm not sure what you mean. Part of acting is to communicate some basic human truth."

"But don't actors portray characters that may be nothing like themselves? For example, are some actors who play villains on stage, very nice people in real life?"

"Yes."

"And conversely, aren't some actors who play heroes known for being disagreeable and demanding to those who know them personally?"

"I suppose that happens."

"So an actor, a well-trained actor, can make the audience believe anything. Isn't that right?"

"We are supposed to be able to do that."

"So, Ms. Schaffer, you claim to be a well-trained actor. Why should the jury believe you?"

A flush rises from Lindy's neck, flaming her face. "Because I'm telling the truth!"

"Perhaps," Camden, acknowledges, "but how could the jury tell one way or another?"

Kate springs from her chair. "Objection! Asked and answered. Badgering the witness."

"Sustained," Moran agrees.

"Withdrawn. I'm done with this witness," Camden declares.

"Redirect," Kate requests.

Moran nods. "Go ahead, Ms. Beckett."

"Ms. Schaffer, did you have anything to gain by testifying today? Did anyone offer you money, or did you expect to book an acting job?"

Lindy shakes her head. "No. Since my name came up in this case, no one will even talk to me about an acting gig. A lot of people in the business make money off Clint Sawyer. I'm lucky I can serve tacos. And I won't get paid for the time I had to take off to testify. The only thing I have to gain, Ms. Beckett, is a chance to keep Clint Sawyer from hurting anyone else."


Wincing after taking a sip from a mug, Rick dumps stale coffee down the sink. "I saw the Ledger's daily report on the trial. Lyssa Camden really has her claws out for Sawyer's victims, doesn't she?"

Kate sighs. "It's her job to offer a vigorous defense. She's doing pretty much what I expected. I just hate the thought that they'll have to go through that, especially the underage ones."

"How are you going to keep their names out of the press?"

"They'll be in the publicly available transcripts as Jane and Joan Does. And Judge Moran has agreed to clear the court of spectators, including the press, while they testify. And Moran issued a gag order on anything relating to minors. So hopefully their identities will be concealed. But I wouldn't put it past Clint Sawyer to get the names out there somehow."

"And what happens if he does?"

"If Judge Moran finds out who violated the order, he can bring contempt charges. But that won't compare to the holy hell I'd rain on Sawyer."

Rick starts a new pot of coffee. "Hopefully, he'll realize that."