Intersecting Lines – The Trial

Part 06 – Innuendo

In Court

Alex's viewpoint

The Defence had the floor and Callum Cox was cross interrogating Sharon. He'd not quite crossed the line yet, but he was getting closer and closer to it. I could tell from Sharon's rigidly-held face that she was unhappy and angry and trying desperately not to let it show.

Cox had tried to chip away at her for a while, intimating she didn't like the Robbery / Homicide team, dragging up her clashes with Taylor. At one point he had tried to suggest that she'd targeted Taylor's team out of personal animus; that had brought a quick objection from Andrea, pointing out that FID only got called in after a shooting; Sharon and her team didn't get to select who they investigated. Undeterred Cox was currently pursuing questions about her personal relationship with Taylor in particular and the rest of the defendants in general.

Cox was pushing pretty hard, at one point he'd intimated that Sharon was hated amongst the force; trying to get her to agree that so many cops had good reason to hate her, to wish her harm, not necessarily his clients. Andrea and I had worked hard to shut down that line of questioning, generally successfully, but the fact that Cox was taking point instead of Ling or Peterson suggested they thought he could make leeway here on undermining our case.

"So you would agree that your tenure as head of Force Investigations Division had led you to be feared throughout the Force?" I frowned but kept my cool, waiting for a chance to shut him down as Sharon answered.

"Not intentionally, however there are stories, exaggerated ones; that provide a mistaken view of the roles, responsibilities and powers of the Force Investigation Division"

"So you cannot recommend that officers be censured, demoted, dismissed from the LAPD or even face criminal charges then?" I narrowed my eyes as I watched, waiting to intervene.

"Those outcomes are possible, but very rarely used or needed" Sharon glanced at the jury then continued. "The overwhelming majority of cases are closed in less than 72 hours with the officers under investigation being cleared and their weapons personally returned to them"

"So to what do you attribute your terrifying reputation for arbitrary behavior and harsh treatment of officers?" Sharon wasn't fazed; she'd obviously seen where he was going.

"Officers don't like being told that they could have handled a dangerous situation involving a shooting in another way, something that calls their judgment into question" She looked towards the jury. "The majority of officers will pass through a post-shooting investigation quickly and without censure. Others will be advised to undertake refresher training in areas that may have either averted the shooting entirely, or resulted in a less unfortunate outcome"

"Unfortunate, that's one word for it perhaps" I suddenly focused in on Cox, he was leading up to something, I could tell. "Tell me Commander Raydor, how many of the officers you have had censured, demoted, dismissed or charged have been male?" I could see the surprise in Sharon's face at the question, even as I stood.

"Objection your honour, what exactly has this somewhat wayward line of questioning got to do with the case against the defendant's?" Craven looked from me to Cox who answered smoothly.

"As I stated the last time the Prosecution interrupted my questioning of this witness, we seek to prove malice against the defendant's" He smiled, cocky bastard. "Perhaps counsel is hard of hearing" Craven tipped his head to regard Cox then nodded.

"Proceed" I sat back down as Cox picked up the questioning again.

"How many Commander Raydor?" Sharon had managed to regain her composure.

The majority of officers investigated for officer involved shootings are male, reflective of the current gender balance of the Department" Cox pounced on that.

"I didn't ask about investigations Captain, I asked about adverse findings. How many were against male officers?" Sharon looked a trifle puzzled, something that came out in her next words.

"I don't have exact figures with me, over what period?" Cox was all smiles, he obviously knew something.

"The last financial year" Sharon frowned in thought before answering.

"As I said I don't have the exact figures to hand but I believe it was on the order of twenty or twenty two in total" Cox took a step back and picked up a paperback, waving it around for a moment as he spoke.

"According to the LAPD's annual report for the last financial year, it was twenty six, twenty five of which were male" Sharon sat back, watching Cox carefully as she replied.

"If those are the figures in the annual report then they are correct" Cox nodded, dropping the publication back on the desk before continuing

"Commander, as one of the Department's senior female officers could you please enlighten the court by outlining what is the ratio of male to female officers in the LAPD?" Sharon's response was immediate.

"At the current moment I understand it is approximately 81 per cent male, 19 per cent female" Cox nodded.

"Near enough, so by rights female officers should make up five of the twenty six adverse findings should they not?" Sharon shook her head.

"The numbers are not reflective of the overall percentage…"

"No they are not, are they Commander?" Cox interrupted as Sharon tried to continue.

"…because the number of women in front-line policing roles is somewhat lower" Cox smiled as he spoke.

"Somewhat lower, is it one in twenty lower, Commander?"

"Not quite, the percentage is somewhat higher than that, though I don't have exact figures immediately to hand"

"I do Commander and it is eleven percent of front line policing roles occupied by women" He gestured behind him towards the table. "According to the LAPDs own annual report" Turning back he walked towards Sharon. "By the information in the LAPDs own Annual Report, and granting you the lower number of female officers in front line policing roles, shouldn't the ratio of officers you subject to adverse findings amount to two or three of the officers Commander?" Sharon shook her head.

"Only if there was a direct correlation in the numbers under investigation with the overall percentage of officers"

"And there isn't?" Sharon held herself still as she answered.

"Force Investigation Division only investigates those officers who have been involved in a use of force scenario, usually firearms related. The number and gender of the officers who are the subject of an investigation are not determined by Force Investigation, with the division called in only after an event"

"But it is you who makes adverse findings isn't it Commander Raydor?" Sharon nodded.

"Based on the investigations carried out by the Force Investigation Division, I am the one who signs off on the recommended course of action"

"Including censure, reduction in rank and of course, dismissal" Sharon nodded once.

"If the investigation determines that is warranted, which is not often"

"But often enough against male officers eh Commander?" he asked, causing Sharon to frown as she answered.

"There are quite literally hundreds of use of force investigations each year, of which only 26 resulted in an adverse finding in the last year" Cox shook his head.

"Far too many wouldn't you say?" Sharon tipped her head to regard him and suddenly smiled, Cox had overplayed his hand.

"From your current perspective perhaps, a position shared with that of the Police Union as well; on the other hand, many civil liberties groups consider that number far too few. The more extreme of those groups would seek to have any officer who discharges their firearm resulting in a death to be censured and preferably, dismissed" She shrugged. "Clearly those groups would not agree with your assessment, nor you with theirs" Cox grimaced, he obviously hadn't expected that.

"What do you consider the correct number then Commander?" Sharon frowned slightly then looked up.

"Ideally none, however examples arise where officers undertake actions that are not warranted by the circumstances, in which case the investigation will recommend a response"

"Including dismissal?" Sharon shook her head.

"Only in the small number of cases annually where no other response is appropriate"

"I see, appropriate, an interesting word, it suggests proportionate to the action" Sharon sat there warily, waiting to see where he was going with this. "Based on your own figures it seems that your actions were anything but. Male officers are far more likely to suffer at your hands than females, up to and including having their lives ruined"

"That was not why Force Investigation was established…" Cox spoke over her.

"It's what it's become though. Based on your own figures…" He brandished the annual report as he spoke. "…a male officer is over 20 times more likely to get an adverse finding at your hands than a woman" Cox shrugged. "Hardly surprising though" Sharon turned a cold look on Cox but said nothing as I swapped a glance with Andrea, she was leaning forward, looking for a chance to intervene.

"After all, in the recent reorganization of the Robbery / Homicide team, the one where you were promoted into over better-qualified candidates, you immediately filled it with female officers, some you brought with you from Force Investigation, others directly appointed"

"I selected the best officers available" Cox was openly skeptical.

"The best, really, then how many male officers did you bring with you from Force Investigation Division" Sharon frowned.

"None" Cox smiled widely.

"None? I suppose it figures" Sharon's head had lowered, as had her voice as she tried to stay cool at Cox's provocations.

"Because they received promotions within Force Investigation" she explained. Cox nodded.

"Ah, so you had to be moved on before they could be promoted" Sharon shook her head.

"That is not the correct reason, until people left through promotion or transfer there were no slots available for promotion within the division"

"So you moved, and took one of the females with you to your new job?" Cox raised his eyebrows. "Why her?" Sharon looked at him then spoke.

"Because that officer had just passed the promotions board to Sergeant and there was a Sergeant's slot in Robbery / Homicide to be filled"

"And none of the men in your previous division warranted being looked after the same way?"

"The available Sergeant's slot open in Force Investigation had been filled by an internal promotion" Cox raised an eyebrow skeptically before he glanced at the jury.

"So you moved her with you into your new squad and brought in additional women to replace men in Robbery Homicide, the same as your girlfriend Johnson did in Major Crimes" I was already rising, Andrea beside me as Cox continued. "Were they all lesbians too?"

"Objection!" Andrea and I spoke as one, getting Craven to look our way.

"Prosecution?"

"What does any of this salacious scandal-mongering have to do with the witnesses' investigation and arrest of the suspects" Andrea shook her head. "So far we've heard nothing but locker room gossip recycled here in this courtroom, with almost no attempt to discuss the case we're actually supposed to be conducting"

I inwardly winced at her phrasing, she'd obliquely criticised Craven's handling of the trial, not that he didn't deserve it but in front of the cameras wasn't the best place, the network's talking heads were going to have a field day with that, given they were already spending way too much time in my opinion discussing irrelevancies such as who was wearing the better clothing labels, god knows they'd spent ten minutes yesterday discussing whether the heels I was wearing that day were Louboutin's because they had red soles. The fact that they were was irrelevant, they were supposed to be covering the case, not my label choices. Craven narrowed his eyes at Andrea, obviously replaying her words then looked to Cox.

"Defence?" Cox was cool.

"Your Honour, I intend to prove that the witness was motivated not by the need to locate the perpetrators of the crimes that had been undertaken, but instead to conform to an agenda, the same one that she shared with her lover, Johnson" I spoke up.

"What agenda?" That got me a hard look from Craven but I didn't care, staring at Cox who shrugged.

"They share so many things in common, a predilection for women, gay women I point out, in their teams and in their lives"

"It is my understanding that there are no gay members within Commander Raydor's team, with the singular exception of the Commander herself" I threw Cox an insolent look as I continued. "Of course we can't expect the Defence to let things like facts get in their way can we, hmm?"

"Or so you say?" Cox retorted as Andrea and I both turned and looked to Craven, our expressions cold, but he waved us back to our seats.

"The Prosecution will be seated" Slowly, reluctantly we lowered ourselves down, expecting the worst, it didn't take long, I could see Sharon's rigidly held face as we awaited the next blow. Cox turned to address the jury.

"Besides sleeping her way to the top, one woman at a time, Raydor's attitude to her fellow, male officers, suggests that she utterly despises her less...unconventional peers" From beside me Andrea's tone was quiet but sharp as a knife.

"Unconventional?" Craven looked to Cox and raised an eyebrow, driving him to expand.

"Commander Raydor is well known for her disdain of rank and file officers, why since her elevation to the head of Force Investigation her activities have become rightly feared, given her obvious pleasure in having the power to ruin officer's careers, plus she has made her distaste for her colleagues, in particular and almost exclusively her male colleagues well known..." He looked to Sharon and smiled. "Do you enjoy destroying the careers, the lives of male officers Miss Raydor; do you get off knowing you can destroy men's lives simply because you can?"

"Objection" I was on my feet. "Defence is badgering the witness" Craven nodded and looked to Cox.

"Conduct your cross examination appropriately Counselor" Cox nod and I sat as he turned back to Sharon whose face was set in stone.

"Commander Raydor, would you not agree that you have a reputation for arbitrary behavior" amongst LAPD officers?" Sharon shook her head.

"I would not characterise it as such, as I have previously explained"

"Then why do you have a reputation as the Ice Queen of the LAPD?" Sharon sat there still as she replied.

"My role precludes getting close to individual rank and file officers, given I may be called upon to pass judgment on their actions at some point. That distance and formality, necessary as it is, does lead to a certain feeling of remoteness from many officers" She shook her head. "I was aware of the description you used, though I neither welcome nor embrace it"

"Come now Miss Raydor, you have the reputation for a reason, as does your lover, Johnson, the Ice Queen and the Beauty Queen I believe they call you, looking down your noses at the normal members of the LAPD while you hold them in contempt"

"I hold no member of the LAPD in contempt" She leaned forward. "Well beyond your clients that is" She gave him a wintery smile. "Given they made three attempts to have me killed I'm sure that's completely understandable, even by you"

"Just answer the questions Miss Raydor"

"It is Commander Raydor actually Mister Cox, and if you continue to misrepresent my words and actions, rest assured…I will correct you" Cox shook his head and turned to the jury.

The…Commander…here has a well-founded reputation for destroying the lives of heterosexual male officers at her whim, she and her lover hold those officers in contempt even as she and her lover, together with their equally reprehensible fellow lesbian coven members, spread their malign influence across the department"

I ground my teeth as at Cox's words even as Andrea stood, Craven catching the movement as Cox paused, Andrea's voice was low with barely repressed anger.

"Explain 'reprehensible' Counselor" Cox seemed unfazed.

"Sharon Raydor has had a series of relationships with women, bed hopping from one to the next to advance her career, successfully I might add, most recently seducing a senior colleague, Johnson, to obtain an undeserved promotion over the heads of better qualified men while holding the heterosexual male members of the LAPD in utter contempt, those whose lives and careers she couldn't destroy"

Los Angeles LAPD Media Centre

Natalie Dearing and Maura Isles were sitting in Nat's office, ostensibly chatting about work but really taking a break to watch the trial. They'd been sharing increasingly worried glances back and forth throughout Cox's cross-examination as he tried to smear Sharon for being gay; at this latest comment though they couldn't remain silent.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Natalie burst out then looked to her friend. "Sorry" she apologised as Maura waved it aside.

"I completely understand the sentiment, the smears and innuendo being liberally thrown about by the Defence team are particularly distressing" They shared a look and a head shake as she continued. "The presiding judge really should be enforcing something like order on the Defence team, but is apparently not concerned by their behavior"

"That's not the only thing really stressing me out" Natalie stated. "What is though is the thought that we're going to be sitting there in Sharon's place soon enough, I'm sure they'll do the same to both of us"

They exchanged a worried glance at that unpleasant thought.

In Court

I could practically see the steam coming off Andrea, she and Sharon had been friends for many years and she was losing her focus so before she could speak I reached out and rested my hand on her arm, grabbing her attention as I spoke quietly.

"Please, let me" Andrea must have realised how close she was to losing it, as she nodded once, abruptly, then sat. I nodded to her then stood, not bothering to hide my contempt for Peterson and his team's tawdry behavior, before slowly turning my head to fix Craven with a cold, contemptuous stare, seeing him practically flinch as I did. I didn't care; we'd told him what would happen if the Defence went there and now they had.

"Your Honour, given the truly 'excessive' attention…" I laid great emphasis on the word, all the while knowing it would hit Craven hard. "… the defence is placing on the personal relationship choices of the law enforcement members who investigated and arrested their clients, I am wondering if we should not have hate crimes added to the docket" Craven's jaw dropped as Peterson shot to his feet beside Cox.

"What the hell?" Ignoring Peterson's words and recovering quickly Craven waved him and Cox back to their seats as his focus remained on me, his eyes narrowed, he knew there was a trap there; he just couldn't see it yet.

"Go on counselor" I took a few steps around the table and stood there, half facing the bench, half the jury, knowing the cameras were sending this out live to where so many interested eyes would be watching, Craven needed to see that he was balancing on the razor's edge and the jury needed to see that, see his response. I saw Craven's eyes narrow; he'd realised I was doing something, just not yet sure what; excellent. I kept the satisfied, evil smile I felt hidden inside as I continued.

"So far the defence seems to be repeatedly suggesting that a major factor in this case is that Deputy Chief Johnson and Commander Raydor are gay" I spread my hands, the classic open hands 'I have nothing to hide' gesture as I played to the jurors and the cameras. "Given the role the accused have played in attempting to cause harm to these two officers, as well as the other gay law enforcement personnel they targeted, that would seem to suggest that their intended victim's sexuality and choice of partner was a contributing factor in their decision to target them, to mark them for death, in which case that would certainly qualify as a hate crime and I for one would be more than happy to add that to the docket" I shrugged, trying for a nonchalance I didn't feel. "While hate crimes per say are not a capital crime, unless it ends in first degree murder in which case it becomes a Special Circumstance calling for the death penalty, I speak for the prosecution when I say that we would be simply delighted to prosecute the accused as an addendum to the main charges" Peterson was back on his feet along with Humphries' defender, both shouting objections over the whispers of the jury.

"You cannot be serious…"

"Your Honour, please..." Craven was pounding his gavel.

"Silence in the court. All defence counsel will resume their seat. Counselor..." Craven looked unsure how to proceed, the sight of which made me smile inside all over again, finally he sighed. "I don't see a need for a major trial with capital crimes to be further complicated by secondary charges" I shrugged, all obvious sincerity in my attempt to be seen to help him out, then replied.

"As Your Honour is well aware there are numerous precedents in both California and Federal law, however given the 'remarkable' and 'excessive' emphasis the defence is laying on the sexuality of not only the witnesses but the prosecution counsel as well, I would say there is certainly an element of rampant homophobia on obvious display here" Peterson stood.

"Your Honour, the Prosecution's assertions are baseless and I object to their inference" I ignored Peterson and smiled politely at Craven as I continued.

"Perhaps the Defence needs to reacquaint themselves with the legal definition of homophobia" I let my smile turn a little nasty, unconcerned for once how it looked. "I would be more than happy to loan Mister Peterson and his associates the first year legal textbook within which the definition can be found, given they seem to have forgotten the fundamental basics of the law as it relates to discrimination on the basis of sexuality" With no little satisfaction I watched simultaneous filthy scowls break out on the faces of Peterson, Cox and Ling; enjoying it immensely even as I directed my next comments to Craven. "However, in the interests of a focused trial the People are willing to table these matters subsequent to the completion of this trial Your Honor" That set Peterson off again.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Mister Peterson, resume your seat" At Craven's words Peterson looked like he was about to argue the toss, but eventually nodded and sat down.

"You too Ms. Cabot" I smiled, nodded and returned to my seat, seeing Mikki nod my way, glancing at Liv and seeing a small smile on her face, nodding in return and sitting down as Andrea leant in, her voice quiet

"Interesting, I'm not sure we could make it stick though" I just kept smiling as I whispered back.

"It rattled Peterson and the others, while Craven just got a taste of what will happen if we do go off reservation, hopefully it'll make him reign them in" Andrea nodded slowly.

"Might work, it really costs us nothing and it could help" She glanced at me and grimaced for a moment before her face cleared. "My turn to twist the screws and may god have mercy on me" Andrea looked to the bench and shook her head. "Because Craven surely won't" She leaned back then pushed herself to her feet, affecting a world-weary demeanor.

"Your Honour; Defence Counsel seems determined to find someone else to blame for their crimes, including the attempted murders of these officers. While their thrashing around in search of alternative scapegoats is amusing; in fact I await their suggestion it was the work of the Illuminati, Hydra or extraterrestrials with bated breath..." An amused snigger ran through the gallery and even some of the jurors as I didn't bother hiding my smirk at her barbs. "...the fact that one of his clients was recorded on tape haggling with a representative of the Sinaloa Cartel over the price for the murder of these six law enforcement officers does tend to rule out many potential avenues of investigation" Ling was on her feet objecting at that.

"Prosecution is attempting…" Andrea interrupted her, her voice weary as she waved away Ling's words, both physically and verbally.

"Yes yes, attempting to taint the jury's perceptions of your clients, I know, god knows we've heard that song before, over and over again" She looked contemptuously over at Ling. "Sit down and listen up little girl" Ling's jaw dropped as Andrea turned and swept her eyes across the jury, before skewering Peterson with her gaze as she continued.

"Basically, when is the Defence actually going to add something constructive to this trial?" She turned to face the Defence table, letting a shit-eating smirk play across her lips. "Unless perhaps Mister Peterson and his team have negotiated a fee-per-day remuneration arrangement and see value in stringing this trial out for as long as possible" She shrugged. "I suppose world-class muck-raking doesn't come cheap" Cox was on his feet objecting, Ling right beside him but Craven waved them back to their seats as he stared at Andrea, he obviously realised Andrea was leading up to something, he just didn't see it yet. Andrea meanwhile rolled on.

"Otherwise would it be too much for them to actually try a little relevance and get to the point?" The sniggers were if anything even louder, drawing a frown from Craven and filthy scowls from Peterson, Ling and Cox, Andrea however kept going. "Everyone here knows of and supports the concept of innocent until proven guilty. Mister Peterson and his team however apparently have a few caveats to that concept; it would seem that the same basic human rights enjoyed by the rest of the citizens of the United States do not apply to people like gays. After all they attribute all manner of behaviors to people on the basis of who they love, not what they do, without the slightest shred of evidence" She shook her head sadly and then looked up, ignoring Craven and speaking to the jury and the cameras.

"I believe that such behavior when applied in the past on the basis of their skin colour was called racist, when applied to people on the basis of their gender it was called sexist, here it's just pure old-fashioned ugly, ignorant homophobic prejudice" Peterson was onto that instantly, his voice loud.

"Objection!" Ling and Cox were right beside him, objecting loudly as well. The sudden murmuring sounds of the jury and gallery were drowned out as Craven banged his gavel repeatedly.

"Court will recess for fifteen minutes, Cabot, Hobbs, in my chambers now!"

New York NYPD 12th Precinct

On the 12th Precinct's Homicide floor Kate Beckett shook her head, even as she looked over at her partner.

"Oh damn, that judge is playing with fire" Rick Castle nodded from where he was sitting, watching the coverage on her computer.

"Yep, he's pretty obviously anti-gay, I mean the sexuality of the cops is neither here nor there really" He glanced at Kate and continued. "I'm no lawyer, but I would have thought he should have shut the defence team down ages ago" Kate nodded, a small frown creasing the skin above the bridge of her nose.

"Me neither, but it sure looks that way to me" She turned to look at Castle, ignoring the talking head on the streaming video who was commenting on the 'sudden and controversial direction the case had taken', instead she focused on what mattered. "Given Alex and apparently that other prosecutor, Hobbs, are gay, they're probably taking this as a direct personal attack" Castle nodded.

"Yeah, that's what I thought, Alex's held it together so far but god help them if she really loses it" Kate tipped her head to regard him.

"Who, Alex, or the Judge and that creep Peterson?" Castle looked worried as he looked up, our eyes locking as he spoke.

"Yes"

Judge Craven's Chambers

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you want every gay rights group in the country dropping on this trial like a ton of bricks? I can assure you I don't, so tone it down counselors" I crossed my arms and stared at him.

"We didn't bring this particular gun to court, defence did. They brought it, they loaded it and they put it on the table. This they can hardly complain when we pick it up and use it against them and neither can the court"

"I don't appreciate your tone Miss Cabot" I said nothing as Andrea shrugged, looking completely unrepentant.

"We did warn you what would happen if they went there. They did" Craven's frown deepened.

"What do you mean?" Andrea mirrored my pose as we stood there side by side while she replied.

"So far defence has either explicitly or implicitly suggested that their clients didn't get a deal because of the sexuality of the officers who arrested them, that someone may have targeted Deputy Chief Johnson and Commander Raydor because of their sexuality, suggested that those same officers were not of sound mind because of their sexuality, that they were appointed to their roles because of their sexuality, that the investigations of the team who closed this case are driven by their sexuality and now have the nerve to suggest that their testimony may in some way be either unsatisfactory or somehow tainted because of their sexuality" She paused to look at him. "At what point is enough, enough?" Craven shook his head as Andrea kept going. "I for one do not like having my competence and professionalism questioned because of the gender of the person I love, and I speak for Counselor Cabot when I wish it noted just how inappropriate the Defence's behavior has been throughout this case" I nodded but Craven ignored that.

"Your antics in my court are neither appreciated nor wanted" At his statement I almost sneered at him.

"I don't appreciate Peterson's antics in your court either" Craven looked at me and scowled.

"Watch your tone Counselor" I shook my head angrily, feeling my temper, never a sure thing, start to rise.

"Why? Because you don't like the fact that I'm calling it like it is" His scowl deepened as he half-snarled at me.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I didn't, couldn't take a backwards step.

"So far you've called us in here twice to object to the way we are prosecuting this case. Meanwhile Peterson is out there dragging the good names and reputations of the two most senior female officers of the LAPD and their respective teams through the mud, with your compliance I might add. After all I don't see you calling him to account for it. What exactly is your problem?" I could see the anger in his face.

"I am very close to declaring you in contempt Cabot" Ignoring him I took several steps over to a chair and sat, steepling my fingers and looking at Craven over them. I was about to take a big risk, but we had to if we were going to get Craven to start behaving like the Judge he was supposed to be, not the homophobic fool he'd been so far.

"That would be a monumentally foolish thing to do" I raised an eyebrow at him and continued. "Toss an openly gay lawyer, defending outstanding, oft-decorated officers from being smeared for being lesbians, in your court, into jail for doing my job? Especially after everything that's happened here in front of the cameras" I smiled nastily. "You may think we're being difficult, but imagine what happens when that hits the media. I guarantee you'll have every civil rights, free speech and gay rights group in the country baying for your head and demanding to be represented in court as an interested party" I let my smile widen as I hammered my point home. "In turn every media organisation in the country will be camped out in your court, reporting everything to a live nationwide audience. Every television network will have their own judicial and gay right's experts passing commentary on every aspect of your handling of this case and digging into your past track record; how long do you think that will last before the Governor starts sweating about reelection and calls the Chief Justice?" Craven started spluttering as I pressed on. "The resultant media circus will be the Simpson trial all over again"

"How dare you…" I leaned forward in my chair and smiled as I responded.

"I've been found in contempt before, this time it's for a damned good cause" He finally got himself under control enough to speak.

"I will have your license pulled, you'd never work again" I shrugged as I leaned back.

"Well, not here in California, but I'm only here on six to twelve months secondment at the moment. I could go back to New York at any time and practice there again, but honestly, I'd like to see you argue your case against me in front of a disbarment tribunal" He shook his head angrily as he spoke, contempt in his voice.

"I doubt anyone here will care what you say; you're some no one from out-of town while I am a senior judge, what do you think your chances are?" I smiled even wider as I sat back.

"Surprisingly good really, by the time you've been pulled from this case for bias, your reputation destroyed by the media and considered an embarrassment to your peers, I doubt your testimony will cut much ice" I let my smile change to a smirk and continued cutting him down. "And that's before we get to the political aspects" He frowned darkly, his voice low and angry.

"What the hell are you talking about woman?" I smiled guilelessly at him.

"If I was to talk to the Governor and offer to throw my family's financial support behind his next campaign, I'm sure he'd be interested. Of course I'd make it clear that this support is dependent on him making a very strong, very public stance against homophobia in the legal profession" He sneered at me, the ignorant fool.

"I sincerely doubt the Governor would give you the time of day" Andrea, who'd been standing there very quietly, coughed lightly once, attracting both our attention. She moved to take the other seat next to me and sat back, arms resting on the chair arms, her voice quiet and calm.

"I doubt you're fully aware of the Cabot family resources Judge. The Cabot's made their original fortunes in business in the 18th and 19th centuries, then invested that money wisely, taking positions in a number of major corporations and real estate, including a lot of real estate in Manhattan. Today the Cabot family is very conservatively worth many hundreds of millions and DDA Cabot here is the sole beneficiary of that wealth" Craven was silent as he took it in, I didn't realise Andrea had been looking into my background, I sure as hell hadn't told anyone how much my family was worth. Before either of us could say anything, Andrea continued on.

"In addition, I have no doubt that Maura Isles would do everything in her power to assist one of her closest friends and the woman who is prosecuting the people who planned the murder of her, her fiancée and her best friends. The Isles family, of which Doctor Isles is also the only heir, is not quite as wealthy as the Cabot's however the difference is only one of small degree. Together they could easily provide many tens of millions to support the governor's next campaign, something that would buy a lot of favour" She shrugged and sat back. "Really, the next step is up to you"

Craven looked from her to me and back again, over and over as we sat there and let him stew. He'd got himself into this mess thanks to his own stupidity, now he had an opportunity to get himself out again, if he was smart enough to take it. Instead he looked at me and spoke; his voice bitter.

"I could break you" I shrugged at his threat and smiled as coldly as I could, something I let filter into to my voice.

"You could try" He stared at me for a few seconds then finally waved at us both.

"Get out" We got.

Two minutes later, Craven having not returned, the court officer announced an early recess and a day's break, given it was Thursday we'd reconvene first thing Monday morning.

New York Daily Mirror

Andrea's viewpoint

I was eating a very late lunch and watching the aftermath of this morning's explosive and abruptly truncated session of the trial in LA when my cell rang. I noted it was Miranda's number and picked it up with a smile.

"Hi Miranda" Her voice was pure outrage.

"Andrea, that man is beyond the pale" I smiled a little wider, it seems Miranda had jumped on board the anti-Peterson, anti-Cox train. "How dare he?" I could tell she was seething at his behavior; something I was in complete agreement with.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad"

"Bad? You are truly a master of understatement Andrea. That man's conduct is quite simply reprehensible" she said, the crackling anger easily heard in her voice.

"I know" In nodded in agreement, I'd been surprised with how far it had gone. "Today was about par for the course for his behavior right throughout the trial" My words seemed to only stir Miranda up even more.

"Andrea, how can that man get away with such blatant and quite frankly horrid discrimination?" she asked, unconsciously drawing a shrug as I replied.

"Well the judge is supposed to pull him up about it but that doesn't seem to be happening" That just further stoked Miranda's fires.

"Do NOT get me started on that misogynistic buffoon Andrea, that man is a disgrace to the legal profession"

"He's letting a lot slide" I sighed then pushed on. "I had a chat to both our legal writer and the Mirror's general counsel and they both agree he's letting Petersen and the others get away with murder, but as a judge he sets the tone for what happens in his court" That didn't go down well.

"Surely there's something someone can do, the actions of that lawyer are despicable" Unconsciously I nodded in agreement with her comment.

"No argument from me there" I said. "But the only people who can influence the judge's behavior are the California Attorney General and he reports to the Governor, they're both politicians so it'll have to be public opinion that drives anything" There was silence on the other end, Miranda didn't like being told there was nothing she could do about something she felt passionate about. Finally she spoke, her unhappiness palpable.

"That is really quite unacceptable" I smiled as I replied, pushing the conversation in the direction I wanted.

"Well, it's up to the media to shape opinion and I gather some of the more liberal media are already starting to raise questions" Her aggrieved response was instant.

"As well they should!" That gave me the opening I'd been looking for.

"Well, you do have that women in law enforcement article all set to go..." Her answer was quick.

"I had scheduled that article for next month's issue" I smiled to myself, she hadn't said no...

"If it appeared this month it'd be very topical and topical sells" I could practically hear the wheels turning inside Miranda's head, after all she hadn't got to where she was, nor stayed there for well over a decade by not delivering what the readers wanted. Finally she spoke, her voice doubtful.

"It would take significant work to redo the whole magazine to feature that article" I scoffed audibly at that.

"This from the woman who as I recall threw out three articles less than 48 hours before printing because they didn't fit the Zeitgeist?" I pushed out a laugh. "Right" She was slightly defensive at that.

"That was completely different; I'd just seen the first images from the Shanghai show and knew it was important"

"And this isn't?" I paused then pushed on. "Runway's key target demographic is professional, educated women, what do you think the average member of your target demographic is thinking about the trial right now, and I can assure you, they are watching and thinking about it" She was silent for a second then spoke, her voice musing.

"It certainly would be timely" I inwardly smiled, nodded and gave her a push.

"Probably get some extra media attention given several people in the trial are featured in the article, and who said any publicity for Runway is good publicity?" Her voice carried slight tones of annoyance as I tossed her own words back at her.

"Yes, darling, I know, but I am not sure if it would be worth the significant work necessary to make next Monday's release date" I wasn't above a little shameless pleading, all in the name of a good cause.

"Please Miranda, this is very important" She was silent for a good fifteen seconds, I could imagine her staring out the window, thinking it through so I gave her time, after all silence could be a goad as well. Finally her voice came through, a little reflective.

"I suppose anything is possible" My smile widened.

"I'd be very grateful Miranda" Miranda's voice was suddenly playful.

"Oh really now, and exactly how grateful is that?" I let my voice drop in register, knowing how much she liked that.

"Very, very grateful" the satisfaction in her voice was unmistakable.

"Then I will look forward to you providing a small demonstration of that gratitude this evening shall I?" My smile changed to a grin as I let my voice get a little lower, a little throaty.

"You can count on it my love"

"Oh Andrea, I can assure you I am" I felt a small thrill running through me at the thought before she spoke again. "I must go, I have a few art directors to reduce to gibbering wrecks" I chuckled at that.

"Which you will enjoy no end I'm sure" Miranda's smile could be heard in her voice.

"Almost as much as tonight I would expect" I grinned happily as I spoke, knowing she'd hear it in my voice.

"Bye Miranda"

"Goodbye Andrea" I put the phone down and smiled to myself in pleased anticipation as I contemplated tonight's activities.

Unknown to me, in a lavish office on the other side of Central Park a blonde woman put down her phone with an identical smile before looking up and calling out the door.

"Emily! Clear my schedule this afternoon and call in all of the editorial and artistic directors, we have a magazine to rebuild"

Los Angeles

Alex's viewpoint

That night's news was full of the 'hate crimes' angle to the story, with the experts and the talking heads generally backing us over Craven, a few of the more liberal media outlets like the Huffington Post were already talking about Craven's decisions from the bench, highlighting his long-term opposition to gay marriage, abortion, women's rights and other social issues. They were the first organisation to call for him to step down, but they wouldn't be the last.

Sitting there, watching the news and nursing a wine while Olivia was on the phone arranging a home delivery dinner I came to a decision regarding Natalie. She'd been champing at the bit ever since the prosecution's tactics had become obvious and had been uncharacteristically cold and bitterly angry since the attack on Ana.

It was time to let Nat off the leash.