Chapter 9: Lamentations

Alex Borgia reviewed the papers before her as Tina Keith was brought in. If this woman had any decency, Alex thought, this former mother would plead her case out. Then again, part of her wanted the client to want a trial, to let the jury decide the defendant's fate.

"My client pleads 'not guilty' your Honor."

So much for Plan A, Alex thought at the sound of that all-too familiar voice.

Danielle Melnick-McCoy glanced Borgia's way. "In regards to bail, your Honor," the attorney continued, "may I point out that my client has very limited funds."

"It should be noted," Borgia said raising her voice slightly louder than her opponent's, "that she's also accused of killing both of her children."

"Remand," the judge said.

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"You know what you alleged isn't true, right?" Melnick-McCoy said as they walked out of Part 19. "She wasn't in the right state of mind, therefore-."

"She could have sought help," Borgia countered. "She had help in the way of her babysitter, of other agencies, family members, anyone."

"The babysitter who is but a child herself? What would one child know about raising another?"

Borgia turned on her heel. "Renee Maguire did a far better job by those two children than their mother did. And what happened? Your client sends her drug-crazed boyfriend to beat up that young girl!"

"Then it's his fault, isn't it? Not my client's. He was the one that made plans to sell the baby."

"And any mother with an ounce of common sense would have fought for that child's life!"

Danielle gave her a long look. "If this is how emotional you'll be during the trial; I'm fairly certain I'll win just based on logic. Good day, Miss Borgia."

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"You're beating up on the opposition already, Danielle?" Jack asked over dinner. "I know there's zealous representation, but there's also taking it a bit too far."

Danielle looked at her husband. "I'll consider it taking it too far if I find out you've helped the prosecution in any way, 'dear.' Sound fair?"

Jack shrugged. "All's fair in love and law, dear."

In the back of his mind, he knew this would be the high-wire act to beat all high-wire acts. He had his personal feelings about the Keith woman, remembering how things were left after he and Serena prosecuted Keith's boyfriend's mother.

History was about to repeat itself, and it sickened him that this time, the child – the children – were so young. He had spoken his thoughts about forced sterilization to co-workers in trials past. Someone like Tina Keith and others like her – men and women alike- proved to him that some people were never meant to be parents.

But, he didn't dare share any of this with his wife, because she took each case personally from start to finish, making her clients' causes her own. That was the one reason why Jack and Danielle had made a promise of never bringing work home with them.

He was thankful for the change of topics, even if it wasn't to a topic he cared for.

"How'd you do at the poker game the other night?" she asked with a mischievous grin on her face.

Jack held out a hand. "Give me the silly button. I was two dollars shy of besting you."

"Ha! Wait, only two dollars? What happened?"

"I was fine until we bet children," he deadpanned. "Lennie's got me two to one there."

She went to the desk drawer and pulled out the ugly button they had found when they went browsing through antique and second hand stores. Jack said it was the ugliest thing he ever saw. Danielle said it would have to be one heck of a wager to get caught wearing it….

Jack folded his hand around the cursed thing and said, "Do I have to have Nora take a picture?"

"Of course," she said.

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Nora chuckled as she saw the button on Jack's sweater. "I'm glad I missed the poker game," she said.

"Why? You could have beaten Danielle and she'd be wearing this, not me."

"Don't be so sure," Nora said. "What would have happened if you managed a tie?"

"It would have been a reprieve," he said handing her the digital camera. "Just shoot me now, all right?"

No sooner had Nora finished taking the picture, Jack removed the hideous button and shoved it into his pocket. "I'd flip a coin with you to decide who suffers the stupid staff meeting," Jack said, "but given my luck of late, let me just say, 'I'll go,' all right?"

Nora laughed. "Twist my arm, why don't you?" She handed Jack a message slip. "The girls will be by later today to pick our brains."

He glanced down at the appointed time. "And Ron hasn't had any problems with this?"

She shook her head. "Question is, will you? The Keith case…"

"Is Danielle's equivalent to dynamite this week," he said. "Of course I'll help the prosecution."

"It's your funeral."

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Connie Rubirosa looked at her partner and knew it wasn't such a good idea to let the other woman go to the funeral services a couple of weeks ago. But, Nina went, so Alex went.

"There's the idea of 'taking things personally' too far, you know," Connie said. "Don't think I'm trying to be cold-hearted, but-."

"They had no one else in their lives, Connie. Nina and I practically doubled the attendance of mourners."

To that, Connie had nothing to say. "So, defense is going to claim not guilty by reason of mental illness?" She shook her head. "What, the mother was a battered wife?"

Alex shrugged. "That's one angle. The other would probably be the drug-induced state of mind Tina was in and the sense of lost control with her daughter."

"It's flat out irresponsible behavior is what it is," Connie said a bit sharper than she wanted. "Sorry. I'm just not looking forward to this case or the other one we have coming up.

Alex handed Connie the psychologist's reports. "Here's what they're presenting at trial. Did you want me to call Skoda or Olivet to examine Mrs. Keith?"

"Olivet," she said without hesitation. "If Elizabeth's dealt with a tangent of this case before, that could help us out."

"Or keep her from the defense," Alex countered.

Connie smiled. "That, too." Taking notes of the information needed for another case, she said, "Let's just hope that this goes quickly and smoothly, because the last thing I want to do is put parenting on trial."

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Nora and Jack listened to the evidence Rubirosa and Borgia had prepared for their case against Keith. Where there were weak points, the professors offered suggestions. By lunch hour's end, the women felt a bit more confident with their case.

"You don't see this as a conflict of interest?" Connie asked. "I mean, don't take this the wrong way, but you and Ron think an awful lot alike sometimes and that's rather spooky."

Jack shook his head smiling as Nora spoke up. "Ron wouldn't have let you talk to us if he thought it was more harmful than helpful."

"How's your other case shaping up? Any idea who the defense attorney is in that one?"

Connie referenced her folder and said, "Someone named Randolph Dworkin."

Jack made a face and Nora laughed.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked curiously.

"I'll tell you later," Jack said. He thought a moment then said. "In the meantime, you two are certain about how you're going to call your witnesses? Miss Maguire is strong enough to testify?"

Connie nodded. "She's an amazing young lady. Of course-."

"Danielle's already made it clear she's going to say that it was the boyfriend's fault," Alex said quickly. "We've got a trial date set for him, too, but-."

"But, ultimately," Nora said calmly; she and Jack exchanging knowing looks regarding the young prosecutor's change in tone, "it's Tina Keith's responsibility of what happened to her children."

Jack got up to leave. "And it's any wonder why fathers are hated at times like these. Count on Danielle making that a major bright spot in her case, the 'absent' father in more ways than one," he said. "If you'll excuse me…"

Connie turned to Nora as soon as Jack left. "I confess there are times he intimidates me and I hardily had a chance to work with him."

"Sometimes," Alex said nodding, "he scares the hell out of me."

Nora chuckled. "Oh, believe me, many a colleague who has worked with Jack can tell you he's a teddy bear at heart. However, if you need something to remind you that he isn't always an 'iron man' to fear…" She pulled up the image of Jack in the ludicrous button and showed it to the two younger women.

"Mind if I get a copy of that?" Connie asked. "As a regular reminder," she added. Alex asked for one as well. Nora obliged, printing two copies of the picture she took earlier that morning.