Okay,Bria thought.That was funny.It took some effort to keep a straight face. Which, considering the circumstances, was preposterous. Crazy.
After the icebreaker, he segued to the next part. He talkedabout the burden of proof, how it was the State’s job to prove Bria guilty, and not Bria’s job to prove herself innocent.
Bria knew all that, was certainly aware. However, she suspected that the average citizen of Union Springs might be unaware of those basic precepts of criminal justice. She thought it was probably wise to give a reminder.
“You watch out for that DA, for how he tries to frame this case. What did he just try to tell you in his opening statement? ‘This is a simple case,’ he said. The sheer insolence of that statement shocks the conscience! The man presumes to characterize a case of this magnitude as ‘simple’? Oh, no complexity here—is that right, Mr. DA? Not like we’re talking about the rights of women, or women’s bodily autonomy, or their reproductive health, or the future of medicine, or right to privacy and constitutional guarantees. The DA would have you believe that none of those crucial issues are present in this case.”
While she listened, Bria started nodding, though she was barely conscious of the movement. It was as if he’d cast a spell, demanding her acquiescence. And getting it, too.
He stepped closer. “The DA told you that the defendant in this case is Dr. Bria Gaines, but he left out a lot of pertinent information. Facts that you need to know about Bria. Bria Gaines was born in Tuscaloosa to a family with seven kids. Her mama and daddy stressed academic excellence, and Bria was top of her class all the way from K through 12 in Tuscaloosa public schools. Valedictorian of her senior class, and she got a full ride to Xavier University of Louisiana, in New Orleans. After graduating with highest honors—summa cum laude—she was accepted into medical school, University of Alabama at Birmingham.”
Bria was surprised that he knew so many specifics. The man had done his homework.
“She could’ve remained in Birmingham, where there are lots ofattractions for young people. Could have left the state of Alabama, gone back to New Orleans, or anywhere, to go into practice. What did she choose to do? She looked for a community in dire need of a family doctor. Found it right here in Union Springs, Alabama, and set up her office. Just think what she has done for your community since she arrived. The changes she’s made in access and quality of health care. Care for children, the poor, the elderly.
“Let’s consider the State’s case for a minute. Did y’all listen when the DA talked about his State’s witnesses? He named Nova Jones, we all heard that. And he mentioned that she was pregnant at thirteen. But it seemed like he glossed over a crucial fact.”
The mention of the name Nova Jones made her chest tighten. Bria was devastated to know that the girl was forced to endure unrelenting public scrutiny. As a doctor, she was worried about Nova’s health and welfare, and the toll that the case would have on the child.
It was a weird jumble of emotions. Confusing, sometimes, to feel overwhelming sympathy and concern for the prosecution witness whose testimony would send her to prison.
The lawyer was still giving his speech. Wearing a thoughtful expression, Meyers raised his index finger, shook it at the ceiling. “When a thirteen-year-old girl becomes pregnant, there’s a story there. Not a love story. Not Cinderella at the ball. No happily-ever-after. Y’all know this is true. A tragic fact of life. Did the DA bother to tell you that story? Ladies and gentlemen, he did not.”
He took a breath and released it before he said, “What else is he keeping from you?”
Bria had heard enough. He hadn’t finished his opening statement, but she was impressed. He’d shown what he could do. The man was good. Really good. She felt obliged to be up-front with him.
She needed to be direct. He had just started up again when she interrupted him.
“Mr. Meyers, you’re extremely talented, there’s no question about that. And you’ve clearly done your homework. But the idea of handing over this case, and my life, my fate, to a complete stranger? It scares me.”
She turned to Chuck, sitting in the seat beside her. “Chuck, you’re the first friend I made when I moved to town. I know you’re sincerely dedicated to helping people with legal problems. I admire that. I trust you to have my best interest at heart.”
Bria’s life had been upended. She didn’t want to go to prison, God knows; she wanted the best representation she could afford. But she had to cling to the true friends who stood by her.
He smiled at her, a rueful grin. Chuck said, “We’re good friends, Bria, and I’m proud to have your trust. So you should trust me when I tell you, you need to let me withdraw so you can hire this guy.”
She glanced from Chuck to Meyers, and back to Chuck again. Her friend said, “I’m dead serious.”
That did it.
Bria rose from her seat, extended her hand to Meyers. When he gripped it in a firm handshake, she said, “Okay, Mr. Meyers. If you really want this hopeless case, it’s yours.”
He was smiling at her again. It made Bria feel edgy. She said, “I don’t even know if I can afford you.”
Meyers said, “I’d take your case for nothing. Do it for free.”
And the crazy thing about that? He actually sounded like he meant it.
CHAPTER
25
Mary Stone
BULLOCK COUNTY COURTHOUSE UNION SPRINGS, ALABAMA
I was sitting at the bench, taking a guilty plea from a local miscreant who habitually broke into parked vehicles by busting the windows in the wee hours of the morning. Then he’d get inside the vehicle, take a backpack, laptop, jacket. Or dig in the console, take something from the glove box. Steal whatever he could find, even if it was just a handful of change. Take a nap, maybe. Jerk off, if he had the urge.
