Tell the truth and shame the devil. I was mortified.
Not that I regretted taking the wife-beating maggot in hand. He needed the slap-down I’d just delivered. But I didn’t intend to give it in front of an audience.
Not that audience, anyway. I didn’t want to frighten a child, a vulnerable young girl.
The DA ambled down the aisle toward me. “Do you have a minute, Judge?”
There was nothing wrong in the words he used. It was the air he always had—like he owned that courtroom. Owned the whole county, everyone in it. Makes me mad as hell! Because I promise you, I care more about the community than that self-serving ass does.
I was in danger of self-combusting that morning, but Reeves hadn’t noticed that anything was amiss. “I’d like to make some introductions,” he said, in that flat voice.
Luna and Ross had separated the battered woman and her fiancé and had ushered Ada King and LeRoy Stuart out of court. I descended from the bench and approached the DA, hoping to ease the courtroom experience for the child he’d brought along.
“Good morning, Mr. Reeves. Who all do you have with you today?” I cut my eyes at Nova and smiled. Inside my head, I was calling out to her:Are you okay? I’m here for you. I got you, Nova.Trying hard to convey to her that I wasn’t the Wicked Witch, or Cruella, or Ursula. Whoever she thought was the scary lady.
Reeves didn’t introduce Nova, not then. “Judge, this is Eleanor Lindquist, she’s with the attorney general’s office. Maybe you’ve heard of her?”
“I believe I have,” I said, nodding at her. “I read about a case you handled in Selma.”
She extended her right hand, gave me a brisk handshake. “Honored to meet you, Judge Stone.”
“Likewise. What brings you to Bullock County, Eleanor?”
The woman exchanged a glance with Reeves. He did the talking. “Ms. Lindquist is going to assist as co-counsel in the Gaines case. That’s why we’re making the rounds today. Eleanor wanted to be introduced to courthouse personnel, meet the law enforcement involved in the case.”
“That’s right,” she said. She patted Nova Jones’s shoulder. “And I wanted to get acquainted with this young lady. We’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
Really? That’s pretty sus,I thought. The prosecution didn’t need a personal relationship with a young and vulnerable State’s witness. A professional relationship, certainly. But the chumminess she was displaying seemed a little off. Smacked of coercion, almost.
When the woman started patting Nova’s shoulder like she was somebody’s pet, it made my hackles rise.
And she kept on talking. “Your Honor, I’ve had some cases with young witnesses. And I’ve found that it’s crucial to introduce them to the process. Give them an orientation that goes beyond averbal description of what to expect at trial. I want my witnesses to feel at ease. So I take them on a tour of the courthouse. First on the agenda: Make sure they know where the restrooms are. That’s an important thing to know, right?”
Laughing, she nudged Nova, like they were just having a good time. The woman was full of shit. That thirteen-year-old was facing public testimony in a case that exposed her most painful, intimate secrets. It was going to be an excruciating experience.
I watched Nova Jones, to see whether the AAG’s sales pitch worked. Maybe not. Nova’s eyes were shuttered, her muscles appeared taut—like she was prepared to cut and run, if necessary. Smart kid; she wasn’t fooled. Testifying in a court of law ain’t no fun for nobody.
I picked up the vibe; the girl wanted to get out of the room. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “Is this some holiday I’ve forgotten? Shouldn’t Nova be in school right now?”
The queen of the AG’s litigation division chattered on. “Judge, it’s a school day. But it was imperative that we schedule this session. This is a valuable part of the orientation. I want to give Nova access to the courtroom. So she can see what it’s like in here. Where she’ll stand to take the oath, and then sit while she testifies.” She grasped Nova right above the elbow and ushered her down the aisle. “See, Nova, where Judge Stone was standing when we walked in? That’s the bench. She sits up there. And the chair beside her, that’s the witness stand. That’s where you’ll sit. The jury is in that box.” She pointed at the jury box with its twelve empty seats.
Then with a sweep of her arm, she showed her the counsel tables for the prosecution and the defense. “I’ll be right here, with Mr. Reeves. Unless I’m up by the witness stand, talking to you.”
She paused, looking expectantly at Nova. Nova picked up the cue, gave a quick nod.
The woman flashed a broad smile. “I haven’t made the most important introduction! Judge Stone, I’d like to introduce Nova Jones.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Lindquist was still talking. “Nova, Judge Stone will be in charge of your case. Whenever she speaks to you, you’ll call her ‘Judge’ or ‘Your Honor.’ Can you remember that?”
“Stop!” I had to shut her up or I was gonna lose my mind.
Lindquist caught her breath, as if I’d choked her. Honestly, I kinda wanted to.
I said, “No need for introductions. Miss Jones and I have met before.”
“Is that right?” The woman sounded surprised, but it was a shade overdone. I wondered whether she already knew about Saturday breakfast when she’d planned this whole exchange. “Nova, you never mentioned this. How long have you known the judge?”
Nova looked confused and a little frightened—like a kid who thinks she’s in trouble but doesn’t know what she’s done wrong.
