She picked up the beer. Didn’t sip it, took a deep swallow. Wished it were something stronger.
When she started shaking, Ben put his hand on her arm. It steadied her. He said, “We’re going to trial, Bria. There’s no reasonable alternative. But we’re going to fight this. I believe in you, and I’m going to do everything in my power to see that you get justice.”
She couldn’t look at him, didn’t permit himself to meet his eye. She was afraid of what she’d see, what she might read in his face.
But she was regaining her self-control when she said, “Justice?Don’t bullshit me, I won’t stand for that. There’s no way you can tell me that I’m going to be all right when this is over.”
He dropped his voice. “Come on, Bria, you’re a doctor. You know no profession can guarantee results. I can’t promise an acquittal any more than a doctor can guarantee a cure. But I’m going to be your advocate. Try with everything I’ve got.”
It wasn’t enough. She could feel disaster looming over her. Bria wanted to hear straight talk. Nothing less. “Ben, I’m going to lose. I know that. You have to know that, too. Why are you here?”
Ben didn’t respond immediately. He paused, took a breath. “Because it’s wrong, Bria. Everything that’s happening, what they’re doing to you. It couldn’t be more wrong. The day the story broke, I read about the case. I just had to come.”
He wadded up a paper napkin, tossed it on his plate. “Like I told you, I can’t roll out guarantees. Except for this: Gonna do the best I can to make it right.”
It was the best offer she’d receive. Bria knew that. “Okay. What now?”
His voice was reassuring. “We’ll take it one step at a time. I’m going to talk to each of the State’s witnesses. Take a statement. Analyze what they say.”
She thought about that. “Nova? You’re taking her statement?”
“Got to. Her mother’s, too.”
She opened her mouth, shut it. It hurt to think of inflicting distress on the girl, making her talk about the abortion. She wished she could prevent it. But it was inevitable. Bria had to let her lawyer do his job.
They talked about his pretrial prep, and her struggle with the pain of waiting. She asked him to advise her, how she could best survive until the trial. He advised Bria to try to stay calm, keep upher day-to-day activities. Work, home. Go to church if that was part of her routine.
“I don’t know about that,” she said. “I’m more comfortable in a seedy bar right now than sitting in a pew at the Baptist church.”
Just then, the door opened, sending a burst of afternoon sunlight into the gloomy interior. The light blinded Bria for a moment. When her eyes adjusted, she saw that three men had sidled up to the bar. She knew one of them: Vic Fowler, a patient of hers. Though it was probably more accurate to classify him as a former patient.
Vic Fowler and his friends appeared to be getting rowdy, from the way they were calling for drinks. Sounded like they were all half lit.
“Let’s go,” she said, picking up her purse. It was time to leave. She just had that feeling.
Ben paid the waitress, and they made their way to the door. They didn’t dawdle on the way out, but they weren’t quick enough.
Fowler had spotted Bria, despite the dim lighting.
“Goddamn! It’s Dr. Bria Gaines! You got a lot of nerve, showing your face in here.”
Bria didn’t break stride. She pushed the door open and hustled outside, with Ben right behind her. When they were on the sidewalk, Ben took her arm as they hurried toward his car.
But Vic Fowler followed. “Hey, Doc! Got a message for you. I think there ought to be the death penalty for what you done!”
Ben held the key fob, unlocked the doors. When they reached the vehicle, Fowler ran up and blocked the passenger door, to prevent them from leaving.
Bria tried to reason with him. “Vic, I can’t believe you’re acting like this. I’m your family doctor. I set your arm when you brokeit. I cared for your wife during her pregnancy. I delivered your daughter.”
“You’re not our family doctor anymore, you bitch. You won’t fool me again. You’re a cold-blooded murderer. A baby killer.”
When he called her a killer, he advanced on her, coming in so close, she could smell his hot breath. She stepped back, stumbling when her feet hit the curb. Ben kept her from falling.
Then he moved up to confront Fowler. Ben said, “Back off.” And he shoved Fowler away.
The shove threw Fowler off balance for a moment; his arms flailed. When he recovered, he reared back and threw a punch that sent Ben face down onto the asphalt. Knocked Ben out cold.
“No!” Bria fell to her knees on the pavement, checking the injury. His nose was gushing blood.
