Was ist letz? he murmured. What is wrong? Why have they brought me here?
Dont be alarmed. She patted the black sleeve. Its just part of the legal formalities. The judge is going to ask how you plead to the charges.
He gave her a blank look.
Patience, she reminded herself. Hell want to know whether you say you are guilty or not guilty, thats all. When that happens, youre going to say Not guilty. Understand?
A murmur of excitement behind her made her look around. Trey and Geneva walked down the side aisle, accompanying a man and woman dressed in sober black. Thomass parents, to judge by the sob the boy choked on. Trey looked as if hed rather be hanging over a seething volcano than walking into the courtroom.
They filed into the first row of seats, and Thomas reached out to clasp his parents hands. Tears trickled down his mothers face as she murmured something softly to him.
Jessica hated to interrupt, but the judge could enter at any moment. You understand, Thomas? You say not guilty.
He blinked, fixing those wide blue eyes on her face. But if I tell them Im guilty, will they let me go home then?
She managed to resist putting her hand over his mouth. Hed said it softly-no one but Leo was close enough to hear.
Leo leaned across her, compelling Thomas to look at him. Absolutely not, he said firmly. It doesnt work that way here. Understand? Just do exactly as Ms. Langdon tells you. Okay?
Thomas nodded, reluctantly it seemed.
She looked at Leo, who shrugged. Thats how its done in the Amish community. You kneel before the congregation and confess, and everything is forgiven. Ive known people to confess to something even when they hadnt done it, just because the community means so much to them.
Appalled wasnt a strong enough word. He cant do that here.
No. Leo fixed Thomas with a firm gaze. You say exactly as Ms. Langdon told you. Thomas nodded.
The judge entered then, and they rose. The discomfort that had been weighing on Jessica slipped away.
Maybe, as Trey so obviously believed, she didnt belong, couldnt understand the culture, was an outsider. But in a courtroom, she was at home. This was her natural arena.
The gavel rapped. Jessica studied the judge, trying to get an idea of the womans temperament. She was probably in her fifties. Judge Judith Wallers round face didnt give much away but the pink cheeks, the graying hair pulled back into an untidy knot and the gold-rimmed glasses through which she peered at the papers in front of her made her look like someones grandmother, peering at a recipe instead of at the charges that could send Thomas to prison for life.
The judge looked up, her shrewd gaze moving from Jessicas face to Thomass and then to the district attorney.
Mr. Connelly, its a bit unusual to see you for an arraignment.
In view of the serious nature of the charges, Your Honor, I felt it advisable to handle it myself. Preston Connellys voice was as smooth and assured as his appearance. He leaned forward, confidence in every line of his body. The commonwealth-
The judge held up her hand, palm out. Save it for the appropriate time, Mr. Connelly. We have a counsel of record for the defendant?
Jessica rose. Jessica Langdon for the defense, Your Honor. Again she felt the impact of that shrewd gaze.
Ms. Langdon. I dont think weve had the pleasure of seeing you in our court before, have we?
No, Your Honor.
Judge Waller frowned down at the papers in front of her. Ms. Langdon, has your client been given a copy of the charges against him?
Yes, Your Honor. She pressed her fingers against the sheet listing the charges.
The judge shifted her gaze to Thomas. Thomas Esch, you have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of one Cherry Wilson. How do you plead?
Jessica held her breath.
Not guilty, he whispered.
From the corner of her eye, Jessica could see that Leo had his hand on the boys black sleeve.
Very well. The judge peered over the top of her glasses at the district attorney. Lets set the dates for discovery and pretrial. She consulted her calendar and named the dates. Jessica nodded.
Mr. Connelly?
The sooner the better, Your Honor, Connelly said. The heinous nature of the crime dictates-
I dictate procedure in my court. Judge Waller was crisp. Anything else you wish to say, Mr. Connelly, may be said at the pretrial conference.
Jessica let out a breath she hadnt realized shed been holding. The judge seemed determined to keep things under control in the courtroom, at any event. That was probably the best they could hope for at the moment.
A few more technical details settled, and the judge departed, her face grave, her black robe fluttering behind her.
Jessica exchanged relieved glances with Leo and turned to Thomas. The guards were closing in. Im afraid you must return to your cell now, Thomas. Say goodbye to your parents, Jessica said.
Tears filled the boys eyes as his mother embraced him. He murmured something in Pennsylvania Dutch, his voice breaking. Then the guards hand closed on his arm, and he was led away, looking over his shoulder at his parents until the closing door cut them from his sight.
Mrs. Esch, Mr. Esch. She wasnt sure whether to shake hands with them, so contented herself with a nod. Im sorry to meet you under such circumstances. Did you understand what happened here?
Thomass mother looked at her husband. Not all, he said. The words, ja. Not the meaning.
Ill be glad to explain it to you, if you want.
Not now, I think, Trey interrupted. The press is waiting outside, ready to pounce. I want to get them out the side door before it occurs to the television crew to cover that, too.
She had to agree, although she couldnt help wondering whether he was more concerned about Thomass parents appearing on television or his mother. Ill come to see you soon, she said. Please try not to worry. That was useless, of course, but she had to say it.
It will be all right. Geneva slipped her arm around the womans waist. Come along, now. Jessica will take care of everything.
Jessica watched the four of them go out the side door and then glanced around the courtroom, emptying now. This was her place, and the law was the one thing she could count on. Thomas deserved the best defense possible, and she intended to give it to him.
JESSICA WASNT QUITE SURE how shed ended up at Genevas house for supper the following evening. Shed put in a long day, nagging the D.A.s office for discovery, trying to organize her materials for efficient work in her inconvenient room at the motel and finally driving back into the city to report at the office and pick up a few things. When shed returned to Springville, all she intended was to pick up a sandwich, call Sara, whom shed missed when she went to the apartment, and go to bed early.
But Geneva had been waiting for her. Shed insisted that what Jessica needed was a good dinner and a relaxing evening. Shed tried to make an excuse, but it was remarkably difficult to say no to Geneva.
So in the end shed come, although how relaxing it was going to be with Trey sitting across from her at the long oval table, she didnt know.
Wont you have some more noodles, Jessica? Geneva passed a heavy earthenware bowl to her. Or some more mashed potatoes?
Thank you, but I really cant eat another bite. Everything was delicious. The meal had tasted wonderful-crisp browned chicken, homemade egg noodles in chicken broth, mashed potatoes and asparagus fresh from the garden. Justfilling, to say the least.
Jessica isnt carbo-packing, Mom, Trey said. Shes not used to the way we eat around here.
She shot him an annoyed glance. She didnt need him to speak for her. As I said, its delicious. Is this traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cooking?
Yep. The more starch, the better. Leo put another spoonful of noodles on top of his mashed potatoes. Nobody makes noodles quite as well as Geneva.
Geneva beamed at the compliment. My mother-in-laws recipe, she said. Would you believe she waited until Treys father and I had been married nearly ten years before she gave it to me? I think she wanted to be sure the marriage was going to last.
Never any doubt about that, my dear. Leo spoke with the fondness of long friendship.
Geneva smiled, a shadow of sorrow in her eyes. Jessicas heart contracted. How terrible it must have been for her to accept that the husband she loved had taken his own life.
Jessicas gaze collided with Treys from across the table. He lookedalmost angry, she thought. As if he wasnt ready to have his father the subject of casual dinner-table conversation.
She probably wanted to be sure her recipe didnt die with her. The fifth person at the table spoke and then looked up from his refilled plate at a stifled chuckle from his hostess. Dont you think? he added, flushing a little.
I wouldnt be surprised, Bobby, Geneva said. A few more potatoes?
While Bobby-Robert Stephens-was accepting another spoonful, Jessica studied him. He was the one whod contacted Henderson, Dawes and Henderson for Geneva. Hed been introduced as a business associate and old school friend of Treys, and she couldnt help wondering at the relationship.
Bobby was slight, fair and diffident, with pale blue eyes partially hidden by glasses. Hed have been, she thought, the classic nerd in high school and an unlikely friend for Trey, whod undoubtedly been the Big Man on Campus.
Treys gaze caught hers again, and her speculation about Bobby drifted away. She hadnt thanked Trey for his assistance with the arraignment the previous day. He had been helpful, unexpectedly so. She appreciated it. She just couldnt help but wonder why.
Genevas voice cut across her thoughts. Why dont you all visit a bit while we clear? Well have our dessert and coffee in the living room.
It was obviously meant to get people away from the table, and Jessica obediently rose. Please let me help.
Geneva took the plate from her hands. Not at all. Becky and I have it under control. She nodded toward the young girl in Amish dress whod been helping her in the kitchen. Go on, now. She made shooing motions. Im sure you want to chat with the others.
Chat? Well, she could talk to Trey, she supposed, but there was no guarantee that wouldnt end in an argument. The men had already gone into the living room, so she followed them.