Chapter 2: Closing

"And so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I must remind you once again what is at stake here. The responsibility lies in your hands to determine if the prosecution has proven that my client is guilty of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Not implied, not suspected, not believed, but proven."

Andrea paused to let her words settle into the jurors' minds. She needed them to focus on the holes in the prosecution's argument, the lack of direct evidence. The case wasn't as strong as she would like it to be, but she still had hope that a solid closing argument would convince the jury not to convict.

"The state prosecutor has spent many tedious hours detailing my client's past…" Andrea waved her hand dismissively as though her client's criminal record wasn't even a factor worth considering. She also stepped away from the defense desk. Unfortunately even in a suit and tie, her client, Adams, was still an imposing figure, and Andrea knew many of the jurors would have decided that he still looked like a criminal. She didn't want them thinking about him that way if she could help it. Better to keep the focus on her and maintain some distance.

"...As though it were impossible for people to change, as though my client's past will forever dictate his future. We have heard character testimonies from his friends, from his employer, from his parole officer and most of all from his family."

Andrea looked over to the gallery of spectators, where Adams' wife and son were sitting, knowing that it would draw the jury's eyes as well. Adams' wife was composed, but Andrea could see the glint of tears in her eyes. Their son, sitting on his mother's knee, looked nervous and confused. He was probably too young to really understand what was happening, but knew that the courtroom was big and scary and had probably been told how important it was that he stayed quiet and well behaved.

It was a cheap ploy. It was exactly the kind of cheap ploy Andrea hated to see used. But she hoped like hell that it would work. Andrea had asked for their permission to use them this way to try to tug on the jurors' sympathy. It was awfully close to the kind of melodramatic stunt she had vowed she would never lower herself to employ. A verdict should be based on facts, and evidence, and the law, not emotions and dramatics and theatrics. But she had come to learn that as distasteful as she might find it, she owed it to her clients to use everything she could in their defense. The prosecution certainly wouldn't hesitate.

"Everyone has testified that my client is a changed man, who has paid his debt and committed himself to being a productive member of society, and a dedicated husband and father. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it is not just one life you risk destroying if you choose to convict, but three."

Andrea almost expected the prosecution to object. Technically, having a wife and a young son who were depending on you shouldn't grant you any more leniency, but she hoped it would perhaps sway those jurors who might be on the fence. The prosecution probably didn't want to risk making the idea any more memorable to the jury this close to the end of the trial.

"And for what?" Andrea asked, stepping slowly back across the courtroom, her high heels clicking loudly on the hardwood floor. She usually preferred to wear something more practical, but on the last day of the trial she knew she needed to be able to control the eyes of the jury. She had made her point; now she needed their focus back on her to try to avoid their attention straying back to Adams. The last thing she needed was the jury to start wondering if the boy in the gallery would be better off without a father who looked quite so alarming.

Unfortunately, walking back across the courtroom meant catching a glimpse of the prosecutor's desk. States Prosecutor Kyle Wynn was still wearing that strange little smile he'd had all morning. Not that smiling was strange, but he seemed to spend half his life with a smirk on his face. It was one of the things Andrea hated about him the most, his insufferable smug expression.

What did the smile mean? Was this some kind of mind game to try to throw her off her closing argument? Was he laughing to himself at her outfit? Andrea usually dressed practically and professionally. Some of the female lawyers she knew would push the limits of professional propriety in how they would dress in an effort to sway the judge or jury with their looks. Andrea's heels and pencil skirt were perhaps a little higher than she'd normally wear, and her blouse and jacket a little more tailored than most of her wardrobe. She normally just wore a simple ponytail, but had spent half an hour this morning pinning her hair up into a tight bun that she thought made her look professional, competent, confident…

Did Kyle think she looked silly? Like someone playing dress up at being a serious lawyer… or did he like her different look…

All this flashed through Andrea's mind in a moment. She turned her back to Kyle and focused on keeping her composure. The last thing she needed right now was to start blushing… It didn't matter what Kyle thought of her clothes or her hair, she wasn't wearing it for him! It didn't matter why he was smiling, and whatever tricky games he might be playing wouldn't work if she just ignored him.

Andrea hated how much Kyle got under her skin. She prided herself on being the kind of person who saw the best in everyone, who could get along with anyone, who was willing to stand up and fight for even the worst criminals she'd had for clients. She didn't like the way Kyle made her want to just slap him almost every time they met – especially since they had been opposing counsels on so many cases. Andrea wasn't the kind of lawyer who only cared about her win record, but she did take quiet delight every time she was able to win a case against Kyle Wynn.

And she was going to win this one! Even with the odds against her, she was going to win and rub it in his face!

Andrea hated how competitive Kyle made her. This wasn't about him, it was about Adams and his wife and son and justice and the truth, and if she didn't get her head back in the game, she was going to screw the whole thing up.