The crowd pressed in around Nella and Sevita, even more people packed into the large auditorium than there had been last time. Sevita reveled in it, but Nella could only think of how easy it would be to infect everyone at once with every steaming breath that rolled against her back and stuck to the windows. Someone sneezed off to the right and Nella recoiled.
"Sorry," said an elderly man with an early tan. He held up a bright handkerchief. "Hay fever," he confided to Nella. She smiled to show him she wasn't worried about it.
Frank was sitting with Dr. Pazzo, trying to make calm and cheerful conversation. She could tell by the way he gripped the side of the table that he was uncomfortable and nervous. Dr. Pazzo, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, leaning back in his chair and talking casually to Wells as Johnson kept a gentle hand on Ann's shoulder. Ann was mildly sedated again, but the crowd was overwhelming anyway. She rocked slightly and chewed the bandages on her hands whenever Johnson was distracted. Mr. Green completely ignored her. He was laughing with Dr. Schneider's attorney, an attractive blonde who looked far too young to ever have finished law school. Nella knew better though. She had been a big name even when Nella had been in school. She wondered what Dr. Schneider had to trade to get her. Or maybe this lawyer did it just for the fame of defending the maker of the Cure. Nella looked over toward the prosecution. Ms Jacobsen looked exhausted and cranky. Good thought Nella Maybe she'll contest the finding on Ann's competency and buy me some time. But Nella suspected it had more to do with the last minute addition of Dr. Carton to the witness list and Dr. Schneider to the defendant list.
The microphones turned on with a loud crack and the bailiff called for everyone to rise. The three judges walked out on to the dais and everyone returned to their seats with a rustle and then silence. The judges straightened their files and the bailiff talked with them in a low voice. There was a loud hacking cough somewhere in the crowd. Nella saw Frank look straight toward her as her own heart jumped out of its setting. He quickly looked back at his papers, but she saw his hand curl even tighter on the outer table edge. She couldn't tell if Dr. Pazzo had noticed.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen," said Judge Hawkins, "Ms Jacobsen, would you read the indictments please?"
Ms Jacobsen stood up and smoothed her jacket. She spoke clearly and loudly and was assisted by two sign language interpreters on either side of the room. The mass of people were utterly silent.
"Ann Connelly, Dr. Robert Pazzo and Dr. Gerta Schneider stand accused of violating the Geneva Biological Weapons Convention, the Nuremberg Code and the United States Common Rule of research.
Each of the defendants participated in the development of the Recharge bacteria and after discovering its rapid rate of contagion and the dangerous effects the bacteria had on the human brain, failed both to contain it or to alert the proper authorities to its presence and symptoms. The citizens of the world were the unwitting and unfortunate de facto test subjects of the Recharge bacteria. Each defendant directly contributed to the death of millions of human beings through reckless disregard of proper handling, testing procedure and containment practices. Dr. Robert Pazzo also stands accused of the wrongful restraint of Dr. Gerta Schneider and neglecting to seek proper medical care for Ann Connelly. In addition, Dr. Gerta Schneider stands accused of theft, transportation of dangerous materials without precaution, and the kidnapping and enslavement of Dr. Michael Carton."
The crowd erupted and even the two subsidiary judges looked shocked. Judge Hawkins called for calm. "Would the defendants please enter their plea?" he asked.
Dr. Schneider and Dr. Pazzo entered not guilty pleas in order. Mr. Grant stood up for Ann. "My client was directed to undergo a competency evaluation. I believe your Honors and Ms Jacobsen have the results in front of you."
There was a quiet rustle as the prosecution and the panel found the paperwork. "Does the prosecution have any objection to the findings?"
Please say yes thought Nella.
Ms Jacobsen glanced up toward her with a worried expression, as if she were trying to disarm a bomb and wanted a hint. "No," she said.
The judges turned off their microphones and discussed for a few moments between themselves. Nella glanced nervously back toward Frank and noticed Dr. Pazzo staring intently at the judges. He was leaning forward as if it would help him hear. She sat up straighter and watched him.
The microphones were turned back on. Judge Hawkins spoke for the panel. "It is the finding of this tribunal that Ann Connelly is incompetent to stand trial at this time. She is remanded to the state for ninety days so that she may be returned to competency. We can revisit this finding at that point if necessary."
Ms Jacobsen broke in. "Your Honor, the military government has studied Dr. Rider's recommendations. We feel it is best for all involved that this matter not be revisited on the strength of Dr. Rider's findings that Miss Connelly will never regain the mental capacity for competence at trial."
"Very well. Then Ann Connelly will be remanded to the state for the remainder of her life. I'm ordering her to be housed at Harbor Home when they can find space based on Dr. Rider's recommendation. In the meantime, I understand she is getting excellent care where she is. And I thank you for your fine service." He nodded gravely at Wells who grinned and at Johnson who blushed.
"I object!" Dr. Pazzo was on his feet, his gargoyle face a pallid yellow with burning spots of red on his cheek and chin. His eyes glittered.
Judge Hawkins looked confused and Frank was trying to make Dr. Pazzo sit again, one hand over the microphone, the other pulling gently on the other man's arm. "On what grounds?" Judge Hawkins asked.
"On the grounds that I should have a say in who cares for Ann," shouted Dr. Pazzo. His voice was distant without the microphone but perfectly clear.
The other judges murmured behind Hawkins and he leaned back to talk with them. "Are you related in some way?" he asked at last.
Dr. Pazzo was breathing rapidly as if he'd just run a race. Frank gave up reasoning with him and sat down. Nella half rose from her own seat. "I'm the closest thing she has to a spouse or living relative," Dr. Pazzo said, a little calmer now that the judge was speaking with him.
"I'm sorry Dr. Pazzo, but even if you were actually her spouse, this is not that type of competency hearing-" He broke off as Dr. Pazzo began screaming incoherently over him. The bailiffs came over to help Frank calm him down and Nella was already working her way down to the floor. Judge Hawkins banged the gavel as the crowd began it's own dull roar. Nella followed the bailiffs out the door with the still shrieking Dr. Pazzo. She dimly heard Hawkins ordering a recess and Frank joined her in the holding cell with Dr. Pazzo. He waited until the bailiffs released his client and Pazzo dropped onto the hard bench without comment.
"What the hell was that about?" yelled Frank. He was angrier than she had ever seen him. Angrier than the situation seemed to warrant. "If you don't calm down Judge Hawkins is going to have you removed from court. Not to mention charge you with contempt. I hardly need to tell you, you aren't winning any friends out there and we haven't even got to opening statements." Frank ran a hand over his smooth head and Nella was close enough to see the sweat at his temple.
Dr. Pazzo ignored him and turned to Nella. "Is it true?" he asked, his face almost gentle, almost the young man she'd seen on the videos, "She won't ever get better?" Nella felt Frank looking at her in confusion but she didn't dare to break eye contact with Dr. Pazzo.
"You really care about her?" she asked, "This whole time you acted as if she were just a fling. And now you care?"
Dr. Pazzo gripped at his thinning hair and Nella was shocked to see his eyes turning red and filling with tears. "I always cared. I always cared. But you never told me anything. Either of you." He glared at them in turn. "You were supposed to be the best." He spat it bitterly at Nella. "I refused to speak to four other perfectly capable doctors because I wanted you to see Ann. It took ye
ars. Years Dr. Rider." He stood up and moved toward her. Frank instinctively stepped between them before Nella could stop him. Dr. Pazzo sneered at him as if they shared a nasty joke and Nella saw Frank's long hand closing into a hard fist.
"What on earth are you talking about?" she asked, mostly so Frank wouldn't hit him.
"You were supposed to bring her back. You were supposed to fix it. Fix it all. Why did she get damaged and I'm not?" Dr. Pazzo sobbed mournfully.
Nella paused and Frank shook his head in warning. She pushed forward anyway. "I don't know Dr. Pazzo, why did she become so much more damaged than you?" She pulled the photos from the CAT scan from her brief case and threw them at him. They slid glossy and bright and damning over the floor. "I'm not the one who created this thing. I can only fix what I understand. Why don't you tell me?"
He slumped back onto the bench. Nella knelt down on one knee so that Dr. Pazzo could see her face. She picked up a photo. "This is what I understand, Robert," she said holding it up to him. "See this dark empty void here? That's where Ann lived. That's where her memories of you were, all the memories of who she was meant to be. And see these small spots here? That one was where she was happy. And that one let her string together her thoughts so that I could understand what is happening in her brain, why she screams about teeth, why she can't stop hurting herself."
Dr. Pazzo took the photo and cradled it in one hand. "Can't you fix it? You were supposed to fix it. You fixed others, worse off. I know. I read about it. I've been watching you for a very long time Dr. Rider." He swiped at his eyes, so he didn't see Nella pull Frank's already swinging fist back with a sudden jerk. Frank paced to the other side of the cell and tried to breathe.
"I can't fix what's not there. Your bacteria ate away at her brain. She's gone, just like everyone else who'd been exposed as long as her. The people I helped- they were still in early stages. The swelling in their brains was the problem. Not missing pieces. Not even if I had access to the best medicine and technology. Which I don't, because the Plague took those too. Nobody this far gone can fully recover. Except you." She waited for him to respond and Frank watched them, waiting for her to finish playing her hand. Dr. Pazzo was silent, the photo's bright finish still flashing off of his hooded eyes. "Anything you want to tell me Robert?" Nella asked at last.
He straightened up and took a deep breath. He handed the photo back to her and she watched his face close into its severe lines again. "No," he said. He looked at Frank, "Let's get this over with. I'm looking forward to watching Gerta hang."
Nella stood up. She didn't dare to look at Frank so she busily repacked her briefcase as he and Dr. Pazzo filed back into the courtroom. She collapsed onto the bench as soon as the courtroom door closed behind them.
What have I done? She asked herself.
The day dragged on, mostly occupied by the prosecution's opening statements and then motions by Dr. Schneider's lawyers to suppress evidence from Dr. Carton. Nella was nervous and itchy, she wanted to fly back to the prison and search Dr. Pazzo's cell. She was terrified by his reaction to her questioning. But it would be suspicious if she left court after Dr. Pazzo's outburst. She'd have to wait. She tried to pretend she was taking notes. She didn't know if Frank was angry with the delays or with something his client was goading him with or even with her, but his scar jumped and flared on his hollow cheek and his knuckles were as white as teeth as he gripped the side of the defense table. He didn't look toward her for the rest of the day and Nella berated herself for acting rashly, for pushing Dr. Pazzo farther. But there were no more outbursts from Dr. Pazzo. He seemed calm and spoke to no one but Frank.
When the judge finally closed the day's session, she found herself in the back of the massive crowd and it took her almost twenty minutes to make it into the parking lot. Sevita grabbed her arm and pulled her toward her towering cameras. "Sorry," she hissed into Nella's ear, "I have to. It would look odd after all that not to do an interview."
Nella sighed but stood still.
"Dr. Rider, you're the court appointed psychiatrist for the December Plague trial, is that correct?"
"Why yes, Ms. Das it is," she said with an overly sweet smile. Nella scanned the parking lot both for Frank and the prison transport as Sevita asked her questions.
"Court was quite exciting today. You prepared the recommendation for Ann Connelly's competency trial is that right?"
Nella just nodded absently.
"And you found her incompetent to stand trial. The judge and the prosecution agreed with you. But upon hearing this decision, Dr. Pazzo had what I can only call an extreme outburst. Yet you found him competent to be tried. Do you intend to change your position?"
Nella looked at Sevita confused. "What? I mean, no. There is a difference between a temporary outburst and Ann's condition. Ann can't understand what is going on around her and she is in no condition to aid in her own defense. In this case, there is no way she would get a fair trial. Dr. Pazzo simply had an emotional response to some disappointing news."
Dr. Schneider's lawyer walked up to Sevita's cameras and flashed a brilliant smile. "Uh thank you Dr. Rider," said Sevita quickly.
Nella slipped away as Sevita turned to the attractive blonde beside her. The white prison transport passed her, glowing in the early dusk. She hurried to Frank's car. He was leaning against it, his back to her, the rest of the lot empty even of gawkers.
She curled her fingers around his hand and leaned into his side. "Sorry," she said.
He smiled. "You? What are you sorry about?"
"I shouldn't have pushed him so hard. I thought I could make him change his mind, get some kind of confession or something."
"Don't be sorry. It was a good gamble. I would have done it too, if I'd known how he felt about Ann earlier. It just didn't work this time."
Nella looked around to make sure they were still alone. "I need to get into his cell. I need to find those samples."
"I know. I already called Stan. He'll be ready to help during court on Wednesday. After today's episode it would look odd if you weren't in court tomorrow. Give it one more day and things will calm down."
"You think no one will notice if I'm not there on Wednesday?"
Frank glanced at her quickly and then away. "Well- I did something that might be bad. I'm sorry, it was the only thing I could think of and I don't think it will cause any permanent harm. At least, that's what Johnson said."
"What did you do?"
"I asked Johnson to call you that morning before court. She and Wells are going to make it look like Ann is having an- an episode. Dr. Pazzo can't see into the cell and it's fairly well soundproofed, so he'll never know that she isn't having one."
"Did Johnson ask you why?"
"No. She said if it were you asking, there had to be a good reason. Anyway, it should give you plenty of time to search the prison at least. If you don't find it there- well I'm running out of ideas."
"I'll find it," she said.
Waiting