In This Moment

by Karen Kingsbury

  Luke sat down. Again Landsford looked horrified. He didn’t address the judge. Instead he faced the witness once more. “Would you consider it a violation of duties for a teacher or administrator to lead an after-school Bible study on campus at one of your schools?”

  “Would I consider it a violation?” James Black squinted, as if he was more confused now than before. “Yes. But we go by the book at our district. And there is no explicit law on the books prohibiting such an action by anyone on our staff.”

  “Are you disappointed that Mr. Quinn took such an action?” Landsford clearly had no choice but to change the direction of the questioning. He could’ve mentioned precedent cases here, asking James Black if he was familiar with a whole list of cases.

  But he didn’t. Luke could only silently thank God for the fact.

  Black looked at Wendell. “Yes. I’m very disappointed. None of us wanted this media circus.”

  Landsford looked satisfied. “No further questions.”

  It was Luke’s turn. His opponent had unwittingly given him a gift. By the nervous look on Landsford’s face, the man clearly knew what was coming. Luke stood in front of the witness and forced himself to feel relaxed. “You told this court there is no policy prohibiting one of your teachers or administrators from leading an after-school Bible study, is that right?”

  “There will be after this.”

  “Stick to the question, please, Mr. Black. Is there such a rule or not?”

  “No.” Black breathed in sharp through his nose. “The Indianapolis Public Schools district has no such rule.”

  “Very well.” Luke looked at the jury for a moment, letting the reality sink in. Then he turned to the witness once more. “Are you aware, Mr. Black, that after one year of the Raise the Bar club, the homicide rate at Hamilton High is down?”

  Black’s face screamed disdain for the question. “Yes, I’m aware of that.”

  “And are you aware that after a year of this club’s meeting every week, test scores for Hamilton High students are at an all-time high?”

  Landsford slammed his hand on the table in front of him. He jerked his chair back and stood. “Objection. Mr. Baxter must limit his questions to the scope of the direct testimony.”

  Luke didn’t give the judge a chance to respond. “That’s what I’m doing, Your Honor.” He looked at the court reporter. “If the court could please repeat the witness’s testimony beginning with Mr. Landsford’s question that reads ‘Are you disappointed that Mr. Quinn took such an action?’ ”

  Judge Wells sighed. “Very well. Go ahead. Read the testimony.”

  The court reporter did as she was asked. She read Landsford’s question again and then the answer from James Black, stating that yes, he was very disappointed. Luke turned to the judge. “When Counsel suggested that the witness had a reason to be disappointed, it allowed the introduction of information that might not make him disappointed.” Luke paused. “What’s brought up in the direct is permissible in the cross. As you know, Your Honor.”

  She raised her eyebrows halfway up her forehead. “Be careful, Mr. Baxter. You’re walking a thin line here.”

  Actually, Luke was working within the law. But he had won this point, so he smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Luke waited until Landsford returned to his seat. Then he shifted his attention to the witness once more. He asked James Black again if he was aware of the increased test scores. And if he was also aware of the improved attendance records at Hamilton High, the decreased gang activity and the reduction in teen pregnancies. To each of these questions, Black responded that yes, he was aware.

  “And are you disappointed in these improvements, Mr. Black?” Luke refused to allow even a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

  “Of course I’m not disappointed.” The witness looked at Wendell and his expression eased a little. “I’m very happy with the changes at Hamilton.”

  Luke had to be very careful with his next question. “And would you agree that the time frame for these positive changes at Hamilton High coincides with the existence of the Raise the Bar Bible study club?”

  There was only one way for Black to answer. This wasn’t his opinion now, it was fact. “Yes.” He gave a slow nod. “The dates do coincide.”

  Another small victory.

  Black left the stand and as the morning wore on, the plaintiff called several other witnesses. Among them was a police officer—Aspyn Jones—who had been at the scene when Dwayne Brown was shot and killed.

  There was something ethereal about her, something Luke couldn’t quite pinpoint. But he was sure of one thing. The woman was a Christian. Her eyes, her demeanor, the kindness in her voice. Her faith was as clear as the name on her badge.

  Again Landsford let his arrogance get the best of him. Once Aspyn was on the stand, Landsford established her name and position, and the fact that she had tended to Dwayne in his final minutes.

  Then Landsford looked at the jury. “The defendant in this case, Mr. Quinn, likes to say that his Bible study group has changed lives, that the students are better off because of it. If that’s true”—he turned to Aspyn—“then maybe you could tell us whether Dwayne Brown was a member of the Raise the Bar club?”

  “Yes, as far as I know he was in the Bible study club.” Aspyn kept her calm.

  Luke could’ve objected, since knowledge of attendance at the Bible study was beyond Aspyn’s scope. But he remained quiet. Again Landsford was giving him an opportunity. One Luke was certain to use later.

  “And was Dwayne at a gang fight at the time of his death?” Landsford sneered at Wendell Quinn. His look said the principal was a fool if he thought some Bible study could ever change a student like Dwayne.

  Aspyn agreed that yes, Dwayne had been killed in a gang fight.

  It was Luke’s turn. The policewoman wouldn’t know the answer to his next questions, but Luke had the right to ask. They were things Luke had only found out when he read Cami’s report. “Did you know that Dwayne was baptized a few weeks before he was killed in the gang fight? Or that he had plans to live a life for God? That the Raise the Bar club had changed his mind-set on a number of issues?”

  Aspyn hesitated. Then with the sweetest, clearest eyes she looked straight at Luke. “Yes, I knew all of that.”

  Luke had to work to hide his surprise. The woman might as well have been an angel. Luke took a step closer to the witness stand. “How did you know that?”

  “I spoke with Dwayne before his death.” Aspyn nodded slowly. “I was aware of his baptism. His time at that gang fight was a bad decision. Not something that reflected his newfound character.”

  Luke’s heart was racing. “And so you think the Raise the Bar club actually was beneficial for Dwayne?”

  “Oh, definitely.” Aspyn smiled. “He was a different person because of the club.” She paused. “He’s in heaven today because of it.”

  There was no way of understanding how this officer could know these things. Unless she really was an angel. But it didn’t matter. Her testimony was stunning, and from the corner of his eye Luke could see the jury taking in every word.

  For the most part, the first day was going better than Luke could’ve imagined. Answered prayers, for sure.

  Cami Nelson was called to the stand last. She was asked by her father’s attorney to state how very much she’d been against Christianity prior to attending the Raise the Bar club.

  “You were against the idea of the Raise the Bar club when it first started, is that right, Ms. Nelson?” Landsford paced in front of the witness stand, never looking at her.

  “I was. Yes, sir.” She sat a little straighter, clearly trying to stay strong.

  “And who swayed you into thinking the club was a good thing?” He stopped and stared at her. As if this was the point where he would catch her in some great admission.

  Instead, Cami shook her head. “No one. Kids make up their own minds.” She hesitated. “God was the One who changed my mind.”

 
; Several whispers came from across the courtroom. Judge Wells slammed her gavel on her desk. “Order.”

  The whispers died off. But the point was clear. Landsford had inadvertently led Cami to score points for Luke’s side. He might as well have grabbed a gun and shot himself in the foot.

  The whole time she talked, Cami’s father stared at his hands, his shoulders shaking. Again, Luke wondered what was going on inside the man. He looked tortured. Like he hated himself for putting his daughter through such a thing.

  When it was his turn, Luke asked her questions about her newfound faith and did his best to undo any damage done by Landsford. Still, in the end, Cami’s testimony remained a victory for the defense.

  In the battle for clarity on the First Amendment, the conversion of students once hostile to Christianity was not seen as a positive, it was seen as coercion.

  Luke watched Wendell’s son Jordy comfort the girl once she was off the witness stand. She couldn’t know how damaging her testimony had been. How it had scored points for the prosecution. None of this was her fault.

  The trial was adjourned until the following morning, and Luke’s father was at his side first. “You’ve got this, Son. You were brilliant.” His dad hugged him. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  The support of family meant everything to Luke. He grinned at the man, always an older version of himself. “Love you, Dad.”

  “Love you, too.”

  When his father was gone, Luke turned and shook Wendell’s hand. The principal searched Luke’s face for some kind of assessment. “How did it go?”

  “Not terrible. I have some ideas for later this week.”

  “Good.” Wendell smiled, ever the optimist. “God’s going to use you, Luke Baxter.”

  The pretty black woman from the spectator section joined Wendell and slipped her arm around his waist. She introduced herself to Luke. Alicia Harris. “I wasn’t going to come today.” She looked at Wendell and back at Luke. “But I had to be here. I had to see for myself. You know why?”

  “No, ma’am.” Luke liked her. She had spunk.

  “Because.” Alicia smiled. “You’re the one who will win this case . . . because you’re not up there by yourself.” She looked at Wendell and then back at Luke. “The Lord is with you.”

  While they were talking, Andy Nelson slithered from his seat toward the door and out of the courtroom. There was no one at his side, no one to comfort him. No matter how things turned out, Luke hoped he might get the chance to talk to the man. Pray with him, even.

  Because when it was all said and done, Andy Nelson still needed his daughter.

  And Cami still needed her father.

  • • •

  ANDY STILL COULDN’T believe he was alive. When he woke up the morning after taking the pills, his body shaking, he’d assumed he was dead. It had taken only a few minutes to realize he was in neither heaven nor hell.

  He was in his bedroom.

  Still alive. Still facing a trial he didn’t want. Even now, three days later, his head throbbed and his body ached. He felt like a zombie as he sat through the testimonies. His only relief was when the judge adjourned for the day.

  He pushed his way down the hallway and out the courthouse doors. As he did he bumped into a man who looked familiar. The guy had a rich-looking coat and designer pants and shoes.

  Andy could be wrong, but the guy seemed to be fumbling with his belt. Almost as if he were hiding a gun. Or maybe Andy was just paranoid. Either way, when the guy spotted Andy, he brushed his hands together and uttered a strange-sounding laugh. “Excuse me.”

  “Yeah.” Andy looked at the man for a long moment. Where had he seen him before? On TV maybe . . . he ran some citywide charity. Yes, that was it. Last night. The guy had been on the news. Jack something.

  So why was he armed and heading toward the courthouse?

  Probably Andy’s imagination. His mind wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. He dismissed the thought and moved past the man into the parking lot. Andy’s body ached and his heart was broken in half. There were still moments when he wished he would’ve died, but less so after seeing Cami today.

  His daughter had been brave and poised. Answering questions that caused her pain. All while showing great confidence for her age. Andy couldn’t help but feel proud of her.

  She might hate him for now, but maybe it wasn’t too late to change that. Andy had an idea, something that had hit him halfway through her excruciating testimony. He had no way of knowing whether it would work or how it might change things, but it was something he could do.

  Andy got in his car and headed to the only place that could help him.

  The tattoo parlor.

  21

  Wendell did his best to stay positive as the second day of the trial dragged out—just the way Luke had promised. Every few witnesses, Wendell’s attorney thanked the jurors. Assured them that their time was not being wasted.

  The quest for freedom was worth every minute.

  No question Luke’s demeanor was far more enjoyable than his opponent’s. The jury liked Luke Baxter better. Wendell could tell. But even that didn’t mean they’d get a victory.

  Earlier that day the court had heard from parents who were furious with Wendell’s decision to host an after-school Bible study. Voluntary or not. These were witnesses for the plaintiff; of course they were mad. Even still, Wendell was constantly whispering to Luke, telling him that the parents on the stand no longer had students at Hamilton, or had never raised a complaint before.

  It didn’t matter, according to Luke.

  Parents had a right to send their children to a public school without threat that their students would be proselytized to by a school official. Period. Never mind that the jury seemed to like Luke and maybe they even liked Wendell. A few of them had taken to smiling at him at the end of the day, or so it seemed that way.

  The only thing that mattered, Luke told him, was the interpretation of the establishment clause. No school official could act in a way that would establish a religion at a public school. And based on the comments by the parents Andy Nelson’s attorney had scrounged up, Wendell was all but sunk.

  Even so, there was good news. Luke was yet to call his witnesses. Something that would happen when Landsford was finished. But for now Wendell could only wait.

  Finally, Landsford called Wendell to the witness stand. His last witness, he told the court.

  Wendell had known this moment was coming. He had prayed about it and given it to God. Alicia was there in the courtroom again, and she was praying, too. A few times recently she’d told him she thought someone was following her home. But nothing had come of it.

  Wendell smiled. No matter how fear tried to creep back into her life, Alicia was here. Wendell loved her for that. She sat in the back of the room near Luke Baxter’s father. Members of the media were still in full force, but the spectators had dwindled. Wendell noticed the open rows of seats as he moved to the witness stand.

  His heart pounded, but he felt his courage surge. Still, no matter how ready he was for his chance to testify, Wendell was not prepared for what happened next. The back doors of the courtroom opened and in came Jordy and Cami, followed by a stream of Hamilton High students.

  Tears stung the corners of Wendell’s eyes as he settled into his seat on the stand and watched the scene play out. The students filled the empty rows and then the back of the courtroom and the sides until there wasn’t a spot left.

  Judge Wells rapped her gavel. “Order. Order in the court.”

  The students weren’t being loud. They weren’t saying a word. Just trying to get seated.

  “What’s happening here?” Judge Wells stood and looked to one of the bailiffs. “Who are these people?”

  “Students.” The bailiff looked guilty. “We got word earlier that they were coming. These are Principal Quinn’s students. Kids from Hamilton High.”

  The jurors were straining now, looking toward the door to see how many teens were sti
ll in the hallway. Wendell glanced at Luke. His attorney was stifling a grin. At the back of the courtroom, Alicia’s smile filled her face. Luke’s father, too.

  Judge Wells huffed. “How many students are here?”

  Again the bailiff looked embarrassed. “Nearly eighty.”

  “What?” Judge Wells waved her hand. “That’s impossible. They won’t fit.”

  Landsford was on his feet, too. But there was nothing any of them could do. The students kept filing in.

  Wendell smiled at the group of them packed into every available space in the room. He couldn’t have been more proud of their diligence and effort. The way they had come here to support him.

  Never mind that all eighty students couldn’t get a seat in the courtroom. They didn’t need one. Their presence had already been felt by the judge, the spectators and yes, the jury.

  Judge Wells was still on her feet. “Keep them outside,” she yelled to a bailiff standing near the back door. “No more in the courtroom. They can stay in the hall.”

  Finally the commotion settled down. The students in the room linked arms and only then did Wendell realize what they were wearing. Each of them had a blue shirt with white lettering that read HAMILTON HIGH—RAISE THE BAR.

  They might not get a chance to testify, but their message was clear. The club was theirs. They didn’t want anyone to take it away. Wendell blinked back tears and he saw a few jurors do the same.

  “Order!” Judge Wells sat down. She was clearly furious over the loss of control. “All right, then. Mr. Landsford, proceed.”

  The prosecuting attorney looked cornered. He dusted off his suit jacket and shrugged in the direction of the jury. Then he turned to Wendell. “Did you brainwash all of these students to join your Christian faith, Mr. Quinn?”

  “Objection.” Luke couldn’t stand fast enough. “Antagonistic.” Luke seemed hurt by Landsford’s harsh wording. Wendell assumed Luke’s reaction was one way to counter the severity of the question.

  “Sustained.” Judge Wells looked at Landsford.