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Once again, Marc and Maddy along with Carvelli and Kellie Johnson the office intern/clerk got off the elevator and into a crowd. The hallway on the sixteenth floor was again jammed with would be spectators. Somehow, probably court personnel, let the public know there was a hearing today. They were going to be disappointed.

A sheriff’s deputy opened the security door to see who rang the bell.

“Hi, Maddy,” he said. “I see you brought Carvelli this time. Who’s the cute chick?”

“Behave yourself, Dale or we’ll tell Judge Foster you were harassing defense personnel,” Carvelli said.

Seeing the smile on Kellie’s face, Dale said, “I don’t think she minds.”

“I’m not sure you can say the same about your wife. Are you gonna let us in?” Carvelli said.

“Do I have to let the lawyer in?”

“He’s with me,” Maddy said.

“In that case, please, come in,” the deputy said.

“Morning, Ada,” Marc said to Judge Foster’s clerk.

“In chambers,” she whispered back. “Lawyers only, I’m afraid,” she said looking at the others.

“Kellie, you come with me,” Marc said.

“Go keep Philo occupied,” he said to Maddy and Carvelli.

“Come in,” Foster said when Marc and Kellie appeared in his doorway. “Close the door, please.”

Marc introduced Kellie and Foster welcomed her and allowed her in. The prosecution was already present along with two other lawyers. The judge’s court reporter was also set up, ready to go.

Foster introduced the two new lawyers and Marc immediately forgot their names. One was representing the clinic of Dr. Walter Miller, the other, the University of Minnesota and Phillip Friedman.

“Okay, George, fill in the caption and we’ll get started.

“Starting with the prosecution, all of you note your appearance for the record.”

When the lawyers, including Kellie, gave George their names and who they represented, Foster began.

“We’re doing this hearing in chambers because I decided it would be necessary to protect the names of medical patients. They have a right to privacy and privilege.

“Mr. Kadella, why are we here? Bearing in mind we have all received copies of the pleadings and supporting briefs, give us a Cliff’s notes version for the record.”

“Yes, your Honor. We’re here because the defense believes there are any number of patients of these two doctors, both victims of murder, who would have as much or more motive to kill them as the accused,” Marc began.

“Objection, overbroad, speculation, assumes facts not in evidence…” the lawyer for the surgeon’s clinic stood and said.

Judge Foster, giving the man a confused look, quickly said, “Overruled. Now, sit down and be quiet. You’ll get your turn.”

“These two doctors have been pushing children into gender affirmation treatment and surgery for years. And, they’ve made a lot of money doing it…”

“Don’t,” Foster said to the lawyer for the University as he started to stand.

“That’s precisely what happened to Robbie Craig. He was put under a lot of pressure by a number of people to go through barbaric surgery…”

“Don’t,” Foster said again only this time to the lawyer for the clinic who opened his mouth to speak.

“The police did a very perfunctory investigation into potential suspects. It’s crucial to the defense to go through those records, your Honor,” Marc concluded.

“Mr. Hughes,” Foster said to the lead prosecutor.

“He’s fishing, your Honor,” Hughes replied.

“Yes, he is and he’s fishing in the correct pond,” Foster agreed .

“Your Honor, if I may,” the lawyer for Friedman said.

“Sure, go ahead, jump on in here.”

“We will be sued until hell freezes over if this is allowed. If the names and medical records of patients can be made public at the whim of every criminal defense lawyer, people who have nothing to do with this trial, the medical profession will be turned on its ear.”

Foster looked at Marc and said, “And that’s the problem, Mr. Kadella.”

“I understand that your Honor. I knew that when I made the request.

“How about this? How about all of the names being redacted and any testimony will not refer to any by name?”

Judge Foster sat back in his chair and thought about it. After a moment he leaned forward and said, “I suppose that would be better…”

“Your Honor!” all three opposing lawyers said at once.

“We’re talking about thousands of patients . . .” the U’s lawyer said.

Foster held up his left hand to stop them and continued, “But I’m not inclined to go along with this either. The risk is too great.”

“Okay then how about we get the records and contact any patients we think fit and get them to voluntarily testify?”

“You want to put people on the stand to admit they would have liked to murder their doctors?” Celia Raines, the assistant prosecutor asked.

“There is still a risk that somehow and I don’t doubt Mr. Kadella’s integrity, that these things could be leaked,” the surgeon’s clinic lawyer said.

“We’re not the county attorney’s office,” Marc said.

“I resent that!” Hughes almost yelled.

“Good for you,” Marc said.

“All right, that’s enough,” Foster said. “Mr. Kadella, I’m going to rule against this. I have to weigh your client’s rights against these patients’ privacy rights. If you can find patients willing to testify, I’ll consider that. But these medical records will not be turned over to you. Your subpoena is thereby quashed.”

“Thank you, your Honor,” the other four lawyers all said .

Judge Foster looked at the lawyers for Miller and Friedman and said, “Now, I’ll ask you two gentlemen to leave while we do some other business.”

When the door closed behind them, Foster continued.

“Scheduling. It’s now March nineteenth, I have a firm date of Monday, May second to begin jury selection. That gives us less than one and a half months.

“Discovery. All discovery is to be completed by April ninth. Any delays and you’d better have a good reason or I will levy sanctions.”

“Your Honor, if I may…” Hughes began to say.

“You may not. Moving on,” Foster said, shutting down Hughes’s attempt at a continuance.

“Witness lists. Same day, April ninth. I will be a little more lenient but not much about adding witnesses. Like, if someone rises from the dead.”

“Your Honor,” Hughes said again.

“What? You have your own investigators and a major metropolitan police department to investigate for you. Do you think you’ll find more evidence, more witnesses? If so, I’ll listen, but it better be good.

“Motions. I don’t like last minute motions. Get it together. Last chance,” Foster said while looking at his desk calendar, “I’ll give you until the end of April. April thirtieth.

“Any questions? Good,” Foster quickly said before Hughes could try to ask one.

“I’ll have an order out by end of business today. Thank you.”

When they reached the floor in the underground garage where Marc parked, he handed the keys to Maddy.

“Here, drive please. I’m a little preoccupied,” Marc said.

“You knew we were gonna lose,” Maddy said.

“I know, still I hoped…I need to call Jason Briggs. See how he’s doing with the hammer scratches.”

On the drive back to the office there was silence between them. Marc was deep in thought so Maddy and Carvelli knew him well enough to leave him alone .

Maddy parked Marc’s SUV in its usual spot, shut off the engine, looked at Marc and asked, “Did you think of something?”

“Maybe. Both of you come up and we’ll talk.”

“How did it go?” Connie asked through her open door from behind her desk.

“He quashed the subpoenas,” Marc answered.

“You figured he would,” Connie said.

“You always expect the worst then if it goes your way it’s a correct ruling,” Marc replied.

Carvelli was standing next to Marc in Connie’s open door. Maddy ran off to say hello to everyone.

Looking at Connie, Carvelli foolishly said, “Time for a coloring. You’re getting quite a bit of gray on top.

In an instant Connie had a letter opener in her hand ready to throw it.

“Holy shit!” Carvelli said.

Marc ducked to his right, Carvelli to his left putting a wall between him and Connie.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. You look great,” Carvelli said.

“I’d throw it, but unfortunately you’re right,” Connie said.

“When are you gonna learn?” Marc asked.

Carvelli peeked around the corner and saw that Connie had put the letter opener down.

“Still friends?” he asked.

“Sure. Please step into the line of fire,” Connie said.

“I need him alive,” Marc said. “Isn’t it time for a smoke break?”

By now, Maddy was back. From behind Marc she asked, “What did Tony do now?”

Marc told her just as Connie came out of her office.

“Is she armed?” Carvelli asked backing away.

“Come on, you coward. But thanks for the reminder. I’ll make an appointment today,” Connie said.

They found chairs in Marc’s office then Maddy asked, “Okay, what now? ”

“I want you to go after Dr. Miller’s head nurse. His surgical nurse. Interview her about the complaints he has received. Just the ones we know were from trans patients.

“Do the same with Friedman’s administrative assistant,” Marc said.

“Do we have their names?” Maddy asked.

“Robbie will know them,” Marc said. “At least he should.”

“Okay, anything else?”

“Yeah, Robbie has this, I suppose it’s a support group. Ask him about it. Any in there that regret it. Maybe go with Robbie to a meeting. Sit with them. Talk to them about it. How do they feel about it? Were they okay doing this as children? Are they angry about that?

“What are you doing? What are you looking for?” Connie asked.

“I’m gonna try to put this transgender affirming children on trial. Is it driving them to suicide, homicide?

“It’s a horrible thing to do to children. It’s one thing to have them dress and act like the opposite of how they were born. But to push them into surgery…”

“Or even let them agree to it while they are underage,” Maddy said.

“That’s a huge, irreversible step. For adults, okay. But kids, no. In fact, anyone involved in permanently mutilating children for this should do serious time in a serious prison. It needs to stop,” Marc said.

“Tony, Robbie had a mentor, a trans woman who counseled him. I don’t remember her name…”

“Joan, something,” Maddy said. “She got married then moved to Chicago to go to grad school at Northwestern. Robbie will probably know her married name.”

“Great, you’re sending me back to Chicago,” Carvelli said.

“You don’t have to look up Paxton,” Marc said. “See if you can find Joan.”

“I’ll call Robbie now and see if I can get the names,” Maddy said.