Keenan Trial

[bringonthewonder]

Angela got a look from Caroline Julian when she arrived this morning, one of those calculated, take-it-all-in, lawyerly looks, and a slight shake of her head. Angela's pretty sure she knows what it means. She's also pretty sure that the fact that Caroline told her not to be quite so dressed up and done up is about to be the least of Caroline's problems with the Jeffersonian's forensic artist.

There's no denying that Max Keenan has done some terrible things, and there's no denying that he's the most likely candidate to have shot, gutted, crucified, and incinerated the corpse of Deputy Director Kirby (though there's also no denying that Kirby was threatening to kill Max Keenan's kids). There's no denying that it is Angela's job to testify in court when the Jeffersonian gets involved in determining how a person died.

But there's also no denying that Max's daughter is Angela's best friend. And there's no denying that Brennan told her, And even though I can't condone what he did, I really, really don't want him to die.. Even though Brennan only said it under the influence of a mood-altering teddy bear, even though Brennan would much prefer Angela forget that she ever heard it.

She's only half-paying attention as she answers the who are you and what do you do and the government would like to have Ms. Montenegro declared an expert witness questions, sorting through all this one last time, but being here in the courtroom doesn't change a damn thing, in her opinion.

There are things you can live with, and things you can't. Sometimes, it's that simple, no matter how complicated the details look.

"And with the body so badly burned, intestines reduced to ashes, how did you identify the remains as those of Deputy Director Kirby?" Caroline asks.

Angela looks up at the lawyer, at her friends and coworkers in the crowd, and then says, "I've got nothing to say."

Caroline frowns. "You're under oath as a material witness, Ms. Montenegro."

Yeah, thinks Angela, but I told you before you called me that I would refuse to testify.. "I swore to tell the truth and the truth is that I am not saying anything," she says. There's a snicker from the jury, but Angela doesn't turn to look at them.

Caroline appeals to a higher authority, turning to the judge. "Judge Haddoes, could you . . ."

The judge looks down (and really, why should he get to look down on everyone just because he has a black robe and a little hammer?) at Angela from the bench. "The witness will answer."

"No," says Angela. "The witness will not."

Brennan, from her seat behind the defense's table, looks stricken. "Angela! Answer!"

The judge turns his attention to Brennan. "Silence, please." And then turns back to Angela. "The witness will answer or I will find her in contempt."

Angela looks up at him and lowers her voice a bit. "Is there any way I could talk you out of that?"

Judge Haddoes looks at Caroline, and the word Angela has to go with here is incredulous. "Why would you call a witness you knew wouldn't answer?"

Caroline shoots Angela a look, and yeah, that one she got coming in today pales in comparison to this one. "I figured that once she got up here and saw your scary face, she'd rethink her options."

"I'm taking the Fifth," Angela announces, and she doesn't really think it will work, but come on, who hasn't wanted to say that from a witness stand?

Caroline turns to her with exasperated patience. "Cherie, the fifth refers to the Fifth Amendment, which protects you from being forced to incriminate yourself."

"Okay. All right." Damn. But if there's one thing Angela can do, it's improvise. "Well, the . . . the First Amendment protects freedom of association, right? Which means that it protects friendship. So, I'm taking the First, which is even better than taking the Fifth," she concludes triumphantly.

That probably won't work, either, but it should.

"There is no friendship in a homicide trial," says Judge Haddoes. "This is the Federal District Court of Columbia, United States of America. When this asks you a question, you answer, or you pay the ferryman."

Angela shrugs a little. "It ain't gonna happen."

Jack looks like he's like to explode. "Angie, they aren't kidding around."

Booth leans across the aisle to whisper to Brennan and Angela really hopes he was better at whispering when he was hiding out waiting to shoot people as a sniper than he is in a Federal courtroom, because he and Brennan are loud. "Bones, now’s the time to speak up."

"What?" Brennan not-exactly-whispers back.

"He's the ferryman," Booth says. "The judge is the ferryman."

"Ange!" Brennan calls. "Just so you know, he's the ferryman!"

Angela thinks she would laugh, in another time and place. But then, this wouldn't be happening in another time and place, so maybe not.

Judge Haddoes, however, is less amused. "I will clear this courtroom if I hear another word," he says, banging his gavel for emphasis.

Brennan mutters what looks like, "Thanks a lot," to Booth but it's lost as the judge continues, complete with more gavel-banging.

"I find this witness in contempt. She will be incarcerated until she answers the question posed to her by the People."

Angela cooperates as much as she can with the bailiff, who first grips her arms and then handcuffs her wrists behind her back. (A little excessive, that. Do they really think she's a flight risk? In these shoes?)

She can't say that any of her friends look exactly well-pleased (Jack looks like he's already working out which dozen lawyers to call as soon as he can get to the hallway), but Brennan is the one who can't not ask Angela to change her mind.

"Angela, please!"

Angela looks back at her best friend. "Sweetie. This is one of those times when I know what's right and everybody else is confused."