Page 70 of In This Moment
“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.”
