For the first time since Marissa and Wendy had come forth, the judge glanced up from his paperwork. He regarded the group before him with a cold eye.

“I will reduce bail to five thousand for each defendant,” he said.

Just then, a well-dressed man in a handsome business suit approached the prosecution’s table. He tapped the woman ADA on the shoulder and spoke to her at length. Once he had finished, the woman began conferring with her two colleagues.

“We will set a pre-trial conference date for May 8, 1990,” the clerk of the court said.

“If it please the court, Your Honor,” the assistant district attorney said, once again approaching the bench, “there has been a development in this case. Mr. Brian Pearson would like to address the court.”

“And who is Mr. Brian Pearson?” Judge Burano demanded.

“I am counsel for the Women’s Clinic, Your Honor,” Mr. Pearson said. “It was within the premises of the Women’s Clinic that the alleged crimes were committed by the defendants. Dr. Wingate, the director of the clinic, has instructed me to petition the court with respect to this matter. Although the defendants’ behavior is not condoned in any way, the clinic does not wish to press charges, provided the women acknowledge their liability and give their word that they will respect the property of the clinic in future and pay reasonable compensation for the repair of damages their acts caused.”

“This is unusual, to say the least,” Judge Burano said. He cleared his throat. Turning to the assistant district attorney, he asked: “What is the Commonwealth’s opinion of this development?”

“We do not object, Your Honor,” the assistant district attorney said. “If the clinic doesn’t want to press charges, then the Commonwealth won’t insist.”

“Well, isn’t this curious,” the judge said, turning his attention back to Marissa and Wendy. “Nolle prosequi! This certainly is a first in my court. But if no one wants to prosecute, then it behooves me to lessen the judicial burden of the Commonwealth by dropping the case. But before doing so, I intend to voice an opinion.”

Judge Burano leaned forward, studying the women. “From the material I’ve gone over, it suggests to me that you two adults have been acting mighty irresponsibly, especially in your capacity as physicians. I don’t countenance such obvious disrespect for the law and for private property. The case is dismissed, but you two women should feel indebted to the Women’s Clinic for its generosity.”

Marissa felt a tug on her arm. She looked at Mr. Freeborn, who motioned for her to go. The clerk of the court was already calling out the case number for the next arraignment.

Confused but happy to be escorted out of the courtroom, Marissa waited until they’d reached the cigarette-smoke-filled hallway before speaking. Robert was directly behind her with Wendy and Gustave in tow.

“What happened?” Marissa demanded.