Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult Read Free Book Online

rid herself of a fetus. “It was an abortion, then?”
    â€œNo, it was a baby.”
    â€œWell, of course it was,” Ellie hastened to add, thinking that Leda's background would not have made her pro-choice. “How far along was she?”
    â€œAlmost eight months,” Leda said.
    Ellie blinked. “Eight months?”
    â€œIt turns out that the baby's body was discovered before anyone even knew that Katie was pregnant.”
    A small spark rubbed at the base of Ellie's spine, one she told herself to ignore. This was not Philly, after all; this was no crack mother, but an Amish girl. “Stillborn, then,” Ellie said with sympathy. “What a shame.”
    Leda turned her back on Ellie, silent for a moment. “I told myself during the drive home that I wasn't going to do this, but I love Katie just as much as I love you.” She took a deep breath. “There is a chance that the baby wasn't stillborn, Ellie.”
    â€œNo.” The word flushed itself from Ellie, low and hot. “I can't. Don't ask me to do this, Leda.”
    â€œThere isn't anyone else. We aren't talking about people comfortable with the law. If this were up to my sister, Katie would go to jail whether she was guilty or not, because it's not in her nature to fight back.” Leda gazed at her, eyes burning. “They trust me; and I trust you.”
    â€œFirst of all, she hasn't been formally charged. Second of all, even if she were, Leda, I couldn't defend her. I know nothing about her or her way of life.”
    â€œDo you live on the streets like the drug dealers you've defended? Or in a big Main Line mansion, like that principal you got acquitted?”
    â€œThat's different, and you know it.” It did not matter whether Leda's niece had a right to sound legal counsel. It did not matter that Ellie had defended others charged with equally unpalatable crimes. Drugs and pedophilia and armed robbery did not hit as close to home.
    â€œBut she's innocent, Ellie!”
    It had been, long ago, the reason Ellie became a defense attorney—for the souls she was going to save. However, Ellie could count on one hand the number of clients she'd gotten acquitted who had truly been wrongfully accused. She now knew that most of her clients were guilty as charged—although every last one of them had an excuse they'd be shouting all the way to the grave. She might not have agreed with her clients' criminal actions, but on some level, she always understood what made them do it. However, at this moment in her life, there was nothing that could make her understand a woman who killed her own child.
    Not when there were other women out there who so desperately wanted one.
    â€œI can't take your niece's case,” Ellie said quietly. “I'd be doing her a disservice.”
    â€œJust promise me you'll think about it.”
    â€œI won't think about it. And I'll forget that you asked me to.” Ellie walked out of the kitchen, fighting her way free of Leda's disappointment.
    Samuel's big body filled the doorway of the hospital room, reminding Katie of how she sometimes would stand beside him in an open field and still feel crowded for space. She smiled hesitantly. “Come in.”
    He approached the bed, feeding the brim of his straw hat through his hands like a seam. Then he ducked his head, bright color staining his cheeks. “You all right?”
    â€œI'm fine,” Katie answered. She bit her lip as Samuel pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.
    â€œWhere's your mother?”
    â€œShe went home. Aunt Leda called her a taxi, since Mam didn't feel right riding back in her car.”
    Samuel nodded, understanding. Amish taxi services, run by local Mennonites, drove Plain folks longer distances, or on highways where buggies couldn't go. As for riding in Leda's car, well, he understood that too. Leda was under the bann , and he wouldn't have felt comfortable taking a ride from her,