Love, Joy, Feminism
A Review Series of Anonymous Tip, by Michael Farris
Pp. 264-270
The first part of this is beyond boring. Gail Willet, the lawyer defending CPS in this case, meets with Donna Corliss and Rita Coballo, the social workers, and demands to know their involvement in the tampering. They both deny any knowledge of it and blame Blackburn. Gail isn’t satisfied, and says that’s damned convenient, but ultimately says she “might as well go with it” and that “I think I can make it add up.” This seems like a bad idea. Is she not worried about what happens if the case falls apart because they can’t keep their stories straight?
Oh and in case you’re curious, it’s actually Rita who steps forward here, and Donna who follows her lead. Donna has become much less confident over time. I suppose this isn’t surprising—her boss was just murdered.
Gail outlines the defense as follows:
“There are a number of cases which are going to be helpful to us. The basic idea of these cases is that people cannot file successful civil rights lawsuits for events that have occurred after the filing of a social services complaint for child abuse.”
“Even if officials change the records?” Coballo asked.
“Yes, that’s right. Even if officials commit perjury, use forged records, or anything else like it,” Willet answered with a smile. “Our friend Mr. Barron has found a factual bonanza, but it has no legal implications whatsoever.”
Gail cites Briscoe v. LaHue, but Donna is concerned.
“Forgive me for asking this kind of question, but why do they have such a rule? Doesn’t that mean that social workers could do literally anything and get away with it?” Corliss asked.
I feel like Farris is now speaking through Donna. It’s a weird feeling. Gail explains that the courts didn’t want people constantly bringing up civil suits against law enforcement, as the vast majority would be frivolous, and that the assumption is that officials who behave badly or fabricate evidence will get canned.
“If Blackburn were still with us, he would be looking at some serious jail time for tampering with these documents.”
But getting jail time for tampering is apparently different from losing a civil suit for tampering, and according to Gail, the latter won’t happen. She says that Judge Stokes will be angry as all get out with the CPS office, but that they’ll win the case anyway, because “Supreme Court cases are hard to ignore.” Gail asks again if Donna and Rita had anything to do with the tampering, and again they both deny it, end scene.
And now we turn to Peter and Gwen.
On Saturday morning, Peter picked Gwen up at her house and drove her to the Spokane House Restaurant, an upscale restaurant on the eastern edge of town with a magnificent view of the river and downtown, and a legendary weekend brunch.
Remember that Peter has to update Gwen on the case. But instead of doing it over the phone, or meeting her at his office, he’s decided to take her to brunch, and if that weren’t enough, he has to pick her up and drive her there. So basically, this is a date. And Peter is a horrible terrible person. But that we already knew.
Peter noticed a number of men doing double takes as he walked by with Gwen. He couldn’t suppress the pride welling up within him. How he wished their envy was really merited.
Oh poor Peter. No wait. Not poor Peter. PREDATOR Peter.
Peter says he’s going to amend the complaint now that they know about the tampering, but that there are Supreme Court cases that “seem to rule out” suing the government for forging documents. Gwen is aghast.
“You’re kidding, aren’t you? When people are victimized by intentionally forged documents, you cannot sue the officials for that?“
Farris speaking through Gwen feels more natural than Farris speaking through Donna. This is weirdly relieving, in a way.
Peter has an answer. He suggests they argue that this case is different because there is proof of forgery, and that they challenge the Supreme Court decision. Gwen is still aghast that “the Supreme Court’s rules are so against people like me.” Peter agrees that it’s wrong, and says he wants to change it.
“I don’t mind the idea of standing in front of the Supreme Court and saying to them, ‘Your rule is wrong. You should change it.'”
It was the perfect segue. She hesitated, but couldn’t help herself.
“Peter, speaking of rules that are unfair and that I don’t understand, I want to talk to you about . . . about . . . ” she sighed and paused and looked intently out the window.
“About the two of us?” Peter said.
“Yes,” Gwen replied.
When she looked up, Peter could see a tear glistening in her eye. He wanted to crawl under his chair and die.
And for good reason! Dammit, Peter, this is your fault!
Gwen says Lynn has tried to explain to her why Peter said he couldn’t marry a divorced woman, but that she just doesn’t get it.
“I wouldn’t have said anything,” Gwen continued, “except for the way you treat me.”
“Have I done something to offend you?” Peter interrupted.
Scumbag. Absolute and total scumbag.
Remember the time he prayed with Gwen alone in his office, holding her hands and then not letting go of them after the prayer, until she became uncomfortable? Remember the time he had dinner with her at her home and brought her flowers? How about all the compliments about how nice she looks? How about the fact that he picked her up in his car and brought her here to a nice restaurant for brunch? Oh but no. He’s going to act like he has no idea what she’s talking about.
Okay then.
“No, no, nothing like that. You treat me like a princess. You shower me with attention. You go out of your way to be concerned about me. And the way you look at me . . . Peter, I can’t take it anymore. You say you can’t marry me. But you act like you could fall in love with me at any moment.”
Peter knew better, but the words escaped from his mouth. “I’m afraid the moment has already come, Gwen. I am in love with you. Despite everything I’ve tired to tell myself about my convictions; I simply cannot stop feeling the way I feel. You are the most wonderful person I have ever known.”
Yes really.
Peter sighed deeply. Tears were streaming down Gwen’s cheeks.
Peter explains that he’s “confused” and that he doesn’t “know what to think.”
“Peter,” Gwen began, “this is really hard for me, too. If you told me that you felt free to marry me, it would be almost impossible for me to resist your love. But as it is, this is really unfair to me. I wish you would just make up your mind whether or not you believe that God would allow you to marry me.”
Okay, first of all, I want to point out that Gwen has known Peter barely more than two months. And vice versa. But second, when this book started I really didn’t like Gwen, but over time I warmed up to her as almost every other character in the book made her look downright upstanding in comparison. But frankly, her sweet, nice girl demeanor here is starting to get to me. What she needs to do is stand up for herself and give Peter a stern talking to, and that is not what she’s doing here.
Peter says he really wishes he had this resolved but that he “just can’t figure it out” and that—well, you can read it for yourself:
“My mind is so confused that I have even found myself wishing that Gordon would have an accident or something.”
But not to worry:
“But that is obviously an evil thought. Whenever it crosses my mind, I try to pray for him and his salvation.”
Yeah…
“Gwen, what do you want me to do?”
“What do I want you to do?” she asked with emphasis. “I really don’t know. I am tempted to tell you to leave me alone unless you get this spiritual debate resolved.”
Gwen, are you even listening to Peter? He just said he sometimes wishes your daughter’s father would get in an accident and die, and this is really the best you can muster?! Grow a backbone, girl! Tell him the eff off!
Peter starts panicking, and then:
“You’re certainly right about one thing. I have been terrible unfair to you. It is selfish of me to string you along, and keep telling myself I am only your lawyer. I stopped being ‘only’ your lawyer when you hugged me the day we got Casey back. I knew at that moment you really loved your daughter deeply. I have always wanted to find a woman who could love me that way.”
Well that’s . . . creepy. But also, note that he passes the blame on to him—he stopped being only her lawyer when she hugged him. Lovely. Just lovely.
“Peter,” she said, “as hard as it is, I think we should stop seeing each other unless God gives you the green light.”
Damn straight.
But notice how nice she’s still being. Be forceful, Gwen! Forceful!
Peter hung his head. He knew she was right. He couldn’t look her in the eye for a moment.
Peter agrees, and then quickly pays and walks Gwen out.
They rode silently in the car until Peter stopped in front of Gwen’s home.
“Gwen, I’ll tell you what. I will give you a final answer by the end of October. I am going to seek counsel from Pastor Lind and I am going to pray about it. If I don’t get a green light by the end of October, I’ll set you free for good. But you have to make me one promise. Promise me that you won’t fall in love with anyone else until then.”
“Peter,” Gwen said smiling, opening the door, “you are certainly worth waiting for. I promise, Peter—I promise.”
Someone report him to the bar already. Please.
I mean for goodness sake, what is this whole “I’ll set you free” bit? They’re not together. Or are they? Are they sorta kinda together? Is Peter aware how unethical this is, as her lawyer? Apparently the only matters Peter’s willing to think deeply about are spiritual matters, and they don’t include rules about things like, oh, sexually harassing your client, who by the way doesn’t have the money to get another lawyer.
Also, it’s July. The end of October is a full three months away.
Someone asked last week what I thought of this book when I originally read it, when I was in high school. I’ll tell you—I found the legal back and fourth fascinating, the love story riveting, and the high drama engrossing. I was sixteen. Or something. What can I say, my reading experience was somewhat limited in the romance area. Almost every romance I read was a Christian romance novel, and half of them had a Christian character pining over a nonChristian character and praying for their salvation. This was really par for the course.
Note that for all intents and purposes Gwen has now told Peter she’s not in love with him at this point. His status as Very Eligible Bachelor appears to be the only reason she’s not on her way out in a hurry. She probably assumes he makes a good salary, and Farris probably thinks treating a woman “like a princess” is a definite marriage requirement. Besides, Gwen was taken by Peter when he entered her daughter’s bedroom uninvited and picked the girl up in his arms in the middle of a bad dream. She does not appear to have very good judgement in this area.
Don’t get me wrong, one of the things I liked about my now-husband before we started dating was that he cared about kids. But there’s a big difference between explaining nerdy science concepts to six-year-old children of family friends at church picnics on the one hand, and beating a parent to their sleeping child’s bedroom when they’re standing right there on the other. Yes, I’m still hung up on this.
Anyway. To be continued.
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