Small Great Things

Following Turk’s outburst on the stand, Kennedy is ecstatic going into the judge’s chambers, knowing that this has helped her case tremendously. Judge Thunder agrees to throw out the murder charge. While she and Howard are excited and basically feel the case is won (“We’ve created reasonable doubt. That’s all we have to do to win” [392]), Ruth, after first embracing Kennedy, reverses course when she finds out Kennedy means to rest without putting Ruth on the stand, as Kennedy had promised. They argue, and Ruth finally admits that she had taken steps to revive Davis before Marie had returned, and that she had been lying about doing nothing, saying “I’d rather they think I’m a liar than a murderer” (394). Kennedy then thinks, “And just like that, I know I’m going to lose this case” (395). That night, in discussing the matter with her husband, Micah suggests, “What if the reason this is so important to her isn’t what she’s going to say…but rather the fact that she is finally being given the chance to say it?” (397).

The next morning, Kennedy again tries to get Ruth to change her mind, but then, seeing that she hasn’t, gives her some final advice and whispers, “Good luck” (398).