The Three Sisters (32 page)

As could be guessed, the national debate over the three’s sentences proved a boon for public figures and publicity seekers. Detective Hole and his ilk appeared on TV suggesting that the three be given the most severe sentences possible while politicians followed their natural instincts and flocked in front of TV cameras to tell the public what they thought the voters wanted to hear.

Some of the suggestions were quite unusual. One senator from South Carolina told Susan Kaplin that, “They aren’t good enough to stay on American soil. They should be women without a country,” and suggested that the three be exiled from the United States and sent to a desolate area where they could serve out their sentences as Napoleon had done on St. Helena. Among the places suggested by him and others were Afghanistan, Siberia (“Send ’em back where they came from,” read the bumper stickers), Upper Volta, or one of the many islands the United States owns in
the Pacific.

Numerous polls were taken during the last week in October to test the public’s reaction and expectations. Gallup reported that an overwhelming
88
percent were found to agree with the Supreme Court that the three were guilty. As for sentencing, one poll found that
22
percent favored prison sentences of ten years or less,
52
percent favored sentences of more than ten years,
17
percent favored exile,
3
percent favored capital punishment, and
6
percent had no opinion. Until the Supreme Court passed sentence on November
5
, however, all this was
mere speculation.

CHAPTER XIV

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that
do well.

– I
Peter
2
:
13
-
14

o just what the hell went wrong?”
demanded K.

“Even the best laid plans and all that,” responded Victor as he walked into
the cell.

“I don’t want any of your epigram crap, Victor, or any
other excuses…”

“Come on, K, didn’t think they’d let you off scot free, did you? Rather obvious what decision
would be.”

“Sure, by the end of the trial it was, but I was under the distinct impression several months ago when you told us we were going to be tried by the Supreme Court that they would find us innocent,” asseverated K. “I should’ve known the only thing you were interested in was the publicity it would bring. You only cared about us as long as we brought you your damned profits, and you
know it.”

“You only cared ’bout working with me long as I paid your damned
salaries, K.”

“Money’s not everything,”
countered K.

“’Course not, especially when you have some. Publicity just as important, doubly so for someone as conceited as you. Trial of the Millennium big ego trip. Got you fame and fortune, didn’t it? Never complained before, K,
why now?”

“That’s not the point, and you know it,” K
replied brusquely.

“OK. Miscalculated. Had hoped for not guilty back in June. Decision was
7
-
2
though. My two guys came through. Hard enough just getting them to try you three. Be happy with what you’ve got and all that. Can’t have your cake and eat it too. Look, underestimated influence of public, other government officials, media. Everyone took trial so seriously. Wanted jump in. Get piece of action. Guess nation’s getting more conservative than I thought. Should’ve had the orgy ten years ago, girls. Could’ve been national heroines instead
of scapegoats.”

“I really wonder if we should’ve depended on you to get us out of this mess in the first place. You always have explanations for why things go wrong, but we’re always the ones who suffer,” Theodora pointed out in a steady voice which contrasted sharply with K’s
contentious screaming.

“Yeah,” agreed Coito. “First you couldn’t get us out of jail in
Tennessee, and…”

“Your fault, K, should’ve waited. Told you that a
million times.”

“Oh, forget it then. I don’t want to get back into that argument now. OK, so you clear things up when we got back to D. C., and then we messed up the situation by having the orgy. You see, I admit it. It was our fault, my fault even, all right?” said Coito, only admitting she was wrong so she could emphasize that, “The rest of it was your fault. You can’t blame what happened at the trial on me or either of my sisters. You blew
it, Victor,”

“Haven’t failed yet, K. Game not over yet. Don’t give up easily you know. Still got a few tricks up
my sleeve.”

“Did you really think the Supreme Court would find us innocent back in June, Victor?”
asked Regina.

“’Course I did. Two Justices assured me. Knew you wouldn’t have Chinaman’s chance in regular court. Supreme Court only way out. Chance in a thousand, but better than no chance
at all.”

“And in the meantime you and Father Novak just happen to make a mint for yourselves and the Non-Entity’s Church,”
accused K.

“Money for yourselves too. You three didn’t exactly put up a fight, you know. Remember first time I mentioned fame and fortune to you, K. Eyes opened up wide as silver dollars. Then you loved the idea. Now you hate it. People never complain when system works for them and
all that.”

“Well, I don’t want any part of you or your ideas anymore, you hear? No money, no TV programs, no souvenirs, no nothing, understand?” demanded K who watched Theodora wince at her
double negative.

“Don’t even want
your earnings?”

“No! All I want is for you to get the hell out of my life. I hated reading Russian novels back in college because they were so depressing. Now I feel like I’m living
in one.”

“But K, have to take the money. Be breaking contract to your own disadvantage if you don’t. Not too smart. Couldn’t even
sue me.”

“Right, me sue
you, sure.”

“Of course. Lawsuits America’s national pastime. Second only to sex. Hundred years ago, people fought duels. Not only inefficient, but dangerous. Now people get mad at each other, they sue. Not only more profitable, safer too. Progress I guess. Come on, K, calm down. Have to remember, told you
22
percent chance innocent verdict. Never
a guarantee.”

“I guess we should’ve plea bargained like I wanted to do until you talked me out of it,” Theodora told Victor. “’Plead guilty and get five,’ Detective Hole told me. My luck, they’ll probably give us fifty
years now.”

“Chance you take, Thea. Like any business. Take a risk. Can win big or lose big. Always can tell what to do after the fact. Generals fight the last war best and all that. Took a chance and lost, Thea.
That’s life.”

“That’s right. We lost and you won,”
concluded K.

“I lost too, K. Won’t have, haven’t had you three around the Kennedy Center for a long time. Could’ve made a fortune if you three’d been
found innocent.”

“A fortune which you more than made up for with all those souvenirs and the Confessions and everything else,” Theodora
added calmly.

“I hadn’t, someone else would’ve. Media main culprit,
not me.”

“I guess if the media hadn’t turned it into a bit of a circus, it might’ve gone otherwise,” Regina reflected, but quickly added, “Don’t forget though, Victor, you were the one who got the main events going. If you hadn’t had the Confessions, souvenirs, advertisements, and
everything else…”

“Only gave society what
it wanted.”

“It’s like in
An American Tragedy
,” interrupted Theodora, lying on the bed and looking up at the ceiling as she waxed profound but not profane. “Is society or the individual at fault? If we had had our orgy somewhere else, at some other time, or hadn’t been atheists or agnostics, all the patriots and born-again evangelicals wouldn’t have condemned us to Hell every Sunday morning. It’s almost funny,” she said as she turned towards Victor. “You almost got us off the hook back
in May.”

“K hadn’t been so
impatient, would’ve.”

“I remember the movie, a real early talkie by Sternberg,” added Regina. “Oh yeah, he plans to kill the girl, then can’t do it, but she accidentally dies or something like that. They recreate the crime in the courtroom, and even though he’s innocent, he’s still found guilty,
isn’t he?”

“And then he’s executed at the end of the book,”
added Theodora.

“
A Place in the Sun
was much better though,”
interjected Regina.

“Look, girls. Don’t get morbid. Things aren’t that bad. Besides, just
a book.”

“It’s not just a book, Victor,” said Theodora who always took offense when anyone
derided literature.

“Look, read it in college. Remember now, teacher gave us all that society analysis. Just a kid back then. Even so, realized she was wrong, book was wrong. Problem wasn’t society. Got total nerd for protagonist. Can’t even kill a girl. Has to depend on others for advancement. He’d been careful or gotten better lawyers, wouldn’t’ve gotten in trouble. Besides, didn’t get to use system to its full. Real man could’ve beaten the rap. His problem, he gave up. Got to fight ’till the end if you’re going to win, girls. He didn’t fight;
he lost.”

“Victor, all your fighting hasn’t gotten us anywhere,” pleaded Theodora. “We’ve spent five months in custody, hoping we’d be let go once the trial was over with. Instead, it looks like we’ll be here for five years, or fifty years. Who knows? We’re the ones who’ve had to pay the penalty and suffer since last May. Meanwhile, you’ve been out playing Adam Smith at our expense. I mean, it’s obvious you could care less
about us.”

“Not so, Thea. Still looking after your interests. Got to understand though, guilty verdict means nothing. Sentencing what counts. Maybe give you probation, three years good behavior, and no visiting national monuments. Be like nothing ever happened. Give you year or two in prison even. Be up for parole before you can read
War and Peace
. Or is
Anna Karenina
longer? Always forget that one. Already got five months under your belts. Could be let out next Monday. Jesus, be optimistic for once.
55
percent chance you’ll get out,
promise you.”

“Victor, why is it every time you tell us about the future, your probabilities get lower?”
asked Theodora.

“And every time they’re wrong,”
added Coito.

“Not wrong. Probabilities aren’t facts, girls, just estimates. Otherwise would be logic, mathematics. Listen, got an idea. What we need to do is influence Washington public opinion. Make sure Justices’ll sentence you three favorably. Know how, too. Fifty-fifty chance
it’ll work.”

“What is it this time?” asked Theodora, growing tired of Victor’s great ideas which never seemed
to work.

“Wednesday night. October
31
. Annual
fête
at the
Kennedy Center.”

“Of course,” acknowledged Regina. “You going to get us in
or something?”

“No. Wouldn’t dare week before sentencing, even if I could. Listen, everyone knows Supreme Court’s calling all over town, at least having aides call. Been on TV, all the news reports, gotta be true. Anyway, figured I’d invite bunch of Washington bigwigs over for free this year. Try and influence them. Shot in the dark, but better than nothing. Girls, cut me some slack. Look, giving up all that money for you three. Could’ve charged
them admission.”

“Mighty kind of you, Victor,” said Coito facetiously imitating
Scarlett O’Hara.

“Look at all the people I’ll be inviting Wednesday. Ambassadors, lobbyists, congressmen. Whole kit and caboodle. I’ll have everyone over. Let them see the Kennedy Center for themselves. Make sure the girls are on their best behavior. Show them a good time. Then whatever they think of you three, they’ll think of the Center. Tell Justices what they think. Probation a
sure thing.

“What choice do we have?” sighed Theodora, resigned to her fate. “But please, Victor, don’t screw this one up. Every time you tell us something you’re going to do or explain to us some new marketing scheme of yours, you always talk like after this, all our problems will be solved, but every time you’ve just led us further into the labyrinth. Now we’ve gone in so far, escape seems impossible. I don’t know, maybe you can see over the walls of the maze, but I’m beginning to
doubt it.”

“Can’t have negative attitude, Thea. Got to think positively. Norman Vincent Peale and all that. Otherwise, never
be successful.”

“So what if you screw things up again at the October
31
fête
? What are we supposed to do then? Just sit in jail for the rest of our lives?”
asked K.

“’Course not. Wouldn’t abandon you. Have to think of something new then. Go on from there. Jail just a temporary setback. Never say die,
I say.”

“But Victor, there’s no appeal after the Supreme Court,” said Theodora firmly. “Once they sentence us, that’s it. We’ll be transferred out to a real prison. The three of us may even be separated. So far, we’ve, you’ve tried to wiggle out of the system’s clutches every inch of the way, or at least get it to go along with you, but you failed every time. Why don’t we just get it over with and have it done? I’m tired of playing
games, Victor.”

“Come on, Thea, you’re no fun. If America gave up, wouldn’t be world’s greatest country. Look, gone this far, why not go all the way? Come on, give me one more chance. After all, one success makes up for a million losses. Smile and whole world smiles with you and
all that.”

“OK, Victor,” said an exasperated Coito. “Go ahead and do what you want. We haven’t got anything to lose at this point, and besides, I don’t think even you could make matters worse now.”