shuddered. No sane human being woulddo that.
He didn t know the details, but he didn t have to ask. Please,be careful,
he said, I m worried about you. If there s anything you need or want, just
call me.
I ll be all right, she said. Really, I will.
He wanted to say something else, anything, to keep her on the line, but words
eluded him.
Good luck, she said, meaning it.
Thanks, he said softly. Cindy, I
I know, she said, you don t have to say it.
I love you, he blurted out.
He heard what he thought was a sob on the other end of the line, and then she
said, Good-bye, Jack.
Chapter 42
"
Call your next witness, Mr. McCue, Judge Tate announced from the bench.
Trial had reconvened at nine o clock, Wednesday. As promised, the judge had
instructed the jurors that they were to disregard Gina Terisi s testimony and
that they were to infer nothing from her failure to return to the courtroom to
complete her testimony. The instruction, of course, had evoked nothing but
suspicious glares from the jury all of them directed at the defense. With
that, the government spent the morning with some technical witnesses, then
moved directly after lunch to its final big witness an experienced fighter who
could hardly wait to take his best punch at Eddy Goss s staggering lawyer.
The State calls Lonzo Stafford, said McCue.
The packed courtroom was silent as Detective Stafford marched down the center
aisle, the click of his heels on the marble floor echoing throughout. After
taking the oath and stating his name and occupation, Stafford allowed himself
to be guided by McCue in a summary of the physical evidence against Jack
Swyteck.
Stafford s testimony unfolded like a script: The defendant s fingerprints
matched those on the steak knife in Goss s kitchen; twenty-seven footprints
matched the tread on his Reeboks; his blood type matched the blood on the
blade; Mr. Swyteck appeared nervous and edgy the next day, when Detective
Stafford interviewed him; he had scratches on his back and a bruise on his
ribs, as if he d been in a scuffle; and Swyteck knew that Goss had been killed
by gunshot before the detectives had mentioned anything about a shooting. And,
just as McCue had planned, the witness saved the best for last.
When you say Goss was killed by gunshot, asked McCue, what kind of gun do
mean, exactly?
It was a handgun. A thirty-eight-caliber, for sure. And there was definitely
a silencer on it.
Page 140
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Was the murder weapon ever found?
Not the gun, no. However, we did locate the silencer.
And where did you find the silencer that was used to kill Eddy Goss?
Stafford s eyes brightened as he looked right at Jack. We retrieved it from
Mr. Swyteck s vehicle.
A murmur filled the courtroom. The jurors glanced at each other, as if the
case were all but over.
No further questions, said the prosecutor. He turned and glanced at counsel
for the defense. Your witness, he said, dripping with confidence.
Manuel Cardenal was at his best in the spotlight, and this one was white-hot.
His client, the jurors, the packed gallery, and especially the witness were
filled with anticipation, everyone wondering if the skilled defense counsel
could rescue his client. Manny stepped to within ten feet of the government s
final witness and stared coldly at his target Detective Stafford, he began,
let s start by talking about the alleged victim in this case, shall we?
Whatever you want, counselor.
Anyone who is alive and breathing in this town has heard of Eddy Goss, said
Manny. We all know the awful things Mr. Goss was alleged to have done. And we
all know that Mr. Swyteck was his lawyer. But there s one thing I want to make
clear for the jury: You were personally involved in the investigation that led
to Mr. Goss s arrest, were you not?
Yes, he replied, knowing he was being toyed with. I was the lead detective
in the Goss case.
You personally interrogated Mr. Goss, didn t you?
I did.
In fact, you elicited a full confession from Mr. Goss. A confession on
videotape.
That s right.
But that confession wasn t used at Mr. Goss s trial.
No, he answered quietly. It was ruled inadmissible.
It was ruled inadmissible because you broke the rules, said Manny, his tone
judgmental.
Stafford drew a sigh, controlling his anger. The judge found that I had
violated Mr. Goss sconstitutional rights, he said, spitting out the words
sarcastically.
And it was Mr. Swyteck who pointed out your violation to the court, wasn t
it?
Stafford leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. Heexploited it.
Manny stepped to one side, closer to the jury, as if he were on their side.
That must have been very embarrassing for you, Detective.
Page 141
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
It was a travesty of justice, replied Stafford, using the words the
prosecutor had coached him with the night before.
Manny smirked, sensing that he was getting under Stafford s skin. Then he
approached the witness and handed him an exhibit. This is a copy of a
newspaper article from June of this year, marked as Defendant s Exhibit 1. It
reports certain pretrial developments in the case against Eddy Goss. Could you
read the bold headline to us, please? Nice and loud, he added, gesturing
toward the jurors, so we all can hear.
Stafford scowled at his interrogator, then cleared his throat and reluctantly
read aloud: Judge throws out Goss confession.
And the trailer, too, said Manny. Read the little trailer underneath the
headline.
Stafford s face reddened with anger. Seasoned cop botched interrogation, he
read. Then he laid the newspaper on the rail in front of him and glared at
Manny.
And that s your photograph there beneath the headline, isn t it, sir?
That s my picture, he confirmed.
In forty years of police work, Mr. Stafford, had youever gotten your picture
on the front page of the newspaper?
Just this once, Stafford grunted.
In forty years, Manny continued, had you ever screwed up a case this bad?
Objection, said McCue.
I didn t screw it up, Stafford said sharply, too eager to defend himself to
wait for the judge to rule.
Overruled, said the judge.
I m sorry, Manny said, feigning an apology. In forty years, had you ever [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]