Стюарт Вудс - Barely Legal

“That’s good reasoning. You present your case that well to the jury, you just might get your client off.”

“Fuck you, too, Stone.”

“I get your logic. I mean why did you ask the question if you don’t care about the answer?”

“I asked the question to shake him up. Who told him David would be at the party? Well, he’s either got to name someone else who is in on the conspiracy, which is nice to know, or he has to admit he made a mistake.”

“He opted for the mistake. I would have liked to exploit it.”

“You did fine.”

A car went by.

“Are you still watching TV?”

“Yes. So where are we now?”

“The prosecution called a corroborating witness, an undercover officer who was at the party.”

“Good. Don’t ask her anything. Just let her go.”

“Herbie, what’s going on? Are you giving up on the case?”

“Not at all. We’ve been going about it all wrong. The jury’s heard nothing for days but that detective saying David Ross is a druggie. Now we’ve got another detective who’s going to say the same thing. It’s giving the prosecution the advantage. We’ve got to stop playing defense.”

“I get the strategy, but I’ve got to ask her something so it doesn’t look like we’ve thrown in the towel.”

“Okay. Ask her about the arrest. When the detective told David to empty his pockets, did David reach in and get the envelope, or did the detective take it out of his pocket? That will tell us if she’s part of the frame-up. If she says David got it, she’s clean. If she insists the detective took it out of his pocket, she’s in on it, and she’s parroting the talking points.”

“How do you figure that?”

“I thought you read the transcript. It’s in there.”

“Don’t piss me off, Herbie. What’s actually going on?”

“Relax. I’ll try to make it.”

Herbie clicked the phone off and stepped on the gas.

Detective Brogan called Dino back. “We got it!”

“Oh?”

“It’s only the camera across the street, and it’s not from a great angle, but you can see two men entering the garage on foot shortly before eight o’clock on the night of the murder.”

“Can you identify them?”

“No. Like I said, it’s a bad angle. You don’t get a shot of their faces. But they’re big guys, and they look like thugs. And as far as we can tell, they snuck in.”

“How do you figure?”

“They waited until the attendant was down the block. Somehow they distracted his attention. I don’t know how, but there’s video of him coming out of the garage and hurrying down the block. Right after that the two guys come from the opposite direction and enter the garage hugging the wall, just like a guy would have to do to avoid the video cameras.”

“Can you send me the video?”

“I’m on it. But you’re going to see what I see. The back of two guys’ heads. Nothing distinctive about them, except they’re two big, solid guys. Dark, nondistinctive clothing. Nothing much to make an ID.”

“They’re the only ones who entered the garage?”

“They’re the only ones who entered the garage on foot. Anyone could have driven in.”

“Did any cars drive in while the attendant was down the street?”

“No. It was only a minute. The guys went in, the attendant came back. He didn’t miss them by much, but he missed them. Aside from that, cars went in and out, but they belong to people who live in the building because the attendant knew them.”

“Okay. Send me the video.”

“You want to see it now? I’ll share it with you in Dropbox.”

Dino had barely hung up the phone when his e-mail beeped. It was a message from Detective Brogan (via Dropbox). Dino clicked on it and got a blue rectangle inviting him to View File. He clicked on that and got the video.

Brogan was right. There was no way to tell who the guys were, but they looked like thugs, and they looked like they were sneaking into the garage.

Dino sat back in his chair and scowled.

Much as he hated to admit it, it was looking more and more like Taperelli had Yvette killed.

Herbie got back to Manhattan, returned the rental car, stopped by his apartment to drop off the gun, and took a cab to court. He ran down the corridor and came striding through the door to find the jurors in place, the undercover policewoman on the stand, and Judge Buckingham in the process of inquiring whether the prosecuting attorney was ready to resume questioning.

The judge broke off and held up his hand. “One moment, Mr. Prosecutor. I see the other defense attorney has decided to grace us with his presence. Mr. Fisher, did you forget what time court convenes?”

“I’m sorry, Your Honor,” Herbie said. “I’m ready to go. Don’t let me hold you up.”

“I’m afraid it’s a little late for that. Ladies and gentlemen, stay where you are. If you would indulge me for a few minutes. Mr. Fisher, in my chambers, if you please.”

Judge Buckingham turned and stalked off. Herbie had to run to catch up.

As soon as the chambers door closed behind them, Judge Buckingham rounded on Herbie. “Mr. Fisher, when you started these shenanigans I looked you up.”

Uh-oh.

“It would appear you have been in my courtroom before. The reason I didn’t remember you is it was not as an attorney. You appeared for disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and assaulting a policeman.”

“Your Honor, I fail to see that my police record has any bearing on these proceedings.”

“It does not. Only it would appear to explain your utter disdain for the law. It’s seldom that an attorney has appeared in my court with such an adversarial attitude, not just toward his opponent but toward the judge himself. I did not understand your personal animosity until your record came to light. Perhaps it explains why almost every aspect of your presentation borders on contempt of court.”

“That was not my intention, Your Honor. I must say I find this warning irregular at the very least.”

“It’s not a warning, Mr. Fisher. I thought it only fair to let you know that I have become aware of the fact that we have a history.”

“Well, I’m sure that it won’t color your judgment any more than it will color mine.”

Judge Buckingham’s eyes narrowed. “Your remark borders on insolence.”

“That’s a bad sign. I was trying to show respect.”

“I’m in no mood for joking, Mr. Fisher. If I thought your unorthodox behavior was in any way precipitated by our past history, I would take a dim view.”

“I understand, Your Honor. Say no more. Believe me, I am as eager as you are to conclude this trial.”

Herbie smiled and gestured to the door. “Shall we?”

As they resumed their positions in the court, Stone Barrington whispered, “What was that all about?”

“He doesn’t like my attitude.”

“Who does?” Stone said.

Judge Buckingham gaveled court to order. “Court is in session. The witness is on the stand. Mr. Prosecutor, do you have any further questions for this witness?”

“No, Your Honor.” Grover turned to the defense table. “Your witness.”

Stone Barrington started to get to his feet, but Herbie stopped him. “I’ve got it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, yes.”

Herbie approached the witness. It was the first time he’d gotten a good look at her. Julie Parker, despite her youth, appeared to be an experienced and competent undercover detective.

“Ms. Parker, when did you first become aware of the defendant?”

“Detective Kelly pointed him out.”

“By name?”

“No, as the man he’d observed selling drugs. He told me to check him out.”