"It went okay. Not perfect, but you work with what you've got." Commander Carr stretched as well.
Paul, sensitized to Carr's appearance by Jen's teasing, tried not to notice the way her body moved. As if I need that distraction on top of everything else. And with a superior officer no less. "Do you think they'll put Silver on the stand tomorrow?"
Carr finished flexing her back muscles and relaxed. "Ah, now that's a good question. On the one hand, anything Silver says could look bad, like he's making excuses for being such a screw-up at his job. On the other hand, good ol' Scott Silver is a consummate actor and may try to charm the members of the court into submission."
"You don't think he'll make a sworn statement, do you?"
Carr snorted. "No chance in hell. The little bastard's guilty, and they know if I get to cross-examine him I'll tear his entrails out and let the members read the proof of his guilt in them."
"He'd probably take the Fifth — "
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Carr paused. "Wasn't there a song like that a long time ago? Anyway, you and I know that taking the Fifth Amendment as grounds for refusal to self-incriminate is not ever, no way, supposed to be used as a presumption of guilt. You and I also know that just about everybody thinks anyone taking the Fifth is guilty, no matter what instructions they get from the judge. Otherwise, why do they refuse to talk? Unfair or not, that's the way it is. As defense counsel, I'd know that minefield was waiting for me and there's no way to sweep it, though if you're really good and really lucky you can navigate through it without getting your butt blown off. As trial counsel, I think that universally-assumed presumption of guilt is great."
"Why do you think Commander Jones went to all that trouble to get my name introduced into evidence, but then didn't do anything with it?"
"Obviously, he's planning to do something with it."
Paul felt the ice in his guts again. "Will I get called as a witness?"
"No." Alex Carr shook her head for emphasis. "If Lieutenant Commander Jones had any intention of doing that, he'd have moved to have you excluded from the courtroom. No, I think he'll try to attack you indirectly. Undermine our evidence by raising questions about how it was obtained, about whether someone else could've been motivated to set up Silver. He doesn't have to convince the members you actually did the dirty deeds. All Commander Jones has to do is create sufficient doubt in the members' minds that Silver did it."
"Oh." Paul exhaled heavily. "I hope he doesn't manage that."
"It's my job to make sure he doesn't, and I'm going to bend every effort to ensure Lieutenant Scott Silver's head is mounted on my trophy wall in the very near future."
Paul started to laugh at the image, then sobered. "You really do believe he's guilty?"
"That's also my job, Paul. You can be as ambivalent as you want to be, now. The outcome's in the hands of the judge, the members, Commander Jones and me."
Paul nodded. Starting a court-martial's a fire-and-forget weapon. Without any recall capability. Set it on the target, watch it go, and hope like hell the target deserves to get hit. What was that saying? "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war." You don't control them once you've set them loose. You just get to watch them do their work. "I'm not ambivalent about his guilt, either, ma'am. I just wish it hadn't come to this."
"If it all-too-often didn't come to this, I'd be out of a job. Unfortunately, I have the best job security in the world."
Captain Hayes was waiting for Paul outside the courtroom. Paul felt another knot form in his gut, wondering how long he'd kept his captain waiting, but Hayes just indicated Paul should walk with him as they returned to the Michaelson. "How'd it go in there today? What can you tell me now?"
"Sir, there's not a lot I can tell you now. Not if you're also a witness."
"Okay. I understand that. Damned nuisance, but it's worth it to make sure Silver gets his."
Paul launched into a general recital of the day's events, speaking carefully to ensure he didn't veer into specifics. When he reached Commander Destin's appearance as a witness, Paul felt an even greater reluctance to talk. How am I supposed to critically report on the performance of an officer senior to me? You don't do that. At least, you're not supposed to do that.
Hayes gave him another look. "That's all you can tell me about Commander Destin's testimony? You pretty much just said she showed up."
Paul felt sweat starting under his uniform. "Sir, I'd be commenting on the behavior of a senior to another senior."
"You would, wouldn't you?" Hayes looked forward for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. Any idea what the defense is up to?"
"Commander Carr thinks they'll try to discredit the evidence."
"That doesn't take a lawyer to figure out."
"No, sir."
"Any idea why that guy made me name you?"
"Not for sure, sir."
"Keep your guard up."
The Michaelson 's quarterdeck loomed ahead. Captain Hayes boarded the ship, returning the officer of the deck's salute as the petty officer of the watch struck the ship's bell four times in two pairs of bongs then announced over the all-hands circuit, "USS Michaelson, arriving."
Paul followed Hayes across the brow, saluting the officer of the deck. Ensign Gabriel returned the salute, along with a questioning look. "Can you talk about it?"
"Yes and no."
"Man, if you keep hanging out with lawyers we'll never get a straight answer out of you."
Paul grinned. "Ouch. That hurt."
"Don't tell Lieutenant Shen about it, then. I hear she's fiercely protective."
The joking statement aroused mixed emotions in Paul. On the one hand, I like knowing Jen'll defend me. But on the other, I can fight my own battles. "Hey, I can be pretty fierce, too."
Gabriel unsuccessfully tried to smother a laugh. "Paul, I like working with you. I'm sure I'd like working for you. But not because you're fierce."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Paul waved farewell and headed for his stateroom. First I need to check what came in that I have to deal with, then I'll call Chief Imari for a rundown on how things are going on the ship. He turned a corner, squeezing around two sailors working on a piece of equipment that had been helpfully installed in an almost inaccessible spot, and found himself facing Commander Garcia at the other end of the passageway.
Commander Garcia's expression couldn't be made out for certain, but he hooked some fingers toward Paul in a "come here" gesture. Oh, great. Now what? Chief Imari didn't give me a heads-up on any problems. "Yes, sir?"
Garcia gave Paul one his usual demanding looks. "You just get back?"
"Yes, sir."
"How's it going over there, Sinclair?"
"You mean in the court, sir?"
"Yeah, I mean in the court. Does it look like he'll get convicted?"
Paul tried to think through his reply. Does Garcia like Silver? I don't remember Garcia ever talking about him. What answer does Garcia want? I can't even guess, and in any case what else can I tell him but the truth as I see it? "I'm not sure, sir. The members of the court are hard to read. They've asked some questions that imply they're not happy with what they're hearing about Lieutenant Silver, but I can't tell if they're unhappy enough to vote for conviction on any of the charges."
"What about Commander Herdez?"
"She looks like she always did, sir. Not missing a thing and keeping her thoughts to herself. I wouldn't want her judging me if I was Lieutenant Silver, though."
"Neither would I. That prosecutor. How's she doing?"
"She's very good, sir."
"Good." Garcia seemed to be trying to decide whether or not to say more. "Sinclair, I'm not happy you get involved in distractions like this. You're supposed to be working for me. But if Silver did even half of what he's charged with, then I'm damned glad he's off this ship. And I want him to pay for what he did to that chief. You and that prosecutor better make damned sure Silver doesn't come back. You understand?"