Leaning into the microphone, Kinnard said, “I…I can’t answer the question at this time.”
“Answer the question,” said Judge Panofsky.
Kinnard kept his mouth near the microphone as he turned his face to the judge. “I’ll have to utilize the fifth amendment.”
The courtroom rumbled, and Comer laughed lightly at the professor as if Kinnard didn’t know how real courts ran beyond the boundary of the media.
Kinnard looked at Masterson, whose eyes darkened into shady pits.
Arnott lifted his body from the far wall and headed to the door as if he were only going to the bathroom.
Kinnard felt the skin on his face cool, all the moisture evaporating suddenly.
The double doors shut again, and the professor imagined Arnott, the devious shadow posing as a professor and who knew what else, walking away from the courtroom, a cellular in his hand raised to his head. It was an unspoken eulogy of sorts, but only a dream at the same time. Arnott signed the papers verbally. For what? It didn’t matter. Kinnard’s simple insistence to say nothing told the world that more was happening than Comer suspected. That was bad enough.
At the same time, Kinnard heard Comer say, “No further questions, then. But stick around professor, I may have something else in the near future.”
Before standing, Kinnard realized that he himself might be implicated in this crime. After all, who gave Porter KM-2? Who first received it illegally? The codex never came from Stratford University, but from Ulman to Kinnard in clearly illicit fashion. Mailmen smuggled Ulman’s prize unwittingly and handed it right to Kinnard, who said nothing about the transaction until after passing the object on to the man on trial today. What if Kinnard did so with full realization and intention of sneaking the manuscript around in order to bring it forth properly at a later date and be one with Porter as the discoverer of this rare and magnificent, world-changing codex. Motive: fame and money. And Kinnard wouldn’t have had to do the dirty work. And if anyone was arrested, Porter could play scapegoat.
If Arnott used this ploy, Kinnard would have few defensive possibilities.
He lowered his mouth to the microphone again. “There were many meetings in which I sat and discussed Porter’s Kalpa Codex with Masterson and the others.”
The rumble of the room turned to a hush as Comer froze with his back to the witness. He turned around. “I’m sorry?” said the Prosecuting Attorney before managing his thoughts. With licked lips, he said, “Dr. Kinnard, did Alred return the manuscript as mentioned, or are you telling us something irrelevant to this case. I said I had no more quest-”
“Alred gave it back,” said Kinnard. “I was there. So was Masterson, though he says otherwise. And Dr. Goldstien sat right next to me. Arnott…I don’t know who he is, but he doesn’t teach at Stratford. Masterson introduced him to the students as a professor working there with us.”
Comer looked for only a few seconds into Kinnard’s eyes.
What could Kinnard lose now? They would no doubt attempt to entomb him with the scenario he’d already predicted. It was Kinnard’s words against his colleagues’, and Kinnard would end up looking as dirty as the two graduate students. But it didn’t matter. He knew his account was accurate.
Kinnard’s eyes moved to Porter, who looked at his supervising professor through tears…or was it just the lighting…
Comer turned his focus on the judge. “I said I had no further questions.” He turned away.
Sowerby stood and approached the witness stand with a pale grin.
The facts of Kinnard’s testimony meant little now. Everyone knew where he stood. Kinnard wouldn’t waver anymore.
May 7
10:14 a.m. PST
“Ms. Alred,” said Comer, smiling at the ground. “You insinuated on the fifth that Stratford University recalled KM-2 because-possibly! — of the deaths of persons involved with the discovery. Do you honestly believe Porter’s life was really ever in danger?”
Alred tightened her eyes on the Prosecuting Attorney. She had yet to figure out the man’s new ploy. Whether or not that actual meeting happened, wherein she gave KM-2 to Masterson, who then passed it on to Arnott before her eyes, was irrelevant. Comer, as a representative of the government had a job to do. Porter had to be found guilty of the charges brought before him. They had already long discussed the Egyptian figurines found in Porter’s car. It was a settled issue, one which Porter himself would not deny to be factual, as he hadn’t been in contact with his automobile since he was chased from the library. No one could prove, however, that Porter stole the artifacts from Stratford or even Mrs. Ulman, who had been subpoenaed, but never came to court. But even Porter would not dispute that the figurines were found in his automobile. So where was Comer going with this question?
“I believe there are people who are willing to kill for the codex,” said Alred. Of course, after seeing Ulman die in a parking lot and then being attacked by two men herself, her words were understatements that were necessary at present. She wouldn’t risk exposing that she currently possessed KM-3 by noting those traumatic instances.
“Murder…for religious purposes?” said Comer, tilting his head.
Alred leaned her head back. Grimacing inside, she cursed all religions. Nothing came with more disfavor to her mind. The aunt after whom she’d been named had died a faithful fanatic at Jonestown. The rest of her living family had a peculiar fear of God, one she would never understand.
Porter’s fire would not go out. The more persecution, the better. He’d shine like a sun in this courtroom if Comer didn’t drop this.
Of course the Prosecution wanted Porter to go nova. When emotions got involved, people lost all sense of logic. Alred wanted to look over at Porter, to shout out a warning. It was a trap, and no one would fall harder than the eccentric Latter-day Saint in the room. But she kept her eyes sturdy and rethought the question- why would people try to murder Porter? “For scholarly reasons.”
“We’re talking Indiana Jones here, aren’t we?” said Comer. He turned to the judge and jury, but didn’t bother looking at them, keeping his eyes on the black ground instead as he slid his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks. “Will you be telling the court that this killer scholarship is normal among the highly educated?”
Alred didn’t blink. “Everyone who has ever been directly connected with the study of Dr. Ulman’s find in Guatemala is dead now. Only one individual I know of, other than Porter and myself, who has placed his own hands on comparable portions of the relative discovery is still alive, and he has sharply turned his back on the project…as if it were never found.”
“Really,” said Comer. “And who is that?”
“Dr. Alexander Peterson of Ohio State University. Porter chose to stand alone.”
Comer smiled and squinted his eyes as if playing along with this new revelation. “Who would organize such devious acts?”
Alred set her jaw, looked around, then locked eyes with the Prosecuting Attorney. “I believe the man in question…has been here in the courtroom today. You know him by the name of Peter Arnott.”
“ Has been here?” said Comer, glancing once at all those watching the proceedings.
“I no longer see him at present,” Alred said, realizing how much this probably sounded made-up. “I am sure Dr. Kinnard will concur with my statement.”
Comer nodded, pushing his bottom lip against his top teeth. Walking over to the jury, Comer pondered thoughts Alred could not discern. Had she led him down a blind alley, or was she walking the path he’d devised during the recess? He looked at her again. “Ms. Alred. You are a specialist in…”
“Ancient Mesoamerican Archaeology, but I am also well-read in numerous ancient American cultures.”
“What relationship does Mormonism have with ancient Mesoamerica?” said Comer.