“What’s wrong with that?”
“Someone tipped the cops. Lieutenant Sanders showed up, mad as hell, wanting to know what the hell was going on.”
“Did you tell him?”
“Am I stupid? Carrie Timberlaine stepped in, told him she was having her father’s gun collection appraised, and what the hell business was it of his?”
“That go over big?”
“What do you think? At that time of night? The long and the short of it is he kept us tied up there until Vaulding could rush over a subpoena.”
“He subpoenaed you?”
“No, her. Veronica, I mean. She’s to appear in court tomorrow morning.”
“You don’t sound happy, Mark.”
“Happy, hell. The one person in the world I didn’t want involved in this case. The one person in the world I didn’t want the cops to find. And what’s the upshot? Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock she’s witness for the prosecution.”
“There’s a saving grace.”
“What’s that?”
“Vaulding won’t know what to ask her.”
“He’ll ask her everything. Jesus Christ, Steve. You think he’s not going to ask her about guns?”
“That doesn’t mean he’ll ask her about your gun.”
“I was there. He may ask her why.”
“You’re getting worked up over nothing, Mark.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been going slightly nuts. I’ve been trying to reach you for the last two hours.”
“I told you. I took Tracy out to dinner. I just dropped her off.”
“Good for you. I haven’t had dinner yet, and I don’t think I could eat a thing.”
“Where are you?”
“Back in the office. When I couldn’t reach you, I told the switchboard to keep trying and drove back to town. Good thing I did.”
“Why?”
“ ’Cause there’s a lot coming in. As you might expect, considering the bombshell Vaulding dropped today. That was just this morning. Now that he’s grabbed your expert off, you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying.”
“Who?”
“The cops. The press. There’s a lot of speculation going on, but the bottom line is plea-bargain.”
“Is that on the level?”
“Absolutely. Wanna hear how they figure?”
“Not really, but I guess I better.”
“O.K. Here’s the latest line. After Manning’s bombshell today you got an adjournment to see if you wanna cross-examine. Tomorrow morning he’s first up on the stand. The best the cops and the press can figure, the bit with Veronica was a last-ditch effort to come up with something you can use to cross-examine-your expert against theirs, see? That’s why you sent her out there to look at the guns.”
“So, the way everyone sees it, Manning’s the barometer. You either take him on or else.”
“Or else what?”
“If you can’t shake Manning’s testimony, particularly if you decline to cross-examine, it’s all over. It means the case is hopeless and the next order of business is, you ask for a recess to confer with Vaulding over a possible plea-bargain.”
“Sounds like they’ve written the whole scenario.”
“They sure have. The next thing that happens is, Vaulding turns you down flat because he’s holding every ace in the deck. He’s got your expert, he’s got your client and he’s got you. Vaulding laughs in your face, goes back into court and puts Veronica Dreisson on the stand. At which point I’m diving for the nearest hurricane cellar.”
Steve Winslow took a breath, then exhaled noisily. “Well,” he said, “thanks for calling.”
45
Judge Hendrick was experiencing a severe case of deja vu. He had just held up and displayed yet another set of newspaper headlines, and discussed the serving of yet another subpoena on yet another surprise witness. Now, with the jury in place, he turned to the witness stand to see-who else? — ballistics expert, Philip Manning.
Judge Hendrick raised his eyebrows, cocked his head, said dryly, “Well, well, Mr. Manning.”
That remark broke the tension in the courtroom, and was greeted with a burst of laughter. It was brief, and for good reason. After the events of the day before, the expectation was high that this was the day the prosecution was going for the kill.
“Mr. Manning,” Judge Hendrick said. “Once again I must remind you that you are still under oath. When we left off yesterday, Mr. Vaulding had just completed his direct examination. Mr. Winslow. Your witness.”
Steve Winslow stood up. He looked at the witness, paused a moment, then looked up at the judge. “I have no questions, Your Honor.”
That announcement produced a rumble in the courtroom, particularly among members of the press. This was confirming their expectations. As a result, anticipation was high.
“Very well,” Judge Hendrick said. He turned to the witness. “Mr. Manning, this is a bit of an event. You are excused, sir.”
Manning smiled. “Thank you, Your Honor.”
Judge Hendrick turned to Vaulding. “Call your next witness.”
Steve Winslow was still on his feet. “Before he does, Your Honor,” Steve said, “I would like to ask for a brief recess.”
This created another rumble in the courtroom, which Judge Hendrick stifled with his gavel.
Judge Hendrick looked down at Steve Winslow and frowned. “Mr. Winslow,” he said. “I adjourned court yesterday to allow you to decide if you wished to cross-examine the witness. You elected not to do so. You must have known that when you came into court this morning. Therefore, it seems to me you have had adequate opportunity to confer with your client if you wished to do so.”
“Granted, Your Honor,” Steve said. “But I do not need to confer with my client.”
“Then why do you want a recess?”
“I would like a recess, Your Honor,” Steve said, “in order to confer with Mr. Vaulding.”
That opened the floodgates. Before the recess was even declared, the courtroom was abuzz with activity as reporters raced for the phones.
46
District Attorney Robert Vaulding’s smile was ice-cold. “I appreciate your position,” he said. “And I hope you appreciate mine. At the present time, I see no reason not to let this case go to the jury.”
“Perhaps I can change your mind,” Steve said.
“Very unlikely,” Vaulding said. “The way things stand right now, the only plea I’d consider accepting would be guilty to the present charge.”
“Who’s talking plea?” Steve said.
“I thought you were.”
“Well, think again. At the moment, I’m merely exploring possibilities.”
“You may be exploring them,” Vaulding said, “but I can tell you they are not possibilities.”
“All right, look, Vaulding,” Steve said. “Let’s back up and start over. Just for the time being, do me a big favor by pretending you actually believe I came here to talk rather than plead my client out.”
“I fail to see the point,” Vaulding said.
“You’ll never see it if you don’t get beyond your current position. Now then, stop denying your inclination to listen to a plea-bargain, and it may dawn on you you’re not hearing one.”
“What am I hearing?”
“You subpoenaed my expert, Veronica Dreisson.”
“That I did.”
“When we go back into court, do you intend to put her on the stand?”
“I most certainly do.”
“What do you expect her to testify to?”
“I see no reason to disclose that in advance.”
“You’ll have to, if I charge you with abuse of process. You’ll have to state what you intend to prove.”
“Yes, but I don’t think you’re going to do that.”
“Why not?”
“As much as you might love to do that, as much as you might feel you’d have a chance of embarrassing me, maybe even of making the charge stick, I’m gambling right now you wouldn’t be that keen on giving me the opportunity of making a speech.”