10th Anniversary - James Patterson [41]
Yuki and Nick entered 3B, walked to the prosecution table, and nodded to Hoffman and his second chair, Kara Battinelli, one of those brainy grads a couple of years out of Boalt Law.
Battinelli gave Yuki a cat-that-got-the-cream look — which Yuki returned in kind.
Nick set up his laptop and Yuki’s and got them both squared away before the proceedings began.
The bailiff, a bald and expressionless man in a green uniform, called court into session, and Judge LaVan entered the packed courtroom, wearing a scowl. The gallery rose and then sat, causing a rustle to bounce and boomerang off the oak paneling. When the room was quiet again, LaVan greeted the jury.
Then, he said, “Ms. Castellano. You’re up.”
Yuki stood and asked that Ms. Angela Walker be called.
All eyes swiveled toward the aisle as a woman who, even to Yuki’s eyes, looked edible made her languid way to the witness stand and was sworn in.
Chapter 50
“MS. WALKER,” YUKI said to her lovely looking witness, “do you know the defendant, Dr. Candace Martin?”
“I’ve never met her. But of course I know who she is.”
“Did you know her husband, Dennis Martin?”
“Yes. I was seeing Dennis for a couple of years. Until about a month before his death.”
Yuki tucked her hair behind her ears and said to Walker, “By ‘seeing’ Dennis Martin, do you mean you were having a sexual relationship with him?”
“Yes. I saw him two, three nights a week.”
“And you knew he was married?”
“Yes. Yes. I knew. But he told me his marriage was a sham. He was staying with his wife for the sake of the kids.”
Yuki liked what the witness was saying and the way she was saying it. She was calm and sounded credible and honest.
“Ms. Walker, can you tell the court why your relationship with Mr. Martin ended?”
“He told me he was seeing someone else and that it was serious. He said he just couldn’t contain the messiness of his social life anymore.”
“Did you believe him?”
“Oh yes. He was a hound. A goat. A snake. A shark. A skunk. Pick your animal, and that was Dennis.”
“And where were you when Dennis was killed?”
“Sydney, Australia. As far away from him as I could get.”
“Ms. Walker. Did you call the Martin house while you were in Sydney?”
“I hate to admit it, but I called Candace. Might have set this whole debacle into motion.”
“Really. Could you be more specific?”
“I was heartbroken. I wanted to get back at Dennis, so I called Candace and told her about my two-year affair with her husband. And I told her that he was still seeing someone.”
“Did you know who Dennis was seeing?”
“Nope. Didn’t have a clue.”
“And how did Candace Martin react to your phone call?”
“She was really cold. She said, ‘You’re right. He’s an animal. Someone ought to put him down. I might do it myself.’”
“Thank you. Your witness,” Yuki said, walking away.
Chapter 51
PHIL HOFFMAN STOOD UP behind the defense table. He looked well rested and at the top of his game, a study in gray pinstripes and old school tie.
Yuki took note of the way the jurors looked at Phil. They liked him.
“Ms. Walker, you don’t like Candace Martin, do you?” Hoffman asked.
“I don’t dislike her. Like I said, I’ve never met her.”
“Well, you clearly had no regard for her. You were sleeping with her husband for two years, knowing full well that he had a home, two young children, and a wife. Isn’t that right?”
“Your Honor, counsel is leading the witness.”
“Sustained. Don’t do that, Mr. Hoffman.”
“Sorry, Your Honor.”
Hoffman jingled the coins in his pocket, turned back to the witness, and asked, “Do you have any regard for the defendant?”
“Not really.” The woman squirmed in her seat. Patted her hair.
“In fact,” said Hoffman, “you don’t care if Candace lives or dies. Excuse me. Let me make that a question. Ms. Walker, do you care if Candace Martin lives or dies?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Would it be fair to say about you that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?”