Hide & Seek - James Patterson [90]
“Then that evidence should have been presented at the trial. It’s too late now. The verdict’s been rendered.” Nizhinski was as cocksure as ever.
I could see the tension in everyone. My own throat was dry. My stomach was a clenched fist. Only Norma seemed calm. Now turned prosecutor herself, she was relentless.
“It’s my opinion—and I should add that it’s also the opinion of the attorney general of the state of New York—that Maggie Bradford may have been the victim of an elaborate and very vicious cover-up. A cover-up known to, indeed perhaps instigated by, the Bedford chief of police.”
“I object to this!” Dan Nizhinski shouted.
“Let her finish,” Judge Sussman said. He seemed to be enjoying this almost as much as Norma was.
“Important people, leaders of industry, banking, and the media have been protected from police investigation—possibly from prosecution on criminal charges here in Bedford,” Norma went on.
She exchanged a glance with the district attorney. “Please don’t look quite so ill yet, Mr. Nizhinski. It gets much worse.”
She was a performer now, a star. No audience has ever listened more intently.
“You’re right, Mr. Nizhinski. All this would have nothing to do with the trial of Maggie Bradford except for one important thing: Maggie’s defense counsel, the man who knew what I’m telling you, and should have acted upon it in Mrs. Bradford’s defense, couldn’t possibly have done so.
“Because the defense counsel himself is a member of the secret club. Nathan Bailford is a member!”
CHAPTER 110
ONE LOOK AT Nathan’s twisted, ashen face and I understood that Norma was right. The look alone was proof of his guilt. My attorney—my friend—was up on his feet. He was spluttering with outrage, but I saw the lies behind his words; I saw the humiliation in his eyes, the betrayal, the selfishness and evil of what he had done.
“Judge Sussman,” Nathan said. “These are the most salacious lies, drug-induced dreams or fantasies I’ve ever heard. I can’t believe we’re here listening to this.”
“No, they’re not lies,” Norma shot back at him. “I have witnesses. The groundskeeper at the Lake Club, and two of the porters. I also have a sworn statement from a member of the club within a club. One of your pals.”
She pointed at him, and he staggered back, as though there were bullets in Norma’s fingers. “May God, no, may Maggie Bradford and her poor children forgive you. I sure as hell can’t. You’ve disgraced yourself, and your already disgraceful profession. You’ve nearly helped convict an innocent woman. My God, Nathan. I hope they put you in jail for a hundred years. Will you do that, Judge Sussman?”
I sat very still, tightly gripping the armrest of my chair. My cheeks were hot, and waves of light-headedness came and went.
Hold on, I kept saying to myself. Be calm now. This is really happening. This isn’t a dream. You aren’t back in your prison cell. You’re right here. This is real.
Then suddenly I was in Norma’s and Barry’s arms. I was shaking like crazy. We were all crying. Norma must have read my mind. “It’s really happening, Maggie,” she said. “We were still talking with the attorney general late last night, or we could have let you know.”
We embraced for a long time. I can’t begin to describe how it was with me, but I’ve never experienced anything close to the relief I felt that day. I was completely out of it, euphoric, but I knew what had just happened. I knew. I knew.
“Obviously I’ll have to declare a mistrial,” Sussman said to Nizhinski, his voice cutting into my consciousness, “but you may want to retry. Nothing here obviates the fact that Will Shepherd was killed and the detectives say Mrs. Bradford has admitted shooting him. We’ll have to give her time to hire a new lawyer and prepare her