The Fifth Witness - Michael Connelly [101]
“We reviewed the file several times and did some limited follow-up. But as evidence came in against the defendant, we saw less and less of a need to.”
“You weren’t going to go chasing rainbows when you had your suspect already in hand, is that it?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way. Our investigation was thorough and exhaustive.”
“Did this thorough and exhaustive investigation include pursuing any other leads at any time that did not involve Lisa Trammel as a suspect?”
“Of course. That’s what the job involves.”
“Did you review Mr. Bondurant’s work product and look for any leads unrelated to Lisa Trammel?”
“Yes, we did.”
“You have testified about investigating threats made against the victim in this case. Did you investigate any threats he might have made against others?”
“Where the victim threatened someone else? Not that I recall.”
I asked the court’s permission to approach the witness with Defense Exhibit 2. I handed copies to all parties. Freeman objected but she was simply going through the motions. The issue regarding Bondurant’s letter of complaint to Louis Opparizio had already been decided during pretrial arguments. Perry was allowing it, if only to even the score for allowing the state to enter the hammer and the DNA. He overruled Freeman’s objection and told me I could proceed.
“Detective Kurlen, you hold a letter sent by certified mail from Mitchell Bondurant, the victim, to Louis Opparizio, president of ALOFT, a contracted vendor to WestLand National. Could you please read the letter to the jury?”
Kurlen stared at the page I gave him for a long moment before reading.
“ ‘Dear Louis, Attached you will find correspondence from an attorney named Michael Haller who is representing the home owner in one of the foreclosure cases you are handling for WestLand. Her name is Lisa Trammel and the loan number is oh-four-oh-nine-seven-one-nine. The mortgage is jointly held by Jeffrey and Lisa Trammel. In his letter Mr. Haller makes allegations that the file is replete with fraudulent actions perpetrated in the case. You will note that he gives specific instances, all of which were carried out by ALOFT. As you know and we have discussed, there have been other complaints. These new allegations against ALOFT, if true, have put WestLand in a vulnerable position, especially considering the government’s recent interest in this aspect of the mortgage business. Unless we come to some sort of arrangement and understanding in regard to this I will be recommending to the board that WestLand withdraw from its contract with your company for cause and any ongoing business be terminated. This action would also require the bank to file an SAR with appropriate authorities. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to further discuss these matters.’ ”
Kurlen held the letter out to me as if he was finished with it. I ignored the gesture.
“Thank you, Detective. Now the letter mentions the filing of an SAR. Do you know what that is?”
“A suspicious activity report. All banks are required to file them with the Federal Trade Commission if such activity comes to their attention.”
“Have you ever before seen the letter you hold, Detective?”
“Yes, I have.”
“When?”
“While reviewing the victim’s work product. I noticed it then.”
“Can you give me a date when this happened?”
“Not an exact date. I would say I became aware of this letter about two weeks into the investigation.”
“And that would have been two weeks after Lisa Trammel was already arrested for the murder. Did you investigate further upon becoming aware of this letter, maybe talk to Louis Opparizio?”
“At some point I made inquiries and learned that Mr. Opparizio had a solid alibi for the time of the killing. I left it at that.”
“What about the people working for Opparizio? Did they all have alibis?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“That’s right. I did not pursue this