Part 36 (2/2)
”Had you ever seen Alex Feldman before the day you drove to Dr. Minick's house with Gus Marchand?”
”No, ma'am.”
”But you had heard about him?”
”Well, I guess so. People talk.”
”Yes, they do. Were you on a.s.signment the day you drove to Dr. Minick's house with Gus Marchand?”
He hesitated a moment, then shook his head. ”No, ma'am. I just went because Gus asked me to.”
”When Alex Feldman denied the charge of spying on Rachel, did he also tell you to go ask her in person if it was true?”
”I don't recall that,” he said. ”Did you ever ask her about it?”
”No, ma'am.”
”Had Mr. Marchand filed an official complaint?”
”I don't know. I don't think so.”
”Do you know if he filed a complaint after that day?”
”I think he was going to if he wouldn't have died like that.”
”But did he ever file an official complaint?”
”No, ma'am. Not that I know of.”
Bit by bit she drew it out of him that Gus had approached him after church, to enlist his services in warning Alex to stay away from Rachel.
”Were others taking part in that conversation? Other than you and Mr. Marchand?”
”There were a couple of others,” he said.
”Exactly how did Gus Marchand refer to Alex Feldman that day?”
”I don't know. We just knew who he meant.”
”Well, he must have called him something.”
”He might have called him a freak, something like that. Or Doc Minick's freak.”
”What else, Deputy Strohm?”
”Devil freak,” he said in a low voice. ”He sometimes called him that.”
”Anything else?”
”Maybe devil sp.a.w.n, something like that.”
”Did he ever once refer to him by name?”
He hesitated longer this time, looking at Novak's table uneasily before he answered. ”I don't think so. Everyone knew who he meant.”
”All right. Now, on the day of the murder, was it your first thought that the devil freak must have killed Gus Marchand?”
”No! I mean, they said n.o.body could have got in there without them being seen, and I knew he was mad at Gus, like that, but I didn't jump to a conclusion that fast. I just wanted to make sure he didn't go nowhere.”
”Deputy Strohm, at this time I want you to take a close look at Alex Feldman. Will you do that, please.”
Reluctantly he glanced at Alex, then away.
”I mean examine him, Deputy,” she said brusquely.
He looked again, his own face set in tight lines. Alex flinched slightly, but he held still for the scrutiny.
”Is that how he looked on the two occasions you have talked about?” she asked when Strohm faced the back of the courtroom again.
”No, ma'am. He looks calm now, not wild or mean.”
”I see. Deputy, did you hear Dr. Jacoby's a.s.sessment of Alex Feldman earlier today?” He said no. ”To refresh the court's memory, I'll repeat just a portion of it. 'Alexander Feldman has no muscles in more than half of his face. He can't help it if he looks fearsome.' ” She walked back to her table. ”No more questions.”
After taking her seat once more, she pressed Alex's hand. ”I'm sorry,” she said. ”That was hard, but I had to do it.”
He nodded. His hand was cold under hers. ”It's okay,” he said.
It isn't! she wanted to cry out. It's filthy, d.a.m.nably rotten, anything but okay! That ignorant, know-nothing with his scrubbed baby face should be shaken until his teeth fall out. Alex turned his hand over and held hers for a moment.
”Barbara, it's really all right,” he said. ”In fact, I'm getting a whole new cast of characters and story lines.” His hand holding hers belied his comforting words; his hand was shaking.
Then they listened to Novak take Deputy Strohm back over the same ground, emphasizing that no one could have approached the Marchand house except by the woods. And that he had not rushed to judgment but had been guided by reason, and had shown initiative....
When he was excused, Judge Mac said it was time for the midday break, and they would resume at one-thirty.
As soon as the judge was out of the courtroom, Dolly said to Frank, ”I suppose you feel it necessary to deliver Alexander to us for luncheon as you did before.” Pointedly ignoring Barbara, she turned to Will and said, ”I'm afraid that this time we'll have to excuse you.”
”I already asked him to come along,” Alex said. ”If you decide to kidnap me and spirit me away, there should be a witness to testify that it was against my will.”
Good G.o.d, Barbara thought then, he was laughing.
Meanwhile, a man had come around the row of seats to the front of the room and to her table, his hand extended. ”Courtney Innes,” he said. ”I've been observing you. You have a very interesting courtroom style. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Holloway.”
He was beautiful, just as Alex had said, with flowing platinum-blond hair and brilliant blue eyes, a large square-jawed face with a good tan, and dazzling white teeth. A lot of teeth, she thought at first, but probably just the usual number; he simply was revealing them all in a broad smile. He held her hand a fraction of a second too long and released it as if he regretted the need to do so.
”Perhaps later we can share a drink and have a bit of a talk,” he said, holding her gaze almost hypnotically. ”Later.” He turned and rejoined Dolly and Arnold Feldman, and they walked out together.
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