Part 30 (2/2)
”And how long have you worked there?”
”About seven years.”
”And was Ashley Patterson employed there?”
”Yes.”
”And did she work under your supervision?”
”She did.”
”So you got to know her pretty well?”
”That's right.”
”Mr. Miller, you've heard doctors testify that some of the symptoms of multiple personality disorder are paranoia, nervousness, distress. Have you ever noticed any of those symptoms in Miss Patterson?”
”Well, I-”
”Didn't Miss Patterson tell you that she felt someone was stalking her?”
”Yes. She did.”
”And that she had no idea who it could be or why anyone would do that?”
”That's right.”
”Didn't she once say that someone used her computer to threaten her with a knife?”
”Yes.”
”And didn't things get so bad that you finally sent her to the psychologist who works at your company, Dr. Speakman?”
”Yes.”
”So Ashley Patterson did exhibit the symptoms we're talking about?”
”That's right.”
”Thank you, Mr. Miller.” David turned to Mickey Brennan. ”Your witness.”
”How many employees do you have directly under you, Mr. Miller?”
”Thirty.”
”And out of thirty employees, Ashley Patterson is the only one you've ever seen get upset?”
”Well, no...”
”Oh, really?”
”Everyone gets upset sometimes.”
”You mean other employees had to go and see your company psychologist?”
”Oh, sure. They keep him pretty busy.”
Brennan seemed impressed. ”Is that so?”
”Yeah. A lot of them have problems. Hey, they're all human.”
”No further questions.”
”Redirect.”
David approached the witness stand. ”Mr. Miller, you said that some of the employees under you had problems. What kind of problems?”
”Well, it could be about an argument with a boyfriend or a husband....”
”Yes?”
”Or it could be about a financial problem...”
”Yes?”
”Or their kids bugging them....”
”In other words, the ordinary kinds of domestic problems that any of us might face?”
”Yes.”
”But no one went to see Dr. Speakman because they thought they were being stalked or because they thought someone was threatening to kill them?”
”No.”
”Thank you.”
The trial was recessed for lunch.
David got into his car and drove through the park, depressed. The trial was going badly. The doctors couldn't make up their minds whether MPD existed or not. If they can't agree, If they can't agree, David thought, David thought, how am I going to get a jury to agree? I can't let anything happen to Ashley. I can't. how am I going to get a jury to agree? I can't let anything happen to Ashley. I can't. He was approaching Harold's Cafe, a restaurant near the courthouse. He parked the car and went inside. The hostess smiled at him. He was approaching Harold's Cafe, a restaurant near the courthouse. He parked the car and went inside. The hostess smiled at him.
”Good afternoon, Mr. Singer.”
He was famous. Infamous? Infamous?
”Right this way, please.” He followed her to a booth and sat down. The hostess handed him the menu, gave him a lingering smile and walked away, her hips moving provocatively. The perks of fame, The perks of fame, David thought wryly. David thought wryly.
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