Part 31 (2/2)
”No.” It was difficult for her to speak. ”I-I went to his apartment to give him some advice that he had asked me for, and that was the last time I saw him.”
”Did you know Richard Melton?”
”No...”
”He was an artist. He was murdered in San Francisco. The police found evidence of your DNA and fingerprints there.”
Ashley was shaking her head from side to side. ”I-I don't know what to say. I didn't know him!”
”You knew Deputy Sam Blake?”
”Yes. He was helping me. I didn't kill him!”
”Are you aware that you have two other personalities, or alters, within you, Ashley?”
”Yes.” Her voice was strained.
”When did you learn this?”
”Before the trial. Dr. Salem told me about it. I couldn't believe it. I-I still can't believe it. It's-it's too awful.”
”You had no previous knowledge of these alters.”
”No.”
”You had never heard of Toni Prescott or Alette Peters?”
”No!”
”Do you believe now that they exist within you?”
”Yes...I have to believe it. They must have done all these-these horrible things....”
”So you have no recollection of ever having met Richard Melton, you had no motive for killing Dennis Tibbie or for killing Deputy Sam Blake, who was at your apartment to protect you?”
”That's right.” Her eyes swept over the crowded courtroom, and she felt a sense of panic.
”One last question,” David said. ”Have you ever been in trouble with the law?”
”Never.”
David put his hand on hers. ”That's all for now.” He turned to Mickey Brennan. ”Your witness.”
Brennan rose, a big smile on his face. ”Well, Miss Patterson, we finally get to talk to all of you. Did you ever, at any time, have s.e.xual intercourse with Dennis Tibbie?”
”No.”
”Did you ever have s.e.xual intercourse with Richard Melton?”
”No.”
”Did you ever, at any time, have s.e.xual intercourse with Deputy Samuel Blake?”
”No.”
”That's very interesting.” Brennan glanced at the jury. ”Because traces of a v.a.g.i.n.al discharge were found on the bodies of all three men. The DNA tests matched your DNA.”
”I...I don't know anything about that.”
”Maybe you've been framed. Maybe some fiend got hold of it-”
”Objection! It's argumentative.”
”Overruled.”
”-and planted it on those three mutilated bodies. Do you have any enemies who would do such a thing to you?”
”I...don't know.”
”The FBI's fingerprint lab checked the fingerprints the police found at the scenes of the crimes. And I'm sure this will surprise you- ”Objection.”
”Sustained. Be careful, Mr. Brennan.”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
Satisfied, David slowly sat down.
Ashley was on the verge of hysteria. ”The alters must have-”
”The fingerprints at the scenes of the three murders were yours, and yours alone.”
Ashley sat there, silent.
Brennan walked over to a table, picked up a butcher knife wrapped in cellophane and held it up. ”Do you recognize this?”
”It-it could be one of...one of my-”
”One of your knives? It is. It has already been admitted into evidence. The stains on it match the blood of Deputy Blake. Your fingerprints are on this murder weapon.”
Ashley was mindlessly shaking her head from side to side.
”I've never seen a clearer case of cold-blooded murder or a more feeble defense. Hiding behind two nonexistent, imaginary characters is the most-”
David was on his feet again. ”Objection.”
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