Part 52 (2/2)
There was a basketball game on the TV but I didn't even bother to check who was playing or what the score was. I didn't care and couldn't see much further than the Driscoll disaster. His testimony had ended after the blowup and finger pointing. In chambers the judge had worked out a curative address to the jurors, telling them that both the prosecution and defense had agreed that he would be dismissed from giving further testimony. Driscoll at best had been a wash. His direct testimony certainly set up the defense contention that Louis Opparizio had brought about the demise of Mitch.e.l.l Bondurant. But his credibility had been undermined during cross-examination and his volatile behavior and enmity toward me didn't help. Plus, the judge was obviously holding me responsible for the spectacle and that would probably end up hurting the defense.
”So,” Aronson said after her first sip of cosmo. ”What do we do now?”
”We keep fighting, is what we do. We had one bad witness, one fiasco. Every trial has a moment like this.”
I pointed up to the TV.
”You a football fan, Jennifer?”
I knew she had gone to UCSanta Barbara for her undergraduate degree, then Southwestern. Not much in the way of collegiate football powers.
”That's not football. That's basketball.”
”Yeah, I know, but do you like football?”
”I like the Raiders.”
”I knew it!” Cisco said gleefully. ”A girl after my own heart.”
”Well,” I said. ”When you're a defense lawyer you have to be like a cornerback. You know you're going to get burned from time to time. It's just part of the game. So when it happens you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and forget about it because they're about to snap the ball again. We gave them a touchdown today-I gave them a touchdown. But the game's not over, Jennifer. Not by a long shot.” gave them a touchdown. But the game's not over, Jennifer. Not by a long shot.”
”Right, so what do we do?”
”What we've planned to do all along. Go after Opparizio. It comes down to him. I've got to push him to the edge. I think Cisco's given me the firepower to do it and hopefully his guard will be down because we've had Dahl telling him it's going to be a walk in the park. Realistically, right now, I think the score is tied. Even with Driscoll blowing up, I'd say we're either tied or maybe the prosecution's got a few points up on us. I've got to change that tomorrow. If I don't, we lose.”
A somber silence followed until Aronson asked another question.
”What about Driscoll, Mickey?”
”What about him? We're done with Driscoll.”
”Yeah, but did you believe him about all the software stuff? Do you think Opparizio's people set him up? Was all of that about him stealing software made-up lies? Because now it's out in front of the media.”
”I don't know. Freeman did a smart thing. She coupled it with something he wouldn't or couldn't deny-stealing the test. So it all sort of flowed together. Anyway, it doesn't matter what I believe. It's what the jury believes.”
”I think you're wrong. I think that what you believe is always important.”
I nodded.
”Maybe so, Jennifer.”
I took a long sip of my anemic drink. Aronson then went in a new direction.
”How come you stopped calling me Bullocks?”
I looked at her and then looked back at my drink. I shrugged.
”Because you did so well today. It's like you're all grown up or something and you shouldn't be called by a nickname.”
I looked past her at Cisco and pointed.
”But him? With a name like Wojciechowski, he's got his nickname for life. And that's just the way it is.”
We all laughed and it seemed to relieve some of the pressure. I knew alcohol could help with that but it had been two years now and I was strong. I wouldn't slip.
”What did you tell Dahl to go back with today?” Cisco asked.
I shrugged again.
”The defense is in disarray, they lost their best shot with Driscoll when Freeman destroyed him. Then the usual, we don't have anything on Opparizio and testifying will be like cutting b.u.t.ter left out on the counter. He's supposed to call me after he talks to his handler.”
Cisco nodded. I continued in another direction.
”I'm thinking Opparizio is the way to end it. If I can get what Cisco has gotten for me to the jury in questions and his answers, and I push him to the nickel, then I think I'll just end it there and Cisco, you won't testify.”
Aronson frowned like she wasn't sure that would be a good move.
”Good,” Cisco said. ”I won't have to wear the monkey suit tomorrow.”
He tugged at his collar like it was made of sandpaper.
”No, you have to wear it again, just in case. You have another s.h.i.+rt like that, don't you?”
”Not really. I guess I'll have to wash this tonight.”
”Are you kidding me? You only-”
Cisco made a low whistling sound and nodded toward the door behind me. I turned just as Maggie McPherson slipped onto the open stool next to me.
”There you are.”
”Maggie McFierce.”
She pointed to my drink.
”That better not be what I think it is.”
”Don't worry, it's not.”
”Good.”
She ordered a real vodka tonic from Randy the bartender, probably just to rub it in.
<script>