Part 19 (2/2)
Fleckstein herded his wayward client out the door.
Becky smiled at Cora. ”See? Nothing to worry about.”
”Yeah,” Cora snorted. ”I was here and you were saved by his attorney. Considering which, the fact you didn't wind up married to him is a rather minor achievement. Nonetheless, I'm very proud of you.”
CHAPTER.
28.
Judge Hobbs looked as though he'd just drunk a quart of sour milk. ”It appears Ms. Baldwin's objection has merit. I am very reluctantly striking the testimony of Mr. Randolph from the record. Since Mr. Randolph was responsible for identifying the check, it is also stricken from the record.”
Melvin's attorney lunged to his feet.
”Sit down, Mr. Fleckstein. This is not the end of the world. Looking at your witness list, I see you have witnesses to cover the same ground. I suggest you do so. This testimony no longer exists.”
Fleckstein consulted his notes. ”Call Lilly Clemson.”
As the witness took the stand, Cora recognized her as one of the women she'd seen in Cushman's Bake Shop. Lilly Clemson had auburn hair and wore a little too much lipstick. She stated her name and that she worked at the bank.
”Now then, Miss Clemson,” Fleckstein said in a solicitous manner, ”I'm going to ask you some questions about the check you showed to your employer.”
”Are you going to point it out to her as well?” Becky Baldwin said. ”Your Honor, this conference between attorney and witness is rather unusual. Could he confine himself to just asking questions?”
”I'm sure he meant no harm, Ms. Baldwin, but your point is well taken. Mr. Fleckstein, don't tell her what you're going to ask her, just ask.”
”Yes, Your Honor. Miss Clemson, do you recall an incident when you had occasion to show a check to Mr. Randolph?”
”Yes, I do.”
”Could you tell us about that?”
”Yes, I could. I received a check from Cora Felton. The Puzzle Lady. Her name's Cora Felton, but everyone knows her as the Puzzle Lady. She came in and presented a check.”
”Was this unusual?”
”No. She has an account. She often brings in checks.”
”Was she cas.h.i.+ng the check?”
”No, it was for deposit.”
”Did it have a deposit slip?”
”Yes, it did.”
”To whose account was she depositing the check?”
”To her own. Cora Felton.”
”You say she wasn't cas.h.i.+ng the check?”
”No, just depositing it in her account.”
”What did you do with the check?”
”I showed it to Mr. Randolph.”
”Why?”
”Objection,” Becky said. ”Her thought process is not binding on the defendant.”
”No, but it's relevant to her actions. If we could do without so many technical objections.”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
”Why did you show it to Mr. Randolph?”
”Because I was afraid there might be a problem with it.”
”Now,” Becky Baldwin said, ”we're getting into an area where my objections might not be so technical. The witness has just suggested my client might have attempted to pa.s.s an irregular check. That is a conclusion on her part that I would object to most strongly.”
”Your displeasure is noted,” Judge Hobbs said. ”But I'd like to hear the witness explain.”
Mr. Fleckstein was smiling broadly. ”And what led you to believe there might be a problem with the check?”
”It was deposited in Cora Felton's account, but it was not made out to Cora Felton.”
”What name was it made out to?”
”Cora Felton Markowitz.”
”And was it endorsed on the back?”
”Yes, it was.”
”How was it endorsed?”
”Cora Felton Markowitz.”
”You pointed this out to Mr. Randolph?”
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