Part 21 (1/2)
”You learned the name Markowitz so you could use it in court?”
”Objection.”
”Overruled. Witness may answer.”
”You learned the name Markowitz?”
”That's right.”
”No further questions.”
Fleckstein was on his feet. ”Miss Clemson, when you say you learned the name Markowitz, you don't mean that, do you?”
The witness was taken aback. ”I beg your pardon?”
”In other words, you were not taught the name Markowitz. It was not a new concept to you. You knew the name before. When your memory was refreshed, you recalled the name Markowitz, isn't that right?”
Judge Hobbs looked curiously at the defense table. ”That's certainly leading and suggestive, Ms. Baldwin.”
Becky smiled. ”I don't want to be overly technical, Your Honor. I think we all understand the situation here.”
”You knew the name Markowitz? Your recollection was merely refreshed?”
”That's right.”
”That's all.”
Becky rose with a smile. ”Yes, Miss Clemson. And how was your recollection refreshed?”
”I beg your pardon?”
”Were you told the name Markowitz? How was the name Markowitz presented to you?”
”It was on the check.”
”Made out to Cora Felton Markowitz?”
”That's right.”
”The attorney showed you the check to refresh your recollection?”
”Yes.”
”So,” Becky said, ”when you identified the check, Plaintiff's Exhibit Number One, you were identifying it not from having my client present it to you at the bank, you were identifying it from having the attorney for the plaintiff present it to you to refresh your recollection. When it was given to you in his office for you to study so you would be able to identify it on the stand.”
”Objection, Your Honor!”
”Overruled. Witness may answer.”
”Yes. That's where I saw the check.”
”Your Honor,” Becky said, ”I move the evidence, Plaintiff's Exhibit Number One, be stricken from the record. It now appears the witness cannot identify it as a check presented to her by my client, but merely as one presented to her by the plaintiff's attorney.”
”Granted. The check may go out.”
”Oh, Your Honor.”
”Mr. Fleckstein, you will have every opportunity to resubmit it. From the evidence I just heard, the check is clearly inadmissible.”
”Yes, Your Honor.” Fleckstein fumbled through his papers. ”Perhaps I could have a recess to adjust to this development?”
”Very well. Court is adjourned until Friday morning at ten o'clock.”
Cora was pleased with the way things had gone in court until she saw Melvin looking over at the defense table with a huge grin on his face.
He wasn't looking at her.
Cora sucked in her breath.
The creep!
She glanced around just to look away and saw her nemesis, Bambi, standing in the back of the courtroom, glaring at Melvin with a look she knew well, a look she had often used on Melvin when he was still her husband, a look of frustration, exasperation, irritation, and practically any other -ation she could think of-good G.o.d, why were words coming back to haunt her? She wasn't really a wordsmith. Thoughts were ping-ponging around in her head to the point of making her doubt her own sanity.
d.a.m.n it.
She hadn't felt this way since she'd been married to the louse.
CHAPTER.
29.
Cora, Sherry, and Aaron were having lunch in the living room and celebrating the day in court.
The only thing spoiling it was Rick Reed.
”Has there been a breakthrough in the Randolph murder case?” Rick began. ”Despite the confusion surrounding the case, a person of interest has emerged. A young woman who had spurned the advances of the decedent. The facts emerged in court today, during the alimony hearing of Bakerhaven's own Puzzle Lady, Cora Felton. On the witness stand, one Lilly Clemson, a teller at the bank where Mr. Randolph worked, admitted that the decedent had made advances toward her which she had spurned. It appears to be the police theory that if those advances had continued, that might be a motive. Miss Clemson declined to comment, but Police Chief Dale Harper had this to say.”
The picture cut to a shot of the chief on the front steps of the police station.
”No, I don't think it had anything to do with the murder.”
Rick stuck his microphone into the shot. ”Then why are you investigating it?”
”We're investigating any lead, however slim. If the guy wrote a crank letter to your TV station, I'd have to check it out. It wouldn't mean we suspected you of the crime.”
The camera cut back to the head shot of Rick. ”Well, it's nice to know I'm in the clear, but it would also be nice to shed some light on the situation. Chief Harper claims there's none to shed. Not very promising in a homicide already over twenty-four hours old. This is Rick Reed, Channel Eight News.”