Part 50 (1/2)

Salem Falls Jodi Picoult 22450K 2022-07-22

6, 7.

17, 17.

100 + New 6, (7).

17, (15).

Item D16 S539.

D7 S820.

New N/A.

8, 12.

100.

12, 14.

9, 12.

100 + New N/A.

12, (8), (9).

Item D13 S317.

D5 S818.

New 11, 13.

10, 12.

100.

9, 13.

12, 12.

New + 100 13, (9), 11.

12, (10).

”Ms. Martine,” Jordan asked, ”what does that line remind you of?”

”The s.e.m.e.n profile.”

”So could the person who gave this hypothetical blood sample have been a contributor to the s.e.m.e.n mixture?”

”Yes, this person would not be ruled out, either.”

”Then it's possible that there's someone other other than Jack St. Bride walking around out there ... someone with this particular DNA makeup, for example ... who might be included as a suspect?” than Jack St. Bride walking around out there ... someone with this particular DNA makeup, for example ... who might be included as a suspect?”

Frankie met his eye. ”Anything's possible, Mr. McAfee, but my lab deals with concrete evidence. I didn't have this hypothetical blood sample, and I don't know this hypothetical suspect. But when you find him? You give me a call ... and I'll run the tests.”

As Charlie tried to concentrate on the prosecutor's questions, his attention kept straying to Addie Peabody.

She sat behind the defense, almost in a direct line from Jack St. Bride, her eyes boring a hole into the back of the man's neck. Her hair was slipping out of a bun, and her suit-the only one she had, he'd bet-was wrinkled as a newborn's skin.

He didn't want to be there. He wanted to be home, unraveling the mystery that was his daughter. He wanted to grab Addie and shake her until all the truths Meg had confessed to her spilled onto the floor at Charlie's feet.

”What was her demeanor at that time?” Matt was asking, the words swimming to Charlie from a long tunnel.

Frightened. Withdrawn. Numb.

He had wanted to run home after Chelsea's testimony, to grab Meg and ask her if she, too, was a witch. But he had already accused her once, and look at where it had gotten him. What if he did it a second time? How much damage could be done before the bond between a father and his daughter was irretrievably broken?

Broken.

He didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until Matt asked another question. ”After you took her statement, what did you do?”

”I went to the station and typed up an affidavit for an arrest warrant,” Charlie said.

”Did you obtain this warrant?”

”Yes.”

”Where did you go to serve it?”

”Addie Peabody's house,” Charlie answered, and although he did not look her way, he could feel her straighten in her seat. ”I asked for Mr. St. Bride and told him he was under arrest for the aggravated felonious s.e.xual a.s.sault of Gillian Duncan the previous evening.”

”What happened?”

”He said he was nowhere near her that night.”

”Did you ever go back to the clearing behind the cemetery?”