AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did you speak to your parents about why they had invited them over?”
“Yes. My mother said that Jerome had been working hard, and had fixed so many things, and was extremely pleasant in his manner. My parents had learned about his family, and she thought it would be fun to have them over. And my father agreed.”
“As sort of a reward for a job well done?”
“Yes.”
DuBose glanced at the jury, who seemed to be listening to this exchange intently.
“So you saw no animosity or fear or anything else negative between your parents and Jerome and his family that day?”
“That’s right. It was all very pleasant.”
“And that made you happy?” asked DuBose.
“Yes. They’re people, too. I don’t care what color their skin is.”
DuBose closed her eyes for a moment and then glanced at the jury.
Never ask an open-ended question like that, Desiree. That allows a witness to tack on an opinion. The jury will now discount everything she just said.
“Anything else to ask the witness, Miss DuBose?” Ambrose said politely.
When she glanced at his smug features she could just tell he was thinking the very same thing.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hanover. Nothing further.”
Battle next called Gordon Hanover to the stand. “Mr. Hanover, have you and your wife been financially supporting her parents?”
“That’s right. We knew what their expenses were, and they were promptly paid.”
“So if your father-in-law wanted to fire someone, like the defendant, it would not have been over money?”
DuBose said, “Objection, calls for speculation.”
“Sustained,” said Ambrose, which almost made DuBose fall out of her chair. But then she understood.
He knows the jury has made up its mind. He can afford to appear magnanimous. And look good for the media.
“Did your father-in-law have occasion to speak to you about Jerome Washington?” asked Battle.
Hanover looked down and nodded. “He did.”
“Can you tell us the substance of that conversation?”
Hanover glanced up and found his wife in the gallery. His gaze locked on her as he said, “Leslie, I mean Mr. Randolph, told me that he suspected that Mr. Washington had been in his house without permission.”
“Anything else?” prompted Battle.
“I’m not sure that I recall, really.”
Battle tensed. “I can show you your sworn statement if that will refresh your memory, sir.”
“No, no, that’s all right,” Hanover replied, looking nervous. “He said... he said that he thought Mr. Washington had stolen some tools or some such from the garage and some money from a cashbox in the study, and was going to fire him because of it.”
“I ain’t steal nuthin’,” called out Jerome from the counsel table.
“Silence,” barked Ambrose. “Another outburst like that and I will have you removed from this courtroom.”
