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Drucker interrupted, eyeing Pearl. “No, not resembling. It was her. I’m sure.”
“Okay, she was carrying things from a murder scene and she opened it up on a bus for all to see, including bloody shoe?”
“No, there weren’t many people on the bus. I was the only one close to her and who could see anything. And I already said she was nervous. I’d have been nervous, too, if I’d just helped kill some people.”
“Motion to strike that last part, Judge. Argumentative and non-responsive,” said Jack automatically.
A still-distracted Ambrose murmured, “Disregard the witness’s last statement.”
“And with one glance you can say it was a man’s large work shoe?” said Jack.
“My father was a bricklayer. He had shoes like that. Big ones.”
“And you said it appeared to be blood, so you’re not sure?”
“I’m pretty sure it was blood.”
“Did you speak to the defendant?”
“No. I didn’t know her.”
“Did she see you?” asked Jack.
“I don’t think so. She was keeping her eyes down.”
“But you somehow got a good look at her? Enough to positively identify her?”
“I got a good look at her while she was walking down the aisle to her seat. Look, I didn’t have to come down here and testify. I’m just trying to be a good citizen.”
“And the court appreciates that,” said Ambrose, pepping up. “Anything else?”
Jack said, “Not at the moment, but I reserve the right to recall this witness due to the way in which she was dropped in our laps at the last minute.”
DuBose rose. “Considering the recent developments of today, defense requests that court be adjourned until tomorrow morning.”
Battle looked at her and said, “No objection.”
“Court is adjourned until ten tomorrow,” said a relieved-looking Ambrose.
CHAPTER 82
BACK AT THEIR GARAGE OFFICE, Jack said, “Well, thanks to Miss Jessup, my mother, and Pearl, at least Ambrose has been revealed as the racist he clearly is.”
“Yes, he has,” agreed DuBose, who did not look cheered up by this small victory at all.
“I don’t think we have any option now but to put Pearl on the stand to refute Drucker’s testimony.”
“That is really risky,” cautioned DuBose. “We will need to instruct Pearl to plead the Fifth Amendment in response to some of Battle’s questions. And this jury will interpret that as proof positive of her guilt if they’re not already there.”
“But if we leave Drucker’s testimony out there unchallenged, we are as good as dead. And now that Ambrose let the bayonet in and Battle got Cora Robinson to testify that Jerome could have seen and used it?”
“And you think that jury will believe a Black woman over a white one?”
Jack shot her a glance. “They might.”
“Are you willing to risk our clients’ lives on ‘they might’?”
A dejected Jack stared down at the grimy concrete floor. “I guess not.”
