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“Thank you, Sergeant Boxer,” said Yuki. “Mr. Grant, your witness.”
CHAPTER 34
YUKI WATCHED AS Grant got up from his seat and approached Lindsay. He stuck his hands into his pant pockets, giving him the insouciance of a popular college kid. Yuki found his demeanor damned creepy.
Grant said, “Hello again, Sergeant Boxer. I have just a couple of questions for you, unlike the punishing drubbing I’ve suffered at your hands.”
Yuki shot to her feet. “Objection, Your Honor.”
Hoffman said, “Sustained. Mr. Grant, no personal comments to the witness. Just ask your questions.”
“Sorry, Your Honor. Uh … Sergeant, did you see me coming out of Sci-Tron that night?”
“No.”
“Did you find any bomb implements, control devices, or anything of that nature when you frisked and cuffed me?”
“No.”
“Did you record my so-called confession when you questioned me on the sidewalk between Piers 9 and 15 that evening?”
“No. I didn’t have to record—”
“No. Your answer is ‘no.’ You didn’t record any so-called admission. You didn’t see me in the building, and you found nothing bomb-related on my person, isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“Your Honor,” said Grant. “I’m done with this witness.”
Yuki saw the flash of anger in Lindsay’s face and understood exactly how she felt. Furious because she had no opportunity to redress the insult.
The judge asked the prosecution if they had questions on redirect, and Len said, “No, Your Honor. But we reserve the right to recall this witness.”
The judge asked Lindsay to step down, and once she had left the courtroom, he made an announcement.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I have to attend to some important court business. I’m calling a recess. Short one. Court will resume in one half hour.”
Doors opened. The jury returned to their room. Some people in the gallery left their seats, and Parisi said he wanted to make some calls and he’d be back in a few.
Yuki stayed at the prosecution table, made notes, and thought about Joe. His recovery had been touch and go; she and Len had worried for weeks about his ability to testify. He was still weak and visibly changed from the way Yuki had always known him—physically strong, mentally sharp.
Could he retell Grant’s confession convincingly now?
Yuki could only hope so.
If Joe failed to corroborate Lindsay’s testimony, a canyon of reasonable doubt would open in their case, and it would be almost impossible for the prosecution to bridge it.
CHAPTER 35
AFTER MY TESTIMONY I left the courtroom and went to the fire stairs, taking a seat on a step about midway between the second and third floors. I got a pretty good signal here, and no one using the stairway ever bothered me.
I called Joe, listened to the phone ring through, counted the number of rings, hoping he would answer.
“Lindsay?”
“Hi. How are you feeling, Joe?”
“Good. Pretty good.”
