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Baumann shook his head, ‘I wouldn’t think so. Not by much.’

‘I see. And the fact that no other forensic odontologist would even have tried to compare the bite mark in this case, because of rigor mortis, because of the movement of the body, that doesn’t give you cause for doubt in relation to your findings?’

‘No, ma’am.’

‘In relation to your bite-mark simulation of the master casts, what did you use to simulate the bite?’ asked Kate, already knowing the answer. She just wanted

the jury to hear it.

‘Pig skin. It’s the closest material we can ethically use.’

‘And you think pig skin is equivalent to a human body, in rigor mortis?’

‘It’s the best we got.’

‘In summary, your analysis failed to account for various changes in the bite-mark appearance since the wound was inflicted, and you cannot conclude that my client’s bite mark is unique?’

‘I guess so, ma’am.’

Kate turned away from the witness, and watched the jury as she walked back to her seat. Some were shaking their heads at Baumann, others were either not convinced by Kate, or not convinced by Baumann – they seemed almost

indifferent. Hard to tell how well this cross-examination had gone, but at least she had a few converts on the jury. Her cross was damage limitation – and no more. On that basis, she counted it successful.

Reluctant to let two expert witnesses be annihilated, Dreyer spent ten minutes trying to patch up Baumann’s testimony, but enough damage had been done.

That same handful of jurors seemed to look at him with suspicion.

That was enough.

As Baumann left the witness stand, he mouthed the word, ‘Bitch,’ in Kate’s direction. At first she was shocked, then she focused on Baumann’s face. He’d

mouthed something else as he passed her table.

He wasn’t looking at Kate when he said this. Nor Bloch.

No, this was directed at Alexandra. She couldn’t look at Baumann and avoided his gaze. Alexandra missed him mouthing, ‘Murdering bitch.’

Kate thought about complaining, highlighting this to the judge and asking him to discipline Baumann. But then, she didn’t want the jury to hear what Baumann

had called Alexandra.

Maybe Baumann had bought his own bullshit science, thought Kate.

Then she had another thought.

What if Baumann was right?

FORTY-FOUR

EDDIE

Judge Stone allowed Dreyer to call one last witness this afternoon, with Kate having demolished the bite-mark expert in double-quick time. I thought Kate had enough to throw shade on the bald Texan – more shade than a ten-gallon hat.

While Dreyer consulted with his team, I took my time observing the jury.

Some of them were still reeling from Baumann’s evidence. I’d say that seven looked downright confused. The remaining five unconvinced by Dreyer’s bite guy. Probably Dreyer had asked half a dozen bite-mark experts to look at the marks on the victim, and most of the more reputable ones had probably said no when they found out the body had been moved.

There’s always one expert who will sign his name to any kind of opinion-based report as long as they’re getting paid. Forensic science in the US legal system was driven by money, and the desire for convictions more than science.