Page 112 of The Devil's Advocate

‘Not a thing.’

‘What did you do the next day?’

‘I had delivered my load to the chemical plant already. I live here in town and my street is too narrow for the rig, so I left it in the truck stop, walked home, spent the day with the kids and then my wife dropped me off at the truck stop that evening so I could refuel the rig and go take another load.’

Hesitating, Buxton swallowed, cleared his throat of either nerves or the emotional memory, and then spoke again, his voice wavering, his eyes suddenly wet.

‘I was at the truck when I saw something rustling in the tall grass beyond the lot. I went to take a look and that’s …’

‘Please go on, Mr. Buxton.’

‘That’s when I saw the turtles. They were gathered around in a circle. I couldn’t tell what it was they were a chewing at. Not at first. I looked closer, that’s when I saw it was a pair of feet. The soles were facing up toward me. They looked blue in the moonlight.’

‘And what did you do then?’

‘I called the sheriff,’ said Buxton. ‘I’d heard the Edwards’ girl was missing, so I didn’t hesitate.’

‘Thank you,’ said Korn, and resumed his seat.

The jury liked Ted Buxton. Attacking him would be a mistake. Kate knew she would do better by making Buxton a defense witness.

‘Mr. Buxton, what time did you arrive at the truck stop?’ asked Kate.

‘Around ten-thirty that night. Something like that.’

‘And did you stay in your truck the whole time?’

‘Pretty much, yeah, I had my lunchbox in the cab. Oh, I used the washroom in the gas station once, maybe. When I got there. That’s it.’

‘Did you hear music from Hogg’s Bar in your cab?’

‘Sure did. After I ate, I put my head down. The music kept me awake for a while.’

‘Are you a light sleeper?’

‘Not especially.’

‘But the music was enough to keep you awake?’

‘Yeah.’

Kate glanced at the jury, then returned her attention to the witness. It was the subtle body language moves that she was becoming more adept at using. She was, in her own way, telling the jury –that was important. Remember it. Now watch this.

‘You didn’t hear a young woman screaming or calling for help at any time that night?’

He shook his head. ‘No, no way. If I’d heard that I would’ve come a runnin’. I have a daughter around that age.’

‘And you didn’t see the victim earlier that night, before you found her?’

‘No.’

‘And at any time that night did you see the defendant?’

‘No, not that I recall.’

‘Mr. Buxton, the prosecution’s case is that Skylar Edwards left Hogg’s Bar around midnight, with the defendant, and that they were arguing. Their case is the defendant beat the victim, striking her to the face multiple times, that the victim managed to scrape the defendant’s back with her nails on her right hand, and that in the struggle two of the victim’s fingers on her left hand were dislocated and broken. Then she was strangled to death and at some stage either that night, or the day after, she was buried where you found her. You understand that is the prosecution’s case?’

‘I guess,’ said Buxton.