Page 103 of Two Kinds of Stranger

‘I visited the home of the alleged organizers of the attack and arrested them, brought them back to the precinct for questioning.’

‘And who were those individuals?’

‘The defendants, Kevin Pollock and Christine White.’

‘What did they tell you during your interrogation?’

‘They made me aware that Mr. Cross had been stalking their home, following an outcome from a court case that didn’t go in Mr. Cross’s favor. They had obtained a restraining order against the victim. But they flat out denied any involvement in the attack on Mr. Cross.’

‘What happened next?’

‘I provided a statement to the court, in support of Mr. Cross’s motion for a restraining order against the defendants, which was successful. It is a much lower evidential bar to obtain a restraining order than it is to get a conviction in a criminal court. I recommended no charges against the defendants considering lack of corroborating evidence of their involvement.’

‘Thank you, Officer,’ said Castro.

Officer Deakins made to leave the witness stand, but Judge Ross told him to wait there.

Kate and Harry had debated which of them should handle Deakins. Kate decided Harry’s approach was more likely to get results.

‘Officer Deakins,’ began Harry, rising and moving into the well of the court. Harry Ford used to be a senior judge, and he brought his experience and respect with him.

‘I have a few questions for you, I know you’re nervous and keen to get off the stand, but this won’t take very long,’ said Harry warmly. He had the indefatigable ability to destroy somebody and make it look like he was very generously doing them a favor. There was nothing to do but admire it.

‘Officer Deakins,’ he continued, ‘you haven’t been on the force for very long, have you?’

‘I passed my probation a while ago. I have extensive training and mentoring with—’

‘That’s not necessary, Officer. I’m sure you were very well trained, and that mentorship only served to enhance your natural abilities for the job. Tell me if this is accurate, Officer, from the sounds of it. Mr. Cross wasn’t able to give you much of a description of the two men who assaulted him, was he?’

Deakins first looked to Castro. When no help was forthcoming, he looked back at Harry. The thing with inexperienced witnesses, or those holding a large and potentially career-ending secret, is that they do not want to be the one to mess up the case. In the end, the witness stand is the loneliest place on earth for the dishonest man.

‘He did give a description. He said one was very large and the other was smaller,’ said Deakins.

‘Well, that narrows down the list of suspects considerably, doesn’t it? I’m surprised you weren’t able to make immediate arrests,’ said Harry.

The jury smiled.

About five minutes, thought Kate.That’s how long it takes to fall in love with Harry Ford.

‘Your Honor, this is a murder trial,’ said Castro. ‘I’d appreciate it if Mr. Ford could take this matter more seriously.’

Before Judge Ross could say anything, Harry smacked Castro’s fastball into the bleachers as if it was an underarm throw.

‘I’m taking it as seriously as this officer took Mr. Cross’s assault complaint,’ said Harry.

Judge Ross suppressed a smile and said, ‘It’s your witness, Mr. Ford. Some questions from you might be helpful.’

‘Thank you, Your Honor,’ said Harry. ‘Officer Deakins, given your extensive police training and mentoring, which you alluded to earlier, I take it that you thought it was suspicious that Mr. Cross couldn’t give you a more thorough description of his attackers?’

‘How do you mean suspicious?’ asked Deakins, welcoming the praise, but unsure how to claim it for himself.

‘One of them broke his arm. They didn’t do that from a distance in a dark alley. They were in Mr. Cross’s home. It would have taken some time. They spoke to him. Threatened him. He would have had ample opportunity to view these two men. Indeed, one might say the faces of the men who put the victim through his terrifying ordeal should be emblazoned on his memory forever?’

‘I don’t know about that. Maybe. I did think he was holding back a little.’

‘He wasn’t telling you the truth about the attack, was he?’

‘Probably not. He did have a broken arm, but maybe he wasn’t telling me everything. Maybe he was withholding the truth?’ said Officer Deakins, relaxing a little on the stand. Kate thought the officer was enjoying the praise.