Page 120 of One of Us Is Guilty

‘The People shall be calling Detective Larkin to deal with that evidence tomorrow, but for now can you tell us more about the footage from the security camera?’

‘Yes, I’d noticed a security camera at the rear entrance to the property. The building behind had been demolished and there were plans for construction. The owner of that site wanted to make sure it was secure for parking while construction plans were approved so he installed a camera overlooking the temporary lot. I obtained the footage from the camera for the night of the murder and viewed it.’

‘The People enter exhibit one-one-three into evidence, with Her Honor’s permission. Let’s just play the relevant parts of that footage for the jury and you can talk us through it, Detective.’

Having heard Vanessa deny she’d visited Molly’s apartment, the video evidence stirred some double takes from the jury.

‘What is the time stamp on the video?’ asked Riley.

‘That’s twenty-two, thirty-two,’ said Detective Carey.

‘And can you describe the female shown entering the victim’s building?’

‘She has blonde hair, tied in a ponytail, white pants, light-colored fawn coat and white shirt. We can’t see a face in this video, but this person resembles the defendant, Vanessa Vanderpool.’

The second portion of video footage then played. Riley paused the video at the exact moment Vanessa seemed to stare up at the camera as she left the building.

‘What is the time stamp on the video?’

‘Twenty-three, fifty-eight.’

‘Who is the person shown in this still image?’

‘That is clearly the defendant, Vanessa Vanderpool. This shows the defendant exiting the victim’s building.’

‘Please describe the woman in this video.’

‘It’s Vanessa Vanderpool, her hair is the same and she’s wearing the same outfit of white pants, white blouse and light brown overcoat. Only this time she’s carrying a black Nike gym bag with a white tick logo in her left hand.’

‘Detective Carey, was the victim’s head ever found?’

‘No.’

‘Would this bag be large enough to conceal the victim’s severed head?’

‘Yes.’

‘From your examination of the security camera footage for this building, did you see anyone else enter or leave the building prior to the arrival of the officers who discovered the defendant’s body?’

‘No.’

A middle-aged female juror shook her head, stared wide-eyed at the image of Vanessa on screen with that bag. Another juror, a young man in his twenties in a white button-down shirt silently mouthed ‘wow’ and turned to the jurors on either side of him. The older man beside him just nodded, while the elderly lady made the sign of the cross, blessing herself and quietly muttering, before they all turned again to stare at the screen.

‘No further questions,’ said Riley.

Before I could get to my feet, Judge Tanner said, ‘Court is adjourned for the day. We will begin tomorrow with the cross-examination of Detective Carey.’

If there was a way for a judge to pour salt into a wound, this one was about the closest. You adjourn the case for the day after the jury has heard the most damaging piece of evidence in the whole case, so they have the whole rest of the night and the next morning to allow themselves to make up their minds that the defendant has to be guilty.

It was as good as the judge telling the jury that there was nocoming back from that, and that they could take it easy for the rest of the trial, safe in the knowledge the verdict had to be guilty.

Harry leaned over to me, whispered so as to make sure Vanessa didn’t hear him, ‘Do you want to know my expert legal opinion?’

I nodded.

Harry said, ‘We’re fucked.’

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