AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The last Haitian finished their statement at 3:30PM.
Grant asked Hunter, “Is there anything you would like to add to these testimonies?”
John touched Hunter’s forearm as a warning not to blow up. She took a deep breath, let it out and said, “Did you and the other attorneys listen to the sworn testimony tape Andre and I made at Krome? The woman’s name was Molita Issone, and she was also on the ship that Jean Claude Villard captained. Her story is the real one, and she was poisoned for speaking out against him.” She indicated Villard with a nod of her head.
Grant said, “We listened to it, and took it into consideration. She had no evidence to back up her version–,”
“Neither do the forty who spoke today.” Hunter said.
Grant said, “But they are forty to one, Agent Kincaid. Nothing was found on the ship to contradict the testimony today.”
“And the fact that Molita Issone was murdered while in government custody, that doesn’t tell you something?”
“She wasn’t murdered. We received the results yesterday, and the results collaborate testimonies from others who were in Krome with Ms. Issone.”
Hunter said, “What were the results, since you kept it as a surprise until after this, this whatever it was today. Can you tell us now?”
Grant said, “Agent Kincaid, Agent Benton, and Detectives Quick and Ishtee, we are not your enemies here. We have to be able to present a case that has enough evidence to get a conviction, and this has none of that.”
John said, “You’re dodging the question. What were the results?”
Grant said, “She self-overdosed on illegal drugs. The others said Ms. Issone was a drug user, and was desperate while in Krome, so she resorted to making her own drugs from what she could obtain.”
Andre said, “Unless she had access to the pharmacy, what could she have?”
“She was an herbalist in Haiti. At Krome, a witness saw her catch several cane toads and collect the secretions from their backs after she agitated and squeezed them. The witness also saw Ms. Issone find foxglove growing in a flowerbed. She took several plants. There were other plant signatures that turned up in the toxicology report, but the cane toad secretions and the foxglove were primary, and caused her erratic behavior and her death. She also had stomach ulcers, which resulted in the blood in her vomit. One witness saw her put the ingredients in her breakfast that morning before your interview.”
John said, “And what we saw happening when the ship came in and grounded?”
“Your testimonies don’t contradict what these witnesses said today. And Agent Benton, you arrived after the fact and did not see Mr. Villard at the scene, am I correct?”
Andre said, “Yes.”
Grant said, “All right. Are there any more questions or statements?”
Hunter said, “I’d like to say that whoever coached those people on their testimony did a bang-up job. Forty statements, and all of them almost identical. I thought for a while that someone had a teleprompter in the room feeding the witnesses lines. But that wouldn’t be right, would it? Someone telling them what to say?” she widened her eyes and opened her mouth as if realizing something, “Why, that would make all of them guilty of perjury.” Hunter held up her index finger as if making a point, “Ah, but it wouldn’t be perjury, because we–” she looked at Grant, “made the decision not to do this in court.”
No one said a word. Grant’s face reddened. He shuffled papers for a moment and then said, “I recommend that Jean Claude Villard be released, and all charges against him dropped.” He faced Jean Claude, “Mr. Villard, you are free to go.”
Jean Claude rose, looked at Hunter and pointed his hand sideways at her, gangsta style, with the first two fingers extended like a pistol and the thumb cocked like the hammer, then he
left the room.
John said, “That sonofabitch.” Hunter saw a vein pulsing in his temple.
Villard’s display and John’s response didn’t faze Woodson. He said to Grant, “I assume this concludes our business?”
Grant said, “It does, Mr. Woodson, thank you for your input on this matter.” Woodson left, and when the door closed, Grant rose from his chair and faced the others. “He’s guilty and we all know it. But without evidence there’s no chance to win.” He looked at Hunter, “I’m as pissed as you are, but pressure on this comes from very high up, and if I’m going to be fired, I want it to be because we won the case.”
Hunter asked, “Did someone threaten you?”
“They’re more subtle than that. These are politicians and lawyers we’re talking about.”
“Was it the U.S. Attorney?”
Grant had a grim smile, “Not hardly. He excused himself because he’s furious about being told what to do. He believes Villard is guilty.”
“Then why don’t we push it?” Hunter said.
