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Joseph Foley stands from behind the prosecution table. “Your honor, the prosecution has no further witnesses.”
I glance back to Klein in the gallery. Her face is still and straight, but she’s looking at me without turning her face directly toward me. Her eyes meet mine and she gives a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. She wants us to call her as a witness.
I lean toward Maurizio and set my hand on his arm. He’s just about ready to call Dr. Dweck to testify about the unreliability of Roycroft’s testimony.
“They didn’t call Klein,” I whisper to him. “They would have called her if she was going to back up his testimony.”
Maurizio looks back at me, scowling.
“Call Klein,” I urge him. “She can testify that I was with her. She’s my alibi.”
“Would the Defense like to call their first witness?” Judge Korbel calls out.
“Just a moment please, your honor,” Maurizio calls back.
Maurizio turns back to me and whispers, “We have no confirmation that she’ll back you up.”
“I know she will.I’myour confirmation,” I hiss back through gritted teeth.
“I’m not gambling this case!” Maurizio replies hotly. “We have it where we want it.”
“Do it!” I command Maurizio. “Call her as witness!” I know it’s a gamble, but my instinct is telling me to take it. I’m sure she understands Maurizio’s strategy, but she still wants to take the stand. Something in my gut tells me she has a reason. If she tells the truth, we can end this case. If she doesn’t tell the truth, then it’s over for me anyway. I realize I’m putting my entire life in her hands. But I trust her.
I trust her.
“No,” Maurizio says. He yanks his arm from my grip and stands up, facing Judge Korbel. “Your honor, I would like to call Dr. Lindsay…”
“Motion of substitution of counsel!” I stand and call out to the judge.
The courtroom goes quiet. I can feel all eyes turned toward me. I can feel Maurizio’s anger boiling up beside me.
“You want to replace your attorney?” Judge Korbel asks me. He sounds unsure of whether he understood me.
“Yes,” I reply. “I would like to represent myself.”
Judge Korbel sighs. “Mr. Barone, you do have the right to waive representation of your current counsel. You also have the right to represent yourself. Do you understand what you’re asking?”
“Yes, your honor,” I answer.
“You may motion to recess if you would like time to consider this or discuss this with your current counsel,” Judge Korbel explains.
“No, thank you, your honor. I would like to continue.”
“Okay,” Judge Korbel says.
Maurizio packs his notes into his briefcase.
“Mateo Barone is now representing himself,” Judge Korbel says.
Maurizio takes his briefcase and leaves the table. I don’t watch him as he leaves, but I hear the courtroom doors swing open then slam shut as he leaves.
“Your honor,” I say, “I would like to call Klein McKenna to the stand.”
25
KLEIN
A light murmurripples through the courtroom as I walk up to the bailiff to be sworn in. I don’t think anyone expected to see the defendant fire his lawyer and then call me, a lawyer for the team that is prosecuting him, as a witness. I’m not completely sure I expected it myself, actually.
