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“I’m sorry, Andie. I love you.”
“Bye, Jack,” she said, and the call ended.
Chapter 50
Jack was the last one to return to Judge Cookson’s chambers. He took the empty seat beside Imani.
“So glad you could join us, Mr. Swyteck,” the judge said, arching an eyebrow.
“My apologies, Your Honor.”
“Mr. Owens, I don’t see a witness in the room. For your sake, I hope you have one queued up for appearance by videoconference.”
“We do,” said the prosecutor. “We have Dr. Gerald Stone, a senior forensic handwriting and forgery analyst with the FBI’s questioned document unit in the laboratory division at Quantico, Virginia.”
“Let’s get him up on the flat-screen,” the judge said.
The screen was on the wall facing the judge. The courtroom clerk brought up the witness remotely, and the bailiff administered the oath just as if they were in a courtroom. The judge greeted the witness with the aid of technology, and then he addressed the lawyers in chambers with him.
“Mr. Owens will question the witness first. Mr. Swyteck can then cross-examine. Please proceed.”
“Thank you, Judge,” said the prosecutor.
Owens remained in his seat as he questioned the witness, but he seemed well aware that his case was on the line. His opening questions established Dr. Stone’s credentials and experience, which included everything from the examination of signatures on legal documents and professional sports memorabilia, to the analysis of handwritten messages from alleged kidnappers, terrorists, and serial killers. Like all FBI analysts, Stone’s training as an expert witness was evident. Even thoughhe was speaking to a camera, he seemed to be looking directly at the judge as he answered the prosecutor’s questions.
“Dr. Stone, I want to ask you about the handwriting analysis you have been asked to perform for the multijurisdictional task force known as Operation Gibbet.”
With the remote control, the prosecutor changed the image on the screen and brought up a side-by-side comparison of the two samples for all to see. Jack tried to fight his own skepticism, but it seemed that whoever had selected the photographs for comparison had deliberately chosen photographs that emphasized the dissimilarities.
“Are these the two samples you compared?” asked the prosecutor.
“Yes,” said the witness.
“In general, what was the scientific basis for the comparative analysis?”
“Any handwriting comparison is based on two generally accepted principles. First, no two people write exactly alike. Second, while no single person writes exactly the same way twice, certain characteristics reoccur throughout a person’s writing.”
“How did you apply these principles to the two samples you were asked to compare?”
“The same way I would in any comparative analysis.”
“Did the fact that your two samples were written on human skin, as opposed to a document, affect your analysis?”
“Yes. But to be precise, I was not looking at samples on skin. My comparison was based on photographs of the images from the investigative files.”
“Did the fact that the bodies had been immersed in saltwater have any impact on your analysis?”
“Actually, the fact that the bodies had been submerged in water is the single most important factor influencing my analysis to date.”
“In what way?”
“May I take control of the cursor on the screen?” the witness asked.
The judge allowed it, and Dr. Stone answered while using the cursor as a pointer.
“Mr. McCormick’s sample is on the left. It reads ‘goodbye girl.’ However, you will note that the letter ‘g’ in the word ‘girl’ is smudged,”he said, indicating with the cursor. “This is not surprising, given that the body was in water for more than thirty-six hours. Now, look at the sample on the right, which is from Ms. Dwyer. You see the same or very similar smudging in the same place: the letter ‘g’ is not as clear.”
Jack looked closely. The expert’s observation was valid.
