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Champ had him state his full name and occupation.
“Mr. Long, how well do you know Jacqueline Blue?”
Joe shrugged. “We’re not what I’d call friends. She is a fellow editor and we saw each other at business-related gatherings.”
“What is your opinion of Miss Blue?”
“I think she is mentally unstable.”
Keith let this testimony go unchallenged, and when I tugged frantically at his sleeve, he pushed my hand away.
“What makes you say that, Mr. Long?”
“Because she pursued my best friend relentlessly for a year. There are laws against stalking someone who doesn’t want to be bothered and I told him to get the police involved, but he refused.”
“What is your friend’s name?”
“Victor Bell.”
There was a rustle among the reporters. The media had been chewing over the Dora’s Dad angle like a dog with a meaty bone.
“Do you like Miss Blue?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“She was never friendly to me, even though we saw each other every week at our networking group.”
Champ gave the jury a summary. “So, in your opinion, Jacqueline Blue is a cold woman who does not know how to take no for an answer.”
“Exactly.”
Champ smirked in Keith’s direction. “Your witness.”
Keith stepped up to the plate and went straight for the jugular. “You love him, don’t you, Mr. Long?”
Joe started coughing and the proceedings came to a halt as Keith waited for him to drink some water.
“I don’t understand the question, sir.”
“Do you love Mr. Victor Bell?”
“He is my best friend. I care about him.”
Keith laughed and the sound was nasty. “Okay, have it your way.”
I remembered my confusion when Dallas said that Joe was jealous of me. Now it made sense. Joe was in love with Victor and was only playing the buddy role to stay close to a man he could not have.
“Did you ever meet Annabelle Murray?”
“No.”
“Did you ever talk to her on the phone?”
Joe hesitated.
?
