During the next half hour, Peter brought Mancini up to speed on the torching of Kevin Booth and the discovery of the hatchet. When he finished, Mancini said, 'There's no way Gary was involved with setting Booth on fire. He doesn't have the brains to think up a scheme like that. This sounds more like something Rafael Vargas would do. What did Becky say about that?'
Peter flushed. 'She didn't say much. In fact, she's been really hostile since Booth was attacked.'
'ohr Peter hesitated before speaking again, but he decided it was best for his friend to hear about his real rtason for leaving Portland from him. It was bad enough that he had misrepresented his reason for moving to Whitaker. If Steve heard about the Elliot case from someone else, he might decide not to go through with the partnership.
'There's another reason why Becky is upset. 1, uh, haven't been straight'with you about why I left Portland. When we met that night at the Stallion ... Well, I hadn't seen you for years and, uh This is a little embarrassing..
'Are you going to tell me about that personal injury case you tried for Hale, Greaves?'
Peter was stunned. 'You know about that?'
'No one gives up a job with Hale, Greaves to go to work for Amos Geary. I was suspicious from the start.'
'Who told you what happened?'
'Becky.'
'When did she tell you?' Peter asked, wondering how long Becky had known about his disgrace.
'I don't remember exactly, but it's been a few weeks.
It was sometime after the arraignment. I figured you'd get around to telling me when you decided you wanted me to know.'
Peter suddenly realized something. 'You knew about Elliot and you still wanted me to go into partnership with you.'
'Everyone fucks up, Pete. I'm not going to judge you by one case. You're a sharp guy and we get along. That's what's important.'
Peter felt an immense rush of gratitude. After so much disapproval, Steve's words were lifesavers.
'Thanks. You don't know how much I appreciate the vote of confidence.'
'Hey, I say what I mean. Now, let's get back to Gary's case. Have you talked to Becky about a plea?'
'A plea? No.'
'You should look into it after these new developments.'
'You don't think Gary is guilty, do you?'
'I don't know what to think. I wouldn't have believed he was a Peeping Tom, either. And look at the way he jumped on that girl in the Stallion. Gary doesn't think the way we do. He's impulsive.'
'Gee, Steve, I don't know.. .
'I'm not saying you should plead him out. I'm suggesting you explore the possibility with Becky. From what you tell me, the case isn't going all that well. You don't want to see Gary executed, do you?'
'I've got to think about this.'
'Of course. I don't expect you to decide this minute,' Mancini said as he hoisted his briefcase onto the desk.
Peter stood up. 'Thanks for talking to me. And thanks for being in my corner.'
'Get out of here,' Mancini answered with a laugh.
'Oh, one other thing. This investigator, Barney Pullen, is he any good?'
'Why do you ask?'
'He doesn't seem to be doing anything. Whenever I've been able to get him on the phone, which isn't often, he says he's investigating, but I've only received a few reports, and they weren't worth much. I'm getting worried.'
'If you're dissatisfied, why don't you fire him and hire one of the other guys I told you about?'
'They're not available. The one who works for the Sissler firm said he's been working for them exclusively since February.'
'I didn't know that.'
'Yeah. And the other one..
'Mike Com ton?'
p 'Right. He moved to Pendleton.'
'No kidding?'
'It's too late to switch investigators, anyway. It would take someone new too long to get familiar with the case.
By the time he was up to speed, the trial would be over.'
'You're right. Look, why don't you let me give Barney a call.'
'That would be great.'
Peter shut Steve's door and went back to his office.
He was depressed about Gary's chances, but he was not going to approach Becky about a plea just yet. If things got much worse though, he might have to consider the possibility.
Chapter NINETEEN.
Each morning, the guards waited to take Gary out of the holding cell until all- of the jurors were in the jury room, so they would not see him in manacles. The Harmons had purchased a conservative blue suit and a conservative gray suit for their son and he looked very handsome in them. Lawyer and client had fallen into a routine. As soon as Gary was seated, Peter would tell him how good he looked in the suit. Gary would beam and Peter would ask Gary how he was feeling. Gary would answer that he was feeling good. Finally, Peter would remind Gary about sitting up straight, listening to the witnesses and taking notes and Gary would grow very serious and turn his yellow pad to a blank page.
Becky O'Shay was presenting her case in chronological order. On the first day of testimony, she led off with Karen Nix, who told the jury about Gary's attack and his threat to kill her. Several people who were present at the Stallion that night corroborated Nix's version of the events. Marjorie Dooling testified that Sandra Whiley had been at the Stallion on the evening of the fight. After Dooling described how Whiley was dressed, the bloodstained clothing was introduced into evidence. A photograph of the jeans and the Whitaker State tee shirt Nix was wearing was shown to the jurors so they could compare the similarities between her clothing and the victim's.
Arnie Block gave his account of the fight and told about Gary's flight from the bar. Dave Thorne established that Sandra Whiley left the Stallion around eleven-twenty, about twenty minutes after Gary ran outside.
On the second day of Gary's trial, Oscar Watts told the jury about discovering Whiley's body. Then, several police officers and forensic technicians described the crime scene investigation and the gathering of evidence.
On the morning of the trial's third day, Becky O'Shay called Harold Guisti's name. The hall door opened to admit the doctor and Peter turned toward the back of the courtroom. His attention was momentarily diverted from the witness by Christopher Mammon, who was watching the proceedings from a seat near the back wall. Peter could not imagine why the gargantuan drug dealer would be interested enough in Gary's case to spend his morning in the tightly packed and overheated courtroom. But Peter did not have much time to spend worrying about Mammon because Dr. Guisti had been sworn and was about to begin his testimony.
After establishing the doctor's credentials, O'Shay asked him, 'In your official capacity as a pathologist did you perform an autopsy on Sandra Whiley?'
Dr. Guistl turned to the jurors and answered the question as if they had asked it.
'Yes I did.'
'When was this?'
'Around 5 P.m. on the day Miss Whiley was murdered.'
'Why did you wait so long?'
'We held off until the body was identified. That was between three and four in the afternoon, if I remember correctly.'
'Where did the autopsy take place?'
'Parson's Mortuary.'
