Why would you do that?
Vasquez hesitated. He had not anticipated this question.
I, uh ... It was a crime scene, Counselor. I didn't want to confuse the forensic experts.
What confusion could there be? Your prints are on file. It would be very easy to eliminate them.
I didn't want to cause the lab extra work.
Or leave incriminating evidence of an illegal break-in? Frank asked.
Objection, Scofield said.
Sustained, Brody said. Stop throwing mud on this officer's reputation and move on, Mr. Jaffe.
Yes, Your Honor. Detective Vasquez, you testified that you met the informant who corroborated the anonymous caller on the afternoon of the day you searched the cabin?
That's correct.
As soon as you had your corroboration, you drove to Milton County?
Yes. I felt I had to go immediately or risk missing the sale of the cocaine.
I gather that the informant who corroborated your information was the only witness you talked to that day before heading for Milton County?
Right.
What is the name of the person who corroborated your information on the day of the search?
I' m afraid I can't reveal that, Mr. Jaffe. He spoke to me on a guarantee of confidentiality.
Your Honor, I ask the court to instruct the witness to answer. Otherwise you will be in the position of having one anonymous informant corroborating another.
Brody turned to Vasquez. Why won't you reveal this man's name?
He would be in great danger, Your Honor. He could even be killed.
I see. Well, I' m not going to risk that, Mr. Jaffe. If you are implying that no such witness exists, I'll just have to judge Detective Vasquez's credibility.
And I assume that you will suppress all of the evidence if you conclude that the officer is lying?
Of course, Brody answered with a scowl, but you're a far way from establishing that, Mr. Jaffe.
The ghost of a smile played on Frank's lips as he told the court that he had no more questions of the witness.
After a brief redirect examination of Vasquez, Fred Scofield summoned several more police witnesses. Judge Brody called a halt to the proceedings a little before noon, and the spectators rushed for the door. Frank and Fred Scofield walked over to the judge and had a quiet conversation at the bench while Amanda started collecting her papers.
How do you think your father did? Cardoni asked.
I think he scored some points, Amanda answered without looking at the doctor.
Cardoni grew quiet. Amanda finished packing her attachT case.
You don't like me, do you?
The question startled Amanda. She forced herself to look at Cardoni. He was slouched in his chair, studying her.
I don't know you well enough to like you or dislike you, Dr. Cardoni, but I am working very hard to help you.
That's nice of you, considering the fee I' m paying your firm.
This has nothing to do with the fee, Doctor. I work hard for all of our clients.
How hard can you work when you think I killed those people?
Amanda colored. My belief in your guilt or innocence has no effect on my professional performance, she answered stiffly.
Well, it matters to me, Cardoni said just as the guards who were going to escort him to the jail appeared. Cardoni turned away from Amanda and put his hands behind his back. Amanda was relieved that their conversation was over. Frank returned to the table while the guards were securing Cardoni's handcuffs.
The judge has some matters in other cases at one-thirty, he said to his client. We should start at two. Fred is resting, so it's our turn to put on witnesses after lunch. I'll see you in court.
The guards led Cardoni away.
You going to Stokely' s? Frank asked Amanda.
Where else? Want to join me?
Sorry, I can' t. I have a lot to do during the lunch hour. Eat a big slice of pie for me.
You bet, Amanda said. Just as she reached the courtroom door she turned slightly and saw Cardoni watching her. His scrutiny unsettled her, but she forced herself to meet his eyes. For a moment she refused to back down. Then a thought occurred to her. It did not take much courage to confront a prisoner in manacles who was surrounded by guards. Would she have the courage to stare him down if he was loose? The odds were that Cardoni would be convicted, but Frank was very good. What if he won freedom for the surgeon? Would he remember her brazen stare?
Amanda's mouth went dry. She decided that she did not want to antagonize Cardoni; she did not want him thinking about her at all. Amanda broke eye contact and hurried out of the courtroom.
Chapter 22
Any witnesses for the defendant, Mr. Jaffe?
I do have a witness, Your Honor. He's waiting in the hall. May I get him?
Amanda watched her father walk up the aisle and into the courthouse corridor and return with a hulking, bald-headed man. Fred Scofield frowned, and Bobby Vasquez turned ash gray.
Please state your name for the record, the bailiff instructed the witness after swearing him in.
Arthur Wayne Prochaska.
Mr. Prochaska, how are you employed? Frank asked.
I manage a couple of bars in Portland.
Would one of those bars be the Rebel Tavern?
Yeah.
Mr. Prochaska, Frank asked, do you know a police officer named Robert Vasquez?
Sure, I know Bobby.
Can you point him out for the record?
Prochaska grinned and pointed directly at Vasquez.
He's the good-lookin' fella sitting behind the DA.
When is the last time you spoke with Officer Vasquez?
Prochaska looked thoughtful for a moment. We met at the Rebel the day he found those heads. It was afternoon. I read about them heads in the paper the next day.
Why did you meet with Officer Vasquez on that day?
He asked me to, Prochaska answered with a shrug. I wasn't doing anything, so I said okay.
Did Officer Vasquez explain why he wanted to talk to you?
Yeah. He said a friend of mine sold some doctor cocaine. I told Bobby I didn't know anything about it. To tell the truth, I was pissed off that he would ask me to rat out a friend.
Was the doctor he asked you about Vincent Cardoni?
Right. That was the guy. Cardoni.
Did you know Dr. Cardoni?
Never heard of him until Bobby showed up.
Did you tell that to Officer Vasquez?
Yeah.
Did Officer Vasquez try to bribe you?
I don't know if you' d call it a bribe. The cops do it all the time. You know, they bust you, then they tell you they'll go easy on you if you'll tell them about someone else.
And Officer Vasquez tried to bargain with you in that manner?
Yeah. I was waiting on charges of possession with intent. He said he' d talk to the feds if I told him about this doctor. Only I couldn' t, because I didn't know him.
Mr. Prochaska, Officer Vasquez has testified under oath about a conversation he alleges occurred on the
