Show of Evil

'Objection. She carried the gun for three weeks. More than enough time to become accustomed to the weight.'

'Uh-huh. Now, Mrs Stoddard, you say you put the gun in your desk drawer and locked it. Can you recall for me the last time you specifically remember putting the gun in that drawer?'

'Come on, Counsellor, she was upset, distressed over...'

 'Mrs Stoddard, when were you informed you were being retired?' Parver said, cutting off Venable.

'On Thursday.'

'You had no idea before that?'

'There was nothing official.'

'I didn't ask you that. Did you have any indication, prior to Thursday morning when Delaney replaced you, that you would be leaving?'

'There were rumours. There are always rumours.'

'And when did you first hear these rumours?'

'You know how rumours are, you don't remember when you hear a thing. I don't even remember who said it.'

'Had this been going on for a while? The rumours, I mean?'

'She just told you, Counsellor, she doesn't know when they started,' Venable said. 'I'm going to intercede here. You're dealing in hearsay. Also it's immaterial - '

'On the contrary, Ms Venable, it's quite material. Some of the other employees say it's been fairly common knowledge - that Delaney was planning to replace Edith, I mean - since just after Christmas. That's two months.'

'I am advising my client not to answer any more questions related to what she may or may not have heard or when she may or may not have heard it or who she may or may not have heard it from. She's already told you, she heard it from Delaney last Thursday morning. That's when it became a fact of life for her.'

'Mrs Stoddard, on Thursday morning when Delaney told you he was replacing you, what was your immediate reaction?'

'I was, uh, I was shocked and, uh, I guess angry…upset, confused…'

 'Confused?'

'I wanted to know why. All he said, all he ever said was, 'Edith, it's time for a change.' My whole life was… Everything was turned topsy-turvy in just a few minutes because it was… it was time for a change. Yes, I was upset and confused and angry. I was all those things!'

 'When was the last time you saw Delaney?'

 'He told me I would be paid for two weeks and I could have until Friday to clean out my things. I think the last time was when he left for lunch Thursday.'

'The day he was killed?'

'Yes.'

'And Friday was to be your last day?'

 'Yes. I guess he thought my replacement could learn the job over the weekend and be ready to start Monday morning.' She stopped for a moment and looked down at her hands, folded on the table in front of her. 'Sorry, that was sarcastic of me. I'm sure she had been working with Mr Delaney for weeks, maybe months.'

'So now tell me, when was the last time you specifically remember locking the gun in your desk drawer?'

'I guess it was Wednesday.'

'So Thursday you kept the gun in your bag, is that it?'

 'Objection. She has already stated that she doesn't remember. She's guessing it was Wednesday.'

'So you don't remember whether you had the gun Thursday or not?'

'That's what she said, Counsellor.'

'I just want to clarify, as closely as possible, when she lost the weapon.'

'It was Thursday,' Stoddard said suddenly. 'I remember putting it in my bag Thursday when I left the house. I'm just hazy about what I did with it after that. It was a very upsetting day. People coming up, telling me they were sorry. That kind of thing.'

'So let's recap for a minute. You bought the gun, took lessons, became proficient in its use' - Parver tapped the target lying on the table - 'and carried it in your bag for protection. At the office you locked it in your desk drawer and at night you kept it under your mattress. The last time you remember seeing the gun was when you put it in your bag Thursday when you left for work. Then you got to the office and Delaney called you in and retired you. And you don't remember anything about the gun or its whereabouts after that. Is that correct?'

'Yes.'

'Good. Now let's get to Thursday. Tell me in your own words what you