All eyes were on the pretty, young woman, impeccably and modestly dressed in a dark gray suit, a gold cross hanging at her throat. She looked to be just the kind of person you would entrust with your children.
Phil Hoffman did his best to hide his anticipation. Ellen Lafferty had been Yuki Castellano’s star witness against his client. With the information he now had, he was going to destroy Lafferty on the stand and turn her into a witness for the defense. But he had to do it in such a way that the jury didn’t see him as a monster.
After Lafferty had been sworn in and was seated, Phil approached the witness box. He greeted his new witness and then asked his first question.
“Ms. Lafferty, how would you describe your relationship with Dennis Martin?”
“In what regard, Mr. Hoffman?”
“I think that my question was pretty clear. Let me repeat it. What kind of relationship did you have with Dennis Martin?”
“He was the children’s father. And I took care of the children. That was all that mattered to me.”
“Your Honor, permission to treat the witness as hostile.”
LaVan swiveled his chair ninety degrees and said, “Ms. Lafferty, for you as well as for the members of the jury to know, a hostile witness is one for the opposing side — in this case, a witness for the prosecution — who when examined by the other side — in this case, the defense — might not be forthcoming.
“In designating you a hostile witness, Ms. Lafferty, I’m giving Mr. Hoffman permission to ask leading questions. You have sworn to tell the truth. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t, Your Honor.”
Hoffman fixed his eyes on Lafferty and said, “Were you having an affair with Mr. Martin?”
“Oh my God.”
“Yes or no? Were the two of you having an affair?”
“Yes.”
“Could you speak loudly enough for the jury to hear you?”
“Yes. I was. We were.”
“And when did this sexual relationship begin?”
Tears welled up in Ellen Lafferty’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “Two years ago last April.”
“So, more than a year before Mr. Martin was shot?”
“Uh-huh. Yes.”
“And were you still seeing Mr. Martin at the time of his death?”
“Yes.”
“You admit you were having a sexual relationship with a married man in the home where he lived with his wife and children. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“And when Ms. Castellano had you on the stand, you didn’t think it was important to tell us about this affair?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“And how did you feel about Dr. Candace Martin?”
“I think she’s cruel.”
“Were you jealous of Dr. Martin?”
There was a pause as Lafferty’s eyes went everywhere. To Yuki. To the jury. To Candace Martin.
“Answer the question, Ms. Lafferty,” Hoffman said. “Were you jealous of Dr. Martin’s marriage to your lover?”
“Your Honor, do I really have to answer that?”
“Yes, you certainly do, Ms. Lafferty.”
Lafferty sighed, clasped the cross at her neckline, and finally spoke, her words sounding loud in the hushed courtroom. “I wished that I had her life. But I would not have done anything to hurt her.”
“How about Mr. Martin? He wasn’t leaving his wife, was he? Would you have done something to hurt Mr. Martin?”
“No, no. Never. I loved him.”
“And how did Mr. Martin feel about you? Had he promised to divorce his wife and marry you?”
“Why are you doing this to me? You see what he’s trying to do, Judge?” Lafferty said. “He’s trying to make it look like I’m the murderer, when it’s her who did it.”
“Ms. Lafferty, please answer the question.”
Lafferty choked and began openly sobbing. It was as if she’d been saving up these tears for so long, the crack in the dam became a fissure and the lake just came barreling through.
Chapter 66
PHIL HOFFMAN jingled the keys and coins in his pants pockets. “Do you need a moment?” he asked Ellen Lafferty.
She nodded. Hoffman gave her a box of tissues and when his witness was more composed, he said, “Let me repeat my question. Did Mr. Martin tell you that he wanted to leave his wife and marry you?”
“Yes. He told me that a few times. Often, I would say.”
“Did he firm up those plans, Ms. Lafferty?”
“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“It’s pretty simple, really. Did Dennis Martin start a divorce action against his wife?”
“No.”
“Did he take you out with his friends?”
“No. I wouldn’t have expected that.”
“Did you and he set a wedding date, for instance?”
“Dammit, no. He didn’t give me a time or a place. I was taking care of his children. I saw him every day. He told me that he loved me and that he despised
“Or — did he break off his relationship with you, Ms. Lafferty? Did he tell you to bug off? Did he treat you like just another one of his used-up girlfriends and tell you that he was staying with his wife? Is that why you were angry with him?”
“No. We were together and in love.”
“The bastard lied to you, didn’t he?”
“No.”
“Were you mad enough at him to shoot him, Ms. Lafferty? Was this a crime of passion?”
Yuki said, “Your Honor, counsel is badgering the witness to death.”
“Sustained. The jury will disregard the defense’s last run-on question. Mr. Hoffman, that’s twice. Do you have anything further for this witness? Or do you want to be sworn in so you can testify yourself?”
Ellen Lafferty gripped the edge of the witness box and said fervently, “I didn’t kill him, I
“Just like you would never, never, never lie? Right, Ms. Lafferty?”
“That’s right. I would never lie.”
“Did Candace Martin have a gun in her hand when you left the house on the night of the murder?”
“I think so. I thought so. I don’t know anymore.”
“Right. But you would never, never, never lie. Thank you. I have no further questions.”
Chapter 67
