'So, you have no police training?' Tommy continued.
'You've never been taught how to examine a crime scene, have you?'
'No. Correct.'
'And you do not have any special expertise in the collection and interpretation of evidence, do you?'
Major Clark hesitated, then answered forcefully.
'I have no special expertise, no. But this case did not require any.
It was cut and dried, right from the start.'
'So you say.'
'Correct, again, lieutenant. So I say.'
Major Clark's face had reddened slightly, and his feet were no longer flat on the floor, but lifted slightly at the heels, almost as if he were about to spring up. Tommy took a moment to read the major's face and body, and he thought the man wary but confident. Tommy moved over to Scott and Renaday and whispered to the Canadian, 'Let me have those drawings, now.'
Hugh pulled out from beneath the table the three crime scene sketches that Phillip Pryce's Irish artist friend had drawn. He handed them to Tommy.
'Nail the pompous bastard,' he whispered, perhaps just loud enough for any kriegie with keen hearing to understand.
'Major Clark,' Tommy said loudly, 'I am going to show you three drawings. The first shows the wounds in Captain Bedford's neck and hands. The second shows how his body was located in the Abort stall.
The third is a diagram of the Abort itself. Please examine these, and tell me if you think they fairly represent what you yourself saw on the morning following the murder.'
Walker Townsend was on his feet.
'I'd like to see those,' he demanded.
Tommy thrust the three drawings at Major Clark, then gestured toward the captain.
'You can look over his shoulder, captain. But I do not recall your presence at the Abort crime scene, so I would question your ability to determine the accuracy of these pictures.'
Townsend scowled and walked behind Major Clark. Both men examined each drawing carefully. Tommy saw Captain Townsend bend over slightly, and start to speak in the major's ear.
'Don't speak to the witness!' he shouted. His words creased the still air of the makeshift courtroom. Tommy stepped forward angrily, pointing a finger in Townsend's face.
'You have had your opportunity with the witness, and now it is my turn for cross-examination. Don't try to advise him in the middle of my cross!'
Townsend's eyes were narrow, staring at Tommy Hart. Into this instant fury. Colonel MacNamara interjected himself, taking Tommy slightly by surprise by landing squarely on his side.
'The lieutenant is correct, captain. We need to maintain correct trial procedure as much as humanly possible. You will have a second opportunity under redirect. Now step back, and let the lieutenant continue, although, Mr. Hart, I'd like to see those drawings myself.'
Tommy nodded, handing them up to MacNamara, who also took his time to inspect them.
'They fit with my recollection,' he said.
'Now, Major Clark, answer the question.'
Clark shrugged.
'I would concur, colonel. They seem accurate enough.'
'Take your time,' Tommy said.
'I wouldn't want there to be some obvious error.'
Clark glanced at the drawings again.
'They appear quite skillfully drawn,' he said.
'My compliments to the artist.'
Tommy took the three drawings, then held them up above his head, so that the audience could see what he was speaking about.
'That won't be necessary,' MacNamara growled, speaking before Walker Townsend had a moment to object.
Tommy smiled.
'Of course,' he said to the colonel. Then he turned back to Major
Clark.
'Major, based on your examination of the crime scene in the Abort, based on your inspection of Trader Vic's body, and based on your collection of the evidence in this case, would you please tell the court precisely how you contend this particular murder took place?'
Tommy pivoted, leaning back against the defense table, half-sitting, crossing his arms and waiting for the major to tell his tale, trying to impose an attitude of disbelief in his stance. Internally, he was nervous about the question. Phillip Pryce had long before burned into him the credo that no one ever asks a question in a trial that they do not know the response to, and here, he was asking Scott's main accuser to take free rein and describe Trader Vic's death. This, he knew, was something of a gamble. But he counted on Major Clark's ego and pugnacity, and knew that the rooster like officer would walk into the trap he'd set. He suspected the major didn't see the danger in the crime scene sketches. And, Tommy presumed, the major had no idea that waiting in the wings was Nicholas Fenelli, the mortuary man and doctor-in-training, who would contradict everything Clark was about to say when Tommy called him to the stand and showed him the same pictures just as he had already done in Fenelli's bare-bones infirmary. And in this conflict, Tommy thought, Scott's insistent denials would take force and suddenly gain the wind of truth Clark paused, then said, 'You want me to describe the killing?'
'Exactly. Just tell us how it happened. Based on your investigation, of course.'
Walker Townsend started to rise, then sat back down. He wore a small grin on his face.
'Very well,' Major Clark responded.
'This is what I believe took place-' Tommy interrupted.
'A belief based on your interpretation of the evidence, correct?'
Major Clark snorted.
'Yes. Exactly. May I continue?'
'Of course.'
'Well, Captain Bedford was, as everyone knows, a businessman.
I contend that Lieutenant Scott saw Bedford arise from his bunk in the middle of the night in question. Bedford was clearly taking a risk going out after lights out, but he was a brave and determined man, especially when he saw a substantial reward. Moments later, using the light of a candle, Scott trailed after him, stalking him, his knife concealed beneath his coat, not knowing that he'd been spotted by others. I suppose if he'd known that, he might have changed his mind-' 'Well,' Tommy interjected, 'that would be a guess on your part.
Right? Not part of what the evidence tells you?'
Major Clark nodded.
'Of course. You are correct, lieutenant.
I shall try to restrict myself from further suppositions.'
'That would be helpful. Now,' Tommy said, 'he trails him outside…'
'Precisely, lieutenant. Scott trailed Bedford into the Abort, where they confronted each other. Because they were inside that building, no sound they made when they fought penetrated into the rooms in Huts 101 or 102.'
'That would be a wonderfully convenient absence of noise,' Tommy interjected again. He couldn't help himself.
The major's pompous know-it-all tone of voice was too irritating to let pass. Major Clark scowled back at him.
