Noel nodded at me, and I got a look of approval from Libby.
'Your witness.' Noel took his seat.
Garcia, plump and confident, approached me smiling.
'Lt. Daniels, you mentioned you've been on the police force for twenty years, correct?'
'Yes.'
'How many of those years have you been seeing a psychiatrist?'
'Objection. Relevance.'
Garcia smiled at the judge. 'I'm simply bringing into question the lieutenant's reliability as a witness.'
Libby stood up. 'Your honor, the very fact that Lt. Daniels has been a member of the CPD for twenty years is enough to establish reliability. It is also mandatory policy after a shooting for a police officer to receive counseling.'
'Withdrawn.' Eric smiled. 'And I'd like to thank the assistant state's attorney for establishing that, as a member of the Chicago Police Department, an officer must surely have his mental faculties in order. Lt. Daniels, how long did you work with Barry Fuller?'
'Two years.'
'And during those two years, what kind of impression had you formed of him?'
'I didn't know him personally.'
'Professionally, then?'
'He did his job, as far as I knew. I never had any problems with him . . . until I had to shoot him.'
That got a chuckle from the peanut gallery.
'Tell me, Lieutenant, how a twenty-year veteran, a hero who was responsible for bringing a heinous serial killer to justice last year, failed to realize the suspect she was chasing was working side by side with her all along?'
'Officer Fuller knows police procedure. Because he knows our methods, he knew how to avoid detection.'
'And did that bother you, him avoiding capture?'
'Of course it bothered me. It's my job to catch murderers, and he was out on the streets, murdering people.'
'Did it bother you beyond a professional capacity? Didn't it, in fact, get personal?'
'I keep my personal and professional opinions separate.'
'Even though Barry is one of your own? You don't hold him in particular disdain, on a personal level?'
'No, I don't. My disdain is purely professional.'
Another chuckle.
'Lieutenant, you testified earlier that, during your visit to Barry Fuller at Cook County jail, Mr. Fuller threatened you.'
'Yes.'
'During your conversation with him on that date, do you believe that you remained calm and professional?'
'Yes.'
'Not personal?'
'No.'
'Tell me, Lieutenant, is this your voice?'
He pulled a cassette recorder out of his pocket and hit the Play button. The female voice that emanated was both high-pitched and vicious.
'Drop the act, Barry. I know you're lying. You remember every sick little detail. I bet you jerk off to those memories every night in your lonely little cell. You make me sick. I hope they fry your ass in the chair, tumor or no tumor, you piece of shit.'
Both Noel and Libby screamed out objections, but my recorded voice could be heard above them, the murmur of the jury, and the sound of Judge Taylor banging her gavel.
'Objection, Your Honor! There's no foundation for this tape. This wasn't previously disclosed at the pre-trial hearing.'
'Your Honor, the State had prior knowledge of this tape, and they failed to give this to us in discovery. Full disclosure goes both ways.'
Libby made a face. 'Foundation, Your Honor.'
Garcia smiled. 'Witness credibility, Judge. Lt. Daniels has previously stated she clearly separates personal and professional opinion. The tape is a gentle reminder of her true opinion.'
'Privacy law, Your Honor. Lt. Daniels had no prior knowledge this tape would be used in evidence.'
'But she did have prior knowledge of the tape's existence, Your Honor. In fact, she's the one who created it.'
Judge Taylor turned to me. 'Is that true, Lieutenant?'
