He took a deep breath, gazed into his own glass, and, in a stupor, reflected on the recent turbulence of his life...and considered what lay ahead for him in the coming months.
Hellman poked his head in the door and cleared his throat.
“Hey. I thought you left.”
“I was getting into my car, but I had to make sure you were okay.”
“Come, sit.” Madison slumped into his soft leather seat and motioned Hellman to the antique chair in front of his desk. “I’m surprised Chandler didn’t make the party. You did call him, didn’t you?”
Hellman nodded. “He said he had other plans.”
“Other plans? This a huge feather in his cap. You’d think this would be something he wouldn’t want to miss. He’d have been the center of attention.”
“I was about to go into a deposition and I didn’t really have time to talk. But look at it his way — at least he was here when it counted. I’m glad you made me call him. When you insisted I bring in a guy from New York, I thought you were out of your mind.”
“Hell of an investigator. We were lucky to have had him on our team.” Madison smiled, his face haggard, the strain of the past nine months etched into his skin like acid on a pane of glass. “And I’m equally fortunate to have you for a friend, Jeffrey. Thanks again. You came through when I needed it most.”
“While you’re so appreciative, I should hand you my bill.”
They both laughed.
Leeza’s call from upstairs urging him to come to bed interrupted them. He reached over to the intercom on the wall behind his desk and told her he would join her in a few moments.
“Well, I’d better be going,” Hellman said as he rose from the chair.
“You okay to drive? You can stay the night if you want.”
“Nah,” he said with the wave of a hand. “I’m fine. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
Madison started to get up; Hellman motioned him down. “I’ll let myself out.”
MADISON LEANED BACK IN the leather chair, resting his feet on the desk. He felt numb as he attempted to sort through his thoughts, his plans for the future. Although it was quiet now in the house, the echoes of the noise from the party still buzzed in his ears.
He lay silently, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest with each breath, the gleeful high of only an hour ago becoming a post-drunken depression. He thought of one of his favorite poems: “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost. As he lay there, he pondered what his life would have been like had Brittany Harding not crossed his path, had she not accused him of rape, had she not tried to blackmail him, had she not attempted to destroy his marriage. Had she not made him kill those two innocent people.
He began to weep, appraising his hollow victory. Physically free, emotionally imprisoned for life. Held captive by his own horrible secret.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A book of this nature required input and technical information that could only be provided by those practicing in the field. Sincere thanks goes to Victor Reeve, manager of the California Criminalists Institute (CCI), and Fred Tulleners, program manager of the CCI, for allowing me extensive use of the Bureau of Forensic Services Library, as well as for permitting me to audit the classes and labs reserved for criminalists, FBI agents, sheriffs, and other law enforcement personnel.
Thanks as well to Nancy Edralin of the Department of Justice, Division of Law Enforcement, for helping me establish contacts within the many departments of the Division of Law Enforcement. Terry Spear at CCI kindly counseled me on the intricacies of DNA testing. John Dehaan, Impression and Arson analyst at CCI, assisted me with the fine points of lip print analysis. Chuck Jones, Manager of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Operations Unit, provided information on the process involving impropriety and penal code violations relative to the California State Crime Lab. Criminalist Mike Saggs assisted me with information on blood alcohol clearance rates.
Thanks also to Special Investigator John McVey of the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office for his time and information. In New York, Police Officer Norene Murray graciously expounded the workings and structure of the New York City Crime Lab and its forensic investigators.
Extensive assistance was provided by Professor Joshua Dressler, McGeorge School of Law, who literally wrote the book(s) on criminal procedure. I thank him for the many hours he afforded me.
Also at McGeorge, Professor Joseph Taylor, former Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney for Sacramento County and former Supervising Deputy District Attorney for Ventura County, provided valuable insight into the mind of a prosecutor. His prompt, helpful replies to my endless follow-up phone calls and e-mails were very much appreciated.
In addition, thanks to Michael Sands, McGeorge’s former Director of The Center for Legal Advocacy and a criminal defense attorney with invaluable experience in high-profile cases, helped me view the case from a defendant's perspective. He devoted many hours to this project, including reviewing and critiquing the manuscript. Without Don Aron, Esq., I wouldn’t have made the acquaintance of the above professionals.
Paul Joncich, anchor-reporter for KOVR-TV, gave me a no-holds-barred behind-the-scenes look at television news reporting. To a first-class individual and a top-rate newscaster, thank you. Additionally, thanks to Perry Ginsberg, Esq. whose concern, lawyerly advice and friendship I will always value; to John Lewis, who stood beside me as only a true friend would; and to David Altman, M.D., who without exception made himself available to answer any questions I had at the time.
Thanks as well to those people who have offered their time, contacts, and expertise in helping me navigate the turbulent waters of the publishing world: author Marion Rosen, Fred Bissinger, Norman Fassler-Katz, and Claude Choquette. I would like to extend a special thanks to Robert Youdelman, Esq., a truly gentle man whose assistance and work on my behalf I will always remember. To Colin Swift, thanks for your
