L.A. Dead

'And did you leave?'

'Yes, I left through the same door I had entered by.'

'And after leaving, did you have occasion to return to the house?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

'I heard a gunshot.'

'How did you know it was a gunshot?'

'I didn't, at first, but when I peeked back through the glass doors, I saw Mr. Calder lying on the floor of the hallway. Mrs. Calder was standing next to him, holding a gun in her hand.'

'She was just standing there? Was she doing anything else?'

'She was screaming at him.'

'What was she saying?'

'I don't know exactly; it was pretty garbled. I did hear her say 'son of a bitch.''

'Was Mrs. Calder directing this abuse at Mr. Calder?'

'Yes. There was no one else there.'

'What did you do then?'

'I ran back to the car. I didn't want Arrington to shoot me, too.'

Stone glanced at Arrington. Her face had reddened.

Chapter 60

Chu turned to the defense table. 'Your witness, Mr. Blumberg.'

Marc stood. 'Mrs. Walters-it is Mrs. Walters, isn't it?'

'Yes,' she replied, her mouth turning down.

'What were you wearing on this occasion?'

'I wasn't wearing anything,' Walters replied. There was a titter among the reporters present.

'I mean when you arrived at the Calder residence. What were you wearing then?'

'I was wearing a robe. I had removed my swimsuit in the car.'

'What sort of a robe?'

'A terrycloth robe.'

'What color?'

'White.'

'Did the robe have a hood?'

Yes.

'When you left Mr. Calder's dressing room, you were wearing the white terrycloth robe with the hood?'

Yes.

'Was the hood up?'

'Yes, my hair was still wet.'

* * *

'You and Vance Calder argued on that occasion, didn't you?'

She looked startled. 'I don't know what you mean.'

'He was all finished with you, wasn't he? And he told you so?'

'No, I told him we were finished.'

'And he didn't like that?'

'No, he didn't.'

'So you did argue.'

Walters flushed. 'If you could call it that.'

'No further questions,' Marc said. 'I ask that the witness be instructed to remain available; I may wish to recall her.'

'The witness will remain available,' the judge said.

Chu stood again. 'The District Attorney calls Felipe Cordova.'

The bailiff brought Cordova into the courtroom; he was sworn and took the stand.

'Mr. Cordova,' Chu said, 'you were gardener to the Calders?'

'I cut the grass every week.'

'Were you present at the Calder residence on the evening Mr. Calder was murdered?'

'Yes.'

'For what reason?'

'I was looking to steal something, if I could.' He didn't appear to be embarrassed by this answer.

'Did you have occasion to approach the rear door of the house and look inside?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

'I heard a noise, like a gun.'

'When you looked inside, what did you see?'

'I saw Mr. Calder, lying on the floor bleeding, and Mrs. Calder standing there, and a gun was on the floor.'

'And what did you do?'

'I ran. I didn't want to be caught there.'

'Your witness,' Chu said to Blumberg.

Marc stood. 'Mr. Cordova, you say you saw Mrs. Calder standing next to Mr. Calder's body?'

Yes.

'How was she dressed?'

'In a bathrobe.'

'What kind of bathrobe?'

'You know, the terry kind.'

'Terrycloth?'

'Yes.'

'What color?'

'White.'

'Did the robe have a hood?'

'Yes, she was wearing the hood.'

'Did you see her face?'

'Not exactly.'

'Was she facing you?'

'Not exactly.'

'Well, if you didn't see her face, how do you know it was Mrs. Calder?'

'I seen her before, you know, and I recognized her shape.' He made a female shape with his hands, and the courtroom tittered again.

'Since you never saw her face, is it possible that the woman you saw was not Mrs. Calder, but another woman?'

Cordova shrugged. 'Maybe.'

Marc turned to the judge. 'Your Honor, could we have Mrs. Walters back for a moment to try something?'

The judge waved both lawyers forward. 'Just what do you want to try, Mr. Blumberg?'

'I'd like for Mrs. Walters to try on a robe for Mr. Cordova.'

'I've no objection, Judge,' Ms. Chu said.

'Go ahead. Bailiff, bring Mrs. Walters back to the courtroom.'

Beverly Walters returned, looking wary.