paying his vastly inflated fee. A bad expert is one who insists he has an obligation to the truth, whatever he perceives it to be.”
Peggy spoke timidly. “Don’t we have an obligation to the truth, too?”
Granny dismissed the remark with a wave of her hand. “Of course we do. Is there anyone here who doesn’t think Zakin committed this crime?” She waited a beat, as if someone might dare respond in the affirmative. “That being so, we have an obligation to get a conviction. And we don’t want our work screwed up by some expert who decides to wrestle with his conscience during cross-examination. Got it, Peggy?”
Peggy bit her tongue. Stupid, stupid, stupid …
“What about on the personal side, Troy? Have we got motive sized up?”
Troy leaned forward a bit. “I think so, yes.”
“Don’t think, Troy. Know.”
He corrected himself. “I, uh, know so. I’m certain.”
“You’d better be.”
“I’ve reviewed Grayson’s testimony several times now. I think-er, I know he’ll deliver what you want and more.”
“Good. Very good.” Her face curled up in a smile. “I can’t wait to see Kincaid’s face when he takes the stand.”
Troy seemed disturbed. “But-um-can I ask one question?”
“Just one, Troy.”
“Aren’t you going to have to put his name on your witness list? And when defense counsel sees his name-”
“In the first place, I’m going to delay submitting a list until the last possible moment. Judge Pickens is on our side, so honestly, what’s Kincaid going to do about it? In the second place, I have to list the witnesses’ names, but I don’t have to give a detailed description of what I expect them to talk about. I think I can mislead Kincaid into thinking he’s being called for one reason, then sock it to ’em when he’s on the stand.”
Peggy stared down at the conference table. Was this ethical? But she knew better than to ask the question aloud. She’d only get the same treatment she’d gotten a few minutes before.
“Well, team,” Granny said, clapping her hands together, “it sounds as if we are in fine fettle. If there’s nothing else-”
“I have something,” Peggy said.
All eyes turned to her end of the table. “Oh?”
Peggy swallowed. She didn’t want to speak. She’d much rather let the moment pass and retreat to the safety of her office. But there was an issue that had to be raised.
“I’ve been reading some disturbing reports,” Peggy said, trying to pretend she didn’t feel Granny’s eyes burning down on her. “Some from the DEA, some from local law enforcement agencies. We’ve got a drug lord in town-a major player. One Alberto Vincenzo.”
Granny’s annoyance was apparent. “Does this relate in some way to the Zakin case?”
“I think it might.” Peggy pulled a photo out of a file folder. “This is Alberto Vincenzo.” It was a waist-up shot. Vincenzo was a big man, with long stringy black hair and a scar above his right eye. His face was defiant; his shoulders and chest rippled with muscles. He looked scary.
“Vincenzo has been in Magic Valley for at least a month, maybe longer. We don’t know what he’s doing here. But given the fact that we’ve seen a huge spike in the distribution and use of Venom, it isn’t hard to put two and two together-”
“I’m sure this little lecture is fascinating to Kip and Troy,” Granny said, “just as it is to me. But what the hell does it have to do with this murder case?”
Peggy tried to be brave. She had made a cardinal mistake-she had taken the spotlight off Granny for too long. This was Granny’s show, and she expected to be the star. She didn’t like upstarts.
“We all know the wife of the murder victim was concerned about his behavior in the weeks just prior to his murder. She reported violent mood swings, reckless behavior, extended periods of sleep followed by extended periods of sky-high alertness. In short, exactly the symptoms associated with this new designer drug.”
Granny’s face became set and positively grim. “What are you implying, Peggy? Do you think we arrested the wrong man?”
“No, I’m not saying that. But if Gardiner was using this new drug being distributed by Vincenzo, then Vincenzo is a potential suspect.”
Granny’s face burned red. “So I guess you think we should release our local eco-terrorist, against whom we’ve already got an ironclad case, and go chasing after your drug lord.”
“No, of course not.” She drew in her breath. “All I’m saying is that Vincenzo is a potential suspect. As such, any evidence pointing to Vincenzo is exculpatory as to the guilt of Zakin. Therefore, applying the standard
Granny gaped. “To do what?”
“To give Zakin’s lawyer everything we’ve got on this Vincenzo creep. I’ll be happy to take care of it if-”
“No.” Granny laid her hands firmly on the table. “That is not going to happen.”
“But the law requires-”
“The law requires us to turn over any potentially exculpatory evidence. But this half-baked theory of yours isn’t exculpatory. It doesn’t make the case against Zakin any weaker. It just creates the possibility of a wild-goose chase and a distraction the defense can use at trial to confuse the jury.”
“He has a right to know about any potential suspects.”
“Who considers this … Vincenzo a suspect? I don’t. Do you?”
Kip and Troy both shook their heads rapidly.
“However tenuous,” Peggy said, “there is a potential connection.”
“Am I to inform defense counsel of every criminal in town? Or in this case, every potential but as yet uncharged criminal? I don’t think so.”
Peggy didn’t know what to say. The law was clear. But Granny seemed determined to ignore it.
There was a long and very unpleasant silence.
“Give me the Vincenzo file, Peggy.”
Peggy reluctantly complied.
“I’ll refile this. Where it belongs.”
Yeah, Peggy thought. Like in the incinerator.
“If we had any hard evidence pointing toward this drug kingpin,” Granny continued, “I’d agree with you, Peggy. But I will not feed the defense an escape hatch by creating a connection that doesn’t exist. We have an obligation to produce evidence, not to invent theories.” She leveled her gaze, finding Peggy’s eyes and fixing upon them. “And furthermore, my dear, let me tell you something that
“Yes, ma am.”
“If you’re with me, I want you with me one hundred percent. Otherwise, you can get the hell out.”
Peggy pressed her lips together.
“I’m waiting for an answer, Peggy. Are you with me?”
“Yes, ma’am. One hundred percent.”
Granny waited a good long time before she released Peggy from her penetrating gaze. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. I was beginning to wonder.”
Peggy tried to read the expression on the dragon lady’s face. Did she still wonder? Did she still have doubts about Peggy? If she did, that could be fatal to Peggy’s employment status.
Granny spouted a few more “go, team, go” platitudes, then walked briskly out of the conference room. Peggy noticed that Kip and Troy both left without saying a word to her. She had obtained pariah status; none of the suck- ups would have anything to do with her till they were sure she was back on Granny’s good side.
She was relieved that the meeting was over but disturbed at the result. She knew damn well they were obligated to produce the Vincenzo evidence. True, the evidence against Zakin was enormous, but courts had made
