Page 130 of One of Us Is Guilty

‘Sure, but you’re not going to like it,’ I said, then played him the recording from my conversation with Larkin, and told him who I wanted arrested.

‘The recording is inadmissible. That means I can’t show it to a judge as probable cause for a warrant. You want me to make an arrest, then I need probable cause.’

‘I think I have some,’ I said.

‘What?’

‘Well, you’re gonna have to pretend that I’m working for you, but, really, that’s only a little white lie. I’m always happy to assist the FBI.’

54

Eddie

‘I’ve been thinking,’ said Harry as we walked along Center Street toward the court building at eight fifteen on a fresh morning.

‘Was any alcohol involved in this thinking process?’ I asked.

‘Of course,’ said Harry. ‘I do some of my best thinking when I’ve had a glass or six.’

‘Anything helpful come out of this drinking session?’

‘You mean thinking session. Anyway, I’ve been researching spousal privilege like you’d asked. It’s interesting. That particular door swings both ways, Eddie. I found a few pieces of case law that might help. The privilege is a shield that is supposed to protect both spouses as a marital unit. There’s a similarity to the fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. These are the head notes,’ he said, and drew out a page from his old leather satchel.

I read it as we walked. ‘You got copies of these cases for the judge and Riley?’

‘This isn’t my first time in a courtroom.’

‘You got any more bright ideas?’

‘I don’t know. I’ll get drunk again tonight and let you know what happens.’

Vanessa sat in court, dressed exactly how I wanted.

She still didn’t know why, but that was okay.

Better she didn’t know.

Detective Lorraine Carey resumed her seat on the witness stand and Judge Tanner glared at me like I was something unpleasant that she’d found on the sole of her shoe.

The jury had had all night to take in Carey’s testimony and the security video footage. Leaving court yesterday with that footage in their minds was one hell of a disadvantage for me. DA Riley and Judge Tanner had seen to it that the jury had time to think on all of that damning evidence without a word of response from the defense. The jury all looked a little more relaxed today, as if they didn’t have to pay much more attention to what happened in this trial. The jury, it seemed to me, had already decided that Vanessa was guilty.

Sometimes, luck plays a little part in a trial. It shouldn’t, really. There is only the testimony and the evidence and the words from the lawyers, but very occasionally lady luck lends a hand. Can that tip the scales of justice one way or the other? Not really.

Can it help?

Sure.

Detective Carey held her chin up high, her legs crossed and her hands in her lap. My little slice of luck came in her outfit choice.

She was dressed all in black today. Black business suit. Black blouse. Black shoes.

Confident and assured today after her strong performance yesterday. The video footage proved that Vanessa had lied to the police when she said she had never been to Molly Green’s apartment. And the jury had seen her being the last person leaving that building before the victim’s body was found, together with the contents of a Nike gym bag that looked, for all to see, as if she was carrying the victim’s head in that bag.

As I stood up to cross-examine Carey, she gave me a smug grin.

Just to piss me off.

Then quickly returned to a neutral expression before the jury saw it.