False Evidence: A Legal Thriller (Sam Johnstone Book 3) by James Chandler

Author:James Chandler [Chandler, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn River Publishing
Published: 2021-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

In mid-May, Sam was—as was his custom—in at first light drinking coffee, answering emails, dictating letters, and fulfilling the tasks associated with running a small business. Later that morning, he was expecting calls from potential ballistics and forensics experts in Lucy’s case.

In the meantime, he had other cases and clients to deal with. As a practical matter, he needed the money; from a sanity standpoint, it was healthy to get his mind on other things from time to time. The therapy was helping; he’d spent several embarrassingly tearful sessions with Bob Martinez, but if nothing else, he’d been sober for several weeks and his temper had been much better. While a sense of doom attended his thoughts relating to Lucy’s case, he had learned long ago to avoid getting too high or low prior to trial. Daniels’s presence was helping on that front as well.

Under Wyoming law, if the defendant asked, the prosecution was required to make available the evidence that would be used against her. Sam had asked, and—as required—Cathy had made everything available. He had since reviewed every photograph, test, examination, and phone and computer record. He had listened to the 9-1-1 call several times and had read and re-read the affidavit of probable cause for Lucy’s arrest prepared by Miller and could find little wrong.

That the cops had done their jobs was no real cause for concern—contrary to the way they were portrayed in television and movies, law enforcement officers usually did their job quite well. More troubling was that Lucy’s claim of a struggle was belied by the evidence. The weapon used had only her prints on it. There was no sign of a struggle in the home. She had no injuries. And most damning of all, the ballistics examination did not support her story. Accordingly, a few weeks prior, he had commissioned a ballistics expert from Denver who had been recommended. The expert had a reputation as a bit of a maverick, but that’s exactly what Sam needed. Now, Cassie paged him. The expert—one Dr. Keith Black—was on the phone.

“Dr. Black, good morning,” Sam said.

“Good morning, Mr. Johnstone,” Black said. “According to my calendar, we are scheduled to talk this morning. I have to get to the federal courthouse here in Denver shortly, so I’ll warn you in advance this will have to be brief.”

Typical expert. “What do you have?” Sam asked.

“It’s not good, I’m afraid.”

Sam’s heart sank. He’d hoped for more, but—in truth—had expected this. As ever, hope was not a method. “Let’s have it.”

Sam could hear the doctor leafing through papers. “I have, of course, reviewed the materials you sent me,” Black said. “I reviewed the photographs, the defendant’s statement, the recorded interrogations, the pathologist’s report, and the like.”

“And?”

“And I’m not sure there is much I can do to help you.”

“I’m listening.”

“Well, my analysis is limited to what the medical examiner found, of course—I haven’t done my own examination. But it appears that things were done the right way. The first thing—the most

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