HOSTILE WITNESS: A Josie Bates Thriller (The Witness Series Book 1) by Rebecca Forster

Author:Rebecca Forster [Forster, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2009-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

"In my chambers!" – Judge Cy Norris

"Sit down!"

Judge Norris bellowed as he swept into his chambers. He yanked at the zipper on his robes and fought his way out of them. Behind him Linda and Kip, Rudy and Josie scattered. Linda took a chair, as did Rudy. Josie and Kip stood on opposite sides of the room.

"Your Honor," Josie began.

"Not yet. Not yet, Ms. Bates. You just give me a minute here to cool my jets." Norris huffed. Adrenalin kept him from his seat. Behind the desk he paced like a caged animal; long strides in a short space. His hands were on the side of his head before they landed on his hips. The temperate looking man who had initially taken the bench had a formidable temper.

Finally he stopped, grasped the back of his chair, and hung his head. In the silence that ensued he finally sat down, tented his fingers and looked at them. He was, in a word, appalled.

"Mr. Rayburn. I will not accept that kind of behavior in my courtroom. Period. And I am disturbed to think that your behavior might be repeated in your own courtroom were the governor to allow you to take the bench."

"It isn't my courtroom I'd worry about, it is your own."

"Mr. Rayburn," Norris snapped.

"This entire trial is a farce." Kip sounded off. "You've enabled that woman to degrade these proceedings by attacking me and my father in public when she had every opportunity to ask me those same questions before this trial began. This is a calculated attack."

"You will show this court respect, sir," Judge Norris intoned, "because you have no standing except as a witness here."

"It doesn't matter when I ask a question," Josie insisted, ready to fight with Kip. "I expect a truthful answer. If you were going to turn a blind eye to what was happening in your own home then I had no choice but to bring it to the court's attention." Josie whipped her head toward Judge Norris. "Your Honor, I request a continuance. I need more time to fully prepare now that I have this information. I need to see what bearing the victim's behavior, this witnesses' behavior, has on my case."

"Your Honor," Rudy jumped in. "There is no need to put the court out because Ms. Bates' client has been less than forthcoming. The defense has had ample time to uncover and investigate all aspects of this matter. We aren't talking about forensics that need additional testing, or an eye witness that needs to be located."

"I should say not," Kip drawled. "There couldn't be a witness, or evidence, because nothing happened to that girl. Ask my wife. Ask her."

All eyes turned toward Linda. She sat with her knees together, her hands fisted in her lap. Her face was the color of chalk, her eyes cold as ice as she stared at Josie.

"Why are you doing this to us?" Linda lifted her hands slightly.

"Did you know, Linda? Did you?" Josie asked quietly. But Linda didn't answer.

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