Lying in Judgment by Gary Corbin

Author:Gary Corbin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder mystery, courtroom drama, jury trial, legal thriller, Portland Oregon Pacific Northwest, romance and crime, murder and revenge
Publisher: Double Diamond Publishing via Indie Author Project
Published: 2018-10-19T00:00:00+00:00

PETER AND CHRISTINE snacked on fried wontons and spring rolls at the bar of the Dragon Boat, a downtown Pan-Asian bistro. He sipped a strong dark beer, she a Lemon Drop in a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Unrecognizable Japanese music wafted from hidden speakers, and kimono-clad Caucasian waitresses scurried between dark, high-backed booths behind them.

After several minutes of light banter, Christine pressed her hand on his knee. “We need to talk.” Her eyes were steady, her tone insistent.

“Okay,” he said. “Anything but the case.”

“Don’t give me that crap. Of course it’s about the case, and your involvement in it.”

“My involvement? That’s pretty simple. I’m a juror.” He crunched another fried wonton between his teeth.

Her gaze bored holes in his temples. “I think you’re more involved than that. Deeply involved. I’ve been thinking about this a lot.” She took a sip of her drink and pushed it aside.

“You’re wasting your time.” Still he made no eye contact.

“Maybe. But some things are starting to add up.”

He shrugged. “They ought to be. The prosecution–”

“Don’t bullshit me.” She gripped his knee harder. “If you want to pretend to the rest of the world you’re some sort of innocent, objective guy who just happened to land on the jury of some random murder trial, fine. But don’t try to pull that crap on me.”

He laughed and turned toward her. “You’re crazy. I can tell you in all honesty I did not want to be on this jury. Had I known in advance I’d be picked for a murder trial, I’d have done everything in my power to avoid it.”

“So you’re trying to tell me it’s pure coincidence that your wife–”

“Ex-wife.”

“– that her boyfriend is a witness on this case? I suppose it’s also a coincidence she left you the same night? You expect me to believe these events are not connected?”

He looked her square in the eye. “I assure you, they are not. You’re way off base here.”

“Am I? Then why didn’t you excuse yourself when they revealed the witness list in voir dire?”

He sighed. “Honestly, I missed it. Hell, I didn’t know his last name, and anyway, I was half asleep. I haven’t been sleeping well.”

“And you’re jittery, irritable, and your attention wanders like a six-year-old’s. All signs of very deep stress.”

“I am under stress. My mom–”

“And Frankie, blah blah. Yeah, how convenient. Now, listen to me. I know you’re involved in this case somehow, and I can tell it’s really troubling you. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? As I told you before, I love secrets...” Her fingernail skimmed circles over the cap of his knee. “And I’m very good at keeping them.”

Her caress sent a pleasant tingling sensation down his leg and up his spine. He stared into his beer glass, three-fourths full. He considered telling her. It would be a relief to share the burden with someone.

He took a swig of beer. Her eyes softened. So welcoming. Maybe he could trust her.

Another swig. She waited. If he told her, she would comfort him, hold him in her arms, soothe his battered psyche.

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