The Last Innocent Man by Phillip Margolin

Author:Phillip Margolin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Mystery, Thriller
ISBN: 9780061983870
Publisher: Harper
Published: 1981-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

“Yes. But did you know the year and model and color on the night of the murder?”

“I…The color was beige. I could see that.”

“And the year and model?”

Ortiz paused.

“No. I only knew it was a beige Mercedes on that night.”

“So it could have been an ’89 or an ’85 Mercedes?”

“I later saw Mr. Stafford’s car and it was the same one.”

“Do you know what a 1989 Mercedes looks like?”

“No.”

“Or an ’85?”

“No.”

“The only time you saw the killer’s face was just before you passed out, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Where were you and where was he, when you saw his face?”

“I was lying on my back on the floor looking up, and Mr. Stafford…”

“Your Honor, I move to strike that response,” David said. “He’s saying it was Mr. Stafford. That’s a conclusion a jury or judge will have to draw.”

“Oh, let him go on, Mr. Nash. I’ve been around.”

Judge Autley turned to Officer Ortiz and smiled. David didn’t like that. It was rare that anyone was graced with an Autley smile, and if the judge was bestowing one on Ortiz, that didn’t bode well.

“Just say ‘suspect,’ Officer, and Mr. Nash won’t get all bent out of shape.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Ortiz said. “I was lying on my back on the floor, my head was against the bed, and the suspect was standing in the doorway.”

“Could you step down to the easel and draw a picture for us?”

Ortiz turned to the judge and the judge nodded. There was an easel with drawing paper and felt-tipped colored pens propped against the wall. Ortiz pulled the easel closer to the witness stand and picked up a black pen.

“This would be the doorway,” he said, tracing a rectangle on the paper. “I was here, against the bed.” He drew a stick-figure bed and a stick-figure man. The man’s head rested against a leg of the bed with its eyes facing the door.

“The door was open. It opened inward and it was half-open, about where I’d kicked it. I guess it must have swung back a ways. He was standing at the door frame, leaning into the room.”

“How far in?”

“Not much. I think his body was at a slight angle, and his right leg and arm were outside the door, but the left leg and his left arm were inside the room a bit.”

“And where was his head?”

“Leaning down toward me. Looking at me.”

“You are certain?”

Ortiz looked directly at David. Then he looked at Larry Stafford.

“I will never forget that face.”

David made some notes, then directed Ortiz back to the stand.

“Were you seriously injured?”

“I was in Good Samaritan Hospital for a day or so.”

“What hospital?”

“Good Samaritan.”

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