An Unspeakable Crime: A Novel of America's First Courtroom Scandal by Theresa Lorella

Author:Theresa Lorella [Lorella, Theresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lorella Rose Publishing
Published: 2019-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“WHAT ARE YOU GOING to do, Patrick?” Marshall’s question was innocent enough, but irritated Henry. How had he ended up as the sole savior of Richard Randolph? It had been the plan that he would cross-examine the witnesses, so it was technically on his shoulders. It was just the nonchalance of Marshall that was irritating Henry. Likely John would have no problem sleeping through the night since the next day in court would be all on Patrick. Well, Henry thought, Marshall would get his long nights when it was time for closing arguments.

“I will do very little, I think. She was a bad witness overall.”

Marshall put down the piece of paper he had been reviewing and looked at Henry square in the eye. “Patrick, she testified that she saw Nancy’s naked body and that said body was clearly pregnant. If that is a ‘bad’ witness, you and I have different definitions of the meaning of that phrase.”

“I suppose we must, John. While I would agree that a certain portion of the aunt’s testimony was damaging…”

“As in the part where she confirmed that she felt Nancy was pregnant, a fact that our client has publically denied,” Marshall interrupted. “And that he noticeably avoided yesterday, I might add.” A fact that had not escaped Henry’s notice.

“Yes, that’s the damaging portion, John. But think of the rest. She was a doddering fool half the time. You can just imagine an old woman with nothing of her own going on, latching onto a scandalous idea—an idea that involves far more, shall we say, intimate details than the aunt has likely experienced in her own life—and then more or less harassing the targets of her fantasies. Honestly, her testimony is that she watched a young girl disrobe and get into the bath. It is very strange and, if you take out the salacious details, very unlikeable. That’s what I’m aiming for tomorrow, John.”

“I understand very much what you are saying, Patrick and I tend to agree. But you heard the courtroom erupt when that woman confirmed an alleged pregnancy and I suspect the justices were simply waiting to get home to have their own excited outbursts. I am worried that the damage is done.”

“Well, it likely is, really. I cannot promise a miracle, but I can promise to do my best.” Henry felt a welcome sense of calm as he made this admission.

“You know, John,” Henry said after a pause, “a big part of me wants to win simply to beat Smith.”

“You aren’t alone there, my friend.”

“I appreciate that. But I am sure you would agree that wanting to beat the opposing counsel is actually a terrible strategy for your client. I need to stay focused on the actual case and not on the histrionics of Smith. For all I know, he is actually a mastermind rather than an idiot and this is all his plan to distract me from the case. No, as much as I dislike him, I shall not focus on him going forward.

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