Media Madness by Joe Wisinski

Author:Joe Wisinski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, murder mystery, media, reporter, crime mystery, television news, tv news, mystery murder, crime murder, erie pa
Publisher: Joe Wisinski

Chapter 14

It was a week after Summers’ acquittal when Dave ran across Sarah in the WERI breakroom. She said hello, but not with her usual friendly smile.

She hesitated, then blurted out, “Can I ask you something?”

Dave stirred his espresso and said, “Of course. Go ahead.”

“I’m sure this is really hard for you, and I understand if you don’t want to answer.” She hesitated again. “Do you think Summers is guilty?”

Dave’s eyebrows shot up. News people don’t discuss the innocence or guilt of suspects. That’s a jury’s job, and they’ve spoken. And what a callous question.

He looked at her a long time before responding slowly.

“Well, yes. I mean, I thought there was a strong case against him. I still think he did it. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I don’t know. There just seems to be some weird things.”

“Such as?”

“For example, I think what the prosecutor said was strange. The part about Summer knocking out your wife and then going to get the hammer to kill her.”

Thanks for bringing that mental picture to my mind, Dave thought.

Sarah went on. “The prosecutor said he used the hammer because he knew his fingerprints would legitimately be on it. I don’t think he’s smart enough to think of that.”

If this weren’t such a horrible topic, I’d laugh at Sarah talking about someone else’s lack of intelligence.

Dave sighed. “Well, I have to agree with you there. I thought the same thing when the prosecutor said that during the trial.”

Sarah nodded. “And another thing. Why did he use a hammer? Why not a gun or even a knife to finish the job?”

Dave hung his head. “Finish the job?” Doesn’t she realize how much her language hurts?

After a long moment, he said, “Summers once told me that he attended Erie County Tech School before he dropped out. He studied carpentry. It’s not a stretch to think he’d know a hammer can be a powerful weapon.”

“Okay, I see that. But what about a motive? Do you really think Summers would kill Debbie over $100?”

Dave winced, then sipped his drink and thought a moment. “I don’t know. The motive was a missing piece from the beginning. I admit that amount of money doesn’t seem to be enough reason for Summers, or anyone else for that matter, to kill Debbie.”

He sighed and looked at Sarah. “Why are you asking these questions? Don’t you agree with me that Summers killed Debbie?”

“Well, I don’t know. The jury said he was innocent.”

“No, they didn’t. They acquitted him. Look, you understand the difference between being innocent and being acquitted, right?”

Her blank look told him she didn’t.

He sighed again. It’s ridiculous that I have to explain this. He ticked his points off on his fingers. “Being innocent literally means someone didn’t commit a crime. Acquitted means the prosecution failed to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that a suspect committed a crime. Think of O. J. Simpson. He was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend. Was he innocent? Well, that’s another matter.”

Sarah nodded. “I get it.

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