Eight
“I’m screwed!”
Christian muttered as he made his way from the courthouse. His Mother remained tight-lipped as she
caught the heavy glass door. “Okay today didn’t go as I’d planned” said Lennon
as they descended the few stone steps, and were encircled by the local media.
“Come on let’s get you to the car” the man added as he caught him by the arm.
Once home Christian
poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp, he was about to pour himself
another. “Chris, why would
“But not one hundred percent sure?”
“No”
“So you could have gone out?”
“I could have but I don’t think I did…I just wish I could
remember”
His Mother came to stand next to him both staring out at the
ocean.
“I’ll fix you something to eat,” she announced
He continued to look out of the window for a while.
“Where’s Jessie?” he suddenly asked.
“She’s with a friend…I thought it best Chris, if she went to stay
with her for a while”
“Yeah maybe…I suppose she’s gotta get use to not having me around”
“Please Chris don’t”
“We gotta face it Mom I don’t think I can win this”
His mother left the cooker and came to stand by him.
“You will Chris please have faith…God will see you through this”
“Oh puleeze!
Don’t bring God into it!”
His mother pouted knowingly, Christian had lost faith in God long
ago.
Next day he sat in court wandering who the
hell Bobby Walker was, he didn’t recognise this young man at all, yet he seemed
to know all about him. “Could you tell us please Mr Walker where you met the
accused?”
“It was at the police precinct…we shared a cell”
The penny suddenly dropped, that’s who he was, the
African/American guy he’d spoken to but why was he being called?
“Oh I see…how long were you there?”
“Just a few days”
“And in those few days you and the accused spoke yes?”
“Yeah we spoke”
Christian stared at the man.
“About what exactly?”
“Just stuff”
“What stuff?”
“He asked me what I was busted for”
“No I didn’t!” thought Christian.
“Go on?”
“I told him and then asked him what he’d gotten busted for”
“And what did he say?”
“Murder…he said he’d been busted for murder” the man shifted
nervously on the seat.
“Please go on”
“Well I asked him if he’d done it”
“And what did he say?”
The young man cleared his throat then glanced down at his hands.
“He said yes”
Christian sprang from the seat. “I did not!
You lying son of a bitch!”
“Chris sit down,” said Lennon, pulling on
his sleeve.
“He said yes?”
“Well he said if a man needed to die he did”
The prosecutor walked over to the jury and looked them straight in
the eye. “If a man ever needed to die he did,” he repeated pointedly.
Christian pouted as the jury stared at him.
“What do you suppose he meant by that?”
“Objection your honour…how the hell is Mr Walker suppose to know
what my client meant by the statement!” yelled a now standing Lennon.
“Okay…I’ll rephrase your honour…what did you take that statement
to mean?”
“That he deserved to die”
Christian drew in a deep breath.
“Thank you Mr Walker…no further questions”
Lennon stood up and
walked across to the witness, “Morning Mr Walker”
“Morning”
“So Mr Walker you shared a cell with my client?”
“Yes”
“Did you talk about anything else?”
“No”
“No?”
“No”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know…it just never came up”
“It never came up? Very
convenient Mr Walker that the only conversation you had with my client was to
ask if he had committed murder?”
“Objection your honour!”
“No!”
“Isn’t it true Mr Walker that you were put into the same cell as
my client to gather information?”
“No!”
“You’re Honour!”
“Is it not the case Mr Walker that you were the one who brought
the subject up?”
“No!”
“Is it not true that your exact words to my client were “So what
did they bust you for?”
“What? Yes”
“And is it not true that you said and I quote “So what did they
say you done?”
“I err…might have”
“When my client said that they said he shot someone what did you
say then?”
“I asked him if he did”
“And what did he say? What
were his exact words?”
“No”
“Sorry…I didn’t quite hear you!” Lennon said as he walked over the
jury.
“No”
“No he did not shoot him,” Lennon repeated for the jury to take in
“Just one last question Mr Walker?”
The young man looked at him, “When my client said, “If a man ever
needed to die he did…is it not the case that he added “But I didn’t kill him?”
The young man shifted uncomfortably on the seat before answering.
“WELL!”
“He may have done”
“He may have done,” said Lennon turning once again to the jury.
“No further questions your honour”
The judge turned to
the prosecutor then sighed, “Do you wish to re-examine?” The man stood up, “No
your honour” he said “That concludes the case for the prosecution your honour”
he added, and then sat down. The judge
let out a deep sigh “Are you all set to go Mr Lennon?” Eric Lennon got to his
feet. “Yes your honour” the judge looked at her watch, “Then let’s adjourn for
lunch…be back here say
Christian pushed the
plate away then threw down the napkin. “Chris you gotta eat sweetie” said his
mother wearily.
“How can I eat? In another
day or two my life will be over!”
“Please don’t say that?”
“Why not? Mom we gotta talk about Jessie”
“Not now though later”
“No Mom! Now”
“Okay”
“When I’m convicted you’ll still take care of her wont you?”
His mother reached across the table and took his hand in hers
“Of Course I will…but let’s not jump the gun huh? Just let’s get the trial over with okay hon?”
Christian nodded solemnly, “Okay” he conceded as he watched his
mother signal the waiter over.