Counterpart - Robert F. Clifton (uplifting novels .TXT) 📗

don't know about you but I also have an empty stomach and an appetite,” Nancy answered.

“ I figured that after we check out the trail we would then go to the diner look it over and while there have either breakfast or lunch,” Adam replied.

“I don't know about you but all I've had this morning is a cup of coffee. I'll be having a breakfast,” Nancy responded

As they walked along the trail Nancy asked, “What are we looking for exactly?”

“I want to locate and examine the place that witnesses placed Pearl when they said they saw him fishing. Then, the place where the body of Wanda Brewer was found,” Bader answered.

“What's that smell”, Nancy asked.

“Sulfur, caused by rotting vegetation in the mud. The river flows into Great Bay. Right now it's low tide and the mud banks are exposed.”

Staying on the trail they passed stands of pickerel weed now in bloom revealing purple flowers. At the same time swamp milkweed exposed pink blossoms. As they walked around a curve in the trail a Great Blue Heron took off from a shallow pool, flapping its wings frantically in an attempt to escape the intruders. Shortly after that they stopped and looked at what they thought was where Pearl had supposedly been fishing on the day of the murder.

“This has to be the place. Notice, the soil here is tamped down caused by people stepping and standing on it over the years. At the same time, it's the only place we've seen so far where one can cast his line out into deep water. OK, I've seen enough. Let's see if we can locate where the body was found,” Adam suggested.

The walk took them past still pools of water where dragonflies darted in and out consuming insects barely visible to the human eye. Sparse stands of cattails grew. Two red-bellied turtles perched on a rotting log as they sunned themselves and yellow and orange St Johns wort was in bloom.

“Up ahead we should be looking for some scrub pines and tall weeds,” said Adam.

“What's that up there on the left?”, asked Nancy.

“Hey, that might be the place,” said Adam as he then turned and looked back from where they had come from earlier. Satisfied he then walked into the bushes and tall weeds. Fragments of yellow tape used to protect police crime scenes lay in the sandy soil. “This is it,” said Bader. “As I see it, the assailant caught her alone on the trail, attacked her and dragged her in here out of sight of anyone coming up or down the trail.

He attempted to pull her jogging shorts down or off but didn't succeed. Then, He either got angry, scared or was fought off. One way or another he then strangled Wanda Brewer to death,” Adam explained.

“Is there anything else we should be looking at here? ” asked Nancy.

“Not that I can think of at the moment. Besides, any trace evidence would have been destroyed by now due to weather and the curious,” Bader answered.

“Then if we're finished here let's go have breakfast,” said Nancy.

After driving to the diner Adam and Nancy entered and sat down in a booth near the windows. A waitress brought them two glasses of water and menus. Adam looked up at the woman and asked. “Is Sally Burns here this morning?”

“Yes, she is,” the waitress replied.

“Would you tell her that Mister Bader is here and would like to speak with her at her convenience of course.”

“Yes, sir. Now do you need time to look over the menu?”, she asked.

“I would like hotcakes and sausage,” said Nancy.

“I'll have the same but could we have our coffee while the order is being prepared?, he asked.

When the waitress left the booth Adam carefully viewed the

large, dining room, paying particular attention to the swinging doors that led into the kitchen. He then shifted his attention to the location of the restrooms. He watched as patrons entering the diner took seats either in booths or at the counter. Deep in thought, his concentration was interrupted when the waitress brought the coffee.

Bader slowly stirred the cream and sugar he had placed in his coffee. He looked up when he heard a female voice say, “Are you Mister Bader?”

“Yes I am,” he answered at the same time seeing a woman in her fifties, short, slightly plump with bleach blond hair that he thought was used to cover up gray hairs that were increasing with age.

“I'm Sally Burns. I was told that you wanted to speak to me,” she said.

“Yes, I do. Won't you please sit down? I imagine that you are busy, so I won't take up much of your time. By the way allow me to introduce you to Miss Nancy Milner, my assistant. I represent Ronald Pearl. Could you tell me how long he has worked for you?,” Bader asked.

“About three years,” Sally answered as she slid into the booth sitting next to Nancy.

“I see and you no doubt are aware that he is under arrest for the murder of Wanda Brewer,”

“Certainly.”

“What can you tell me about Wanda Brewer,” Adam asked.

“Not too much. She was a frequent customer. She usually came in here on weekends either Saturday or Sunday's. She would eat a large breakfast and have her thermos bottle filled with hot coffee. She took it black but would take sugar packets and creamers. I imagine she prepared that coffee the way she wanted it,” Sally offered.

“Do you know where she normally sat while here? ” Adam asked.

“Sure, most of the time she sat on the end stool at the counter.”

“When you say end stool, was it the end stool near the kitchen door or the one near the restrooms?”

“Near the kitchen door.”

“Would you mind if I took a look at your kitchen?”

“ No, just don't get in the way of the help. They're busy getting orders out to the dining room. Come with me.”

Minutes later Adam stood in the kitchen. First, he located where Pearl would have stood before the grill as he worked. Then, he watched as the waitresses came and went through the swinging, kitchen door. He noticed that from where Ronald Pearl worked that every time the door swung open he could have seen anyone sitting on the end stool close to the kitchen door.

Bader turned to Sally Burns and asked, “ Do you have a separate restroom for the staff?”

“No, they use the restrooms located near the dining room,” Sally replied.

“One more question. What was Pearl's day off?”

“Sundays.”

“I see, thank you very much.”

When Bader returned to the booth he said to Nancy, “Pearl could have seen Wanda Brewer from his workstation if she was seated on the end stool near the kitchen door. At the same time, he could enter the dining room on the pretext of needing to use the Men's room.”

“I'm beginning to think you're starting to prosecute Pearl rather than defend him,” said Nancy.

“Not really. Don't you think that Belcamp has already had county detectives up here asking the same question that we have?”

“I'm sure he has,” Nancy said.

“Then I have to be ready to challenge, don't I?”

“Yes, of course.”

“There you go.”

“Their conversation was interrupted when the waitress brought their order. Then as he buttered his hotcakes Bader said, “ I understand that you're getting ready to take the bar exam.”

“Yes, in two weeks,” said Nancy

“Are you ready?”

“I think so.”

“Well, when you pass, we'll have to celebrate.”

“Really?”

“Certainly. I intend to go into court tomorrow and ask for a continuance. By the time we go to trial you'll be a full-fledged lawyer and if Walter approves, my co-counsel.”

“I think I'll stay as the law clerk for the time being,” Nancy replied.

“Why?”

“I don't intend to practice criminal law. Right now I’m leaning to either corporate law or real estate,” she responded.

“Ah, nice clean work. You don't want to get your hands dirty I take it,” said Adam.

“You could say that. I'd much rather argue a contract in court rather then defend someone I know has committed a heinous crime, knowing that if I got them off the hook, so to speak that they would be free to strike again.”

“But, what if you thought your client was innocent?”, he asked.

“Then, I would refer them to you,” said Nancy with a smile.

“Thank you. I'll probably need the business. And, since we are discussing the law, how are you making out with getting in touch with Doctor Kramer?Adam asked.

“At this time Doctor Kramer has retired from the college.

I was told that he is living in a place called, Have de Grace, Maryland. I checked. He must have an unlisted telephone number,” said Nancy.

“Well, that takes care of that,” Adam replied somewhat dejected.

“ That doesn't mean I won't find him. I'll go through every

Kramer listed in the white pages. I'll find him.”

“I like that you're so sure of yourself,” said Bader.

“Well, one of us has to be.”

*********************

Two days later Nancy walked up to Adam who sat At his desk. “Remember our conversation about Doctor Kramer?”, she asked.

“Don't tell me that you found him.”

“I called every Kramer in the telephone book. Finally, I contacted his cousin, who may I add was kind enough to give me the doctor's unlisted number. I dialed it and spoke with the noted, Doctor Harvey Kramer. I explained our position and arranged for you to call him this afternoon sometime after two PM.”

“Why not this morning?,” Bader asked.

“Do you think that I was going to insist on a time or argue with him?”

“No, of course not. Sorry, I'm a bit anxious. I need him as my DNA expert,” Adam explained.

At five minutes after two PM Nancy handed the telephone receiver to Adam. “Doctor Kramer is on the line,” she said.

“Hello, Doctor Kramer. My name is Adam Bader. I'm currently an attorney representing a young man accused of committing a homicide. There are a couple of eyewitnesses supposedly placing him near the crime scene. There is also other circumstantial evidence. At present, the damaging factor in the State's case is the DNA evidence that is said to be related to my client.

“I have read your paper on the fact that you supported the governments admission that many mistakes are made when it comes to DNA. In particular, you mention that one hundred and sixty-six DNA samples were mistakenly off by a single point.

That fact alone is what I need from you in court. I need you to testify to that and any other theory you may have in relation to mistakes made in DNA testing.”

“I see. Mister Bader I do not wish to come across as dogmatic but I am retired and not interested in a new career posing as an expert in genetics particularly when it comes to DNA and its testing. Such a thing pits me against possible friends and colleagues. I hope you understand,” said the doctor.

“Isn't there any way that I might persuade you sir?,” Adam asked.

My dear sir, if you should come up with something extraordinary related to DNA and its testing I would be more than happy to listen to what you have to say. However, at the same time allow me to inform you that there isn't too much that I haven't seen. Unfortunately, at this time I am not interested.”

“I understand sir. Thank you for taking my call,” said Bader.

Adam turned to Nancy as he handed her the receiver. “Well, at least we tried,” he said.

“Yes, but I'm keeping his telephone number on file in the case,” she replied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Four

Tyrone Lofton

 

Bader sat watching Ronald Pearl eating a ham and cheese sandwich. “Thanks, man. Don't get too much variety when it comes to eating here. Get hard boiled eggs, one piece of toast with black coffee for breakfast. Supper be hot dogs,” said Pearl.

“Your welcome. Now, the reason I'm here is I just came from the court. I asked for a continence. That means an extension of time which allows me to prepare our defense. So, you'll be here a bit longer waiting to go to