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

trial,” Bader explained.

“If that's the way it is, so be it,” Pearl replied.

“ Here's what I have been doing. I'm trying to line up an expert witness, one that's knowledgeable about the subject of DNA. I haven't got him yet but I'm trying. I also spoke to Sally Burns. She didn't bad mouth you so I might bring her in to testify what a good, outstanding member of the community you are. One problem did come up. Sally told me that your day off at the diner is Sunday. Wanda Brewer was killed on a Sunday. The prosecutor is going to bring that out in court. Where were you on Sunday, June 21, 2015?,” asked Bader.

“As I recall I slept in to bout eleven in the morning. Then I went to visit my girlfriend,” said Pearl.

“What's her name and where does she live?”

“Violet Beal and she lives right down the street from me in Egg Harbor.”

“Can I use her as a character witness for you?”

“Far's I know.”

“OK, I have your birth date. Where were you born?”

“Newark.”

“And, you've never been arrested before this?”

“No sir.”

“Alright, just sit tight. Do you need anything?”

“Could use some scratch.”

“What for?”

“Jail commissary. Like I say. Food bad in here, cash gets me something tasty now and then.”

Bader reached into his rear pocket, removed his wallet opened it and took out a bill. “Here's ten dollars,” he said.

“Thanks.”

When he returned to the office he was met by Nancy. “How did it go?”, she asked.

“Fine. We might have sort of an alibi witness. Pearl claims he was with his girlfriend on the afternoon of June twenty-first. Her names is Violet Beal. Put her down as a witness.” he answered.

“Anything else?”

“Pearl says he was born in Newark.”

“Good, that gives us a place to start in checking on his adoption. From there we can do a background check,” said Nancy.

“Did anything new happen while I was out of the office?” Adam asked.

“Mister Belcamp called. He wants you to call him when you're free,” said Nancy.

“He probably wants to offer the plea bargain again.”

Bader sat down at his desk, dialed the number for the county prosecutor's office and told whoever the woman was that answered his call that he wished to speak to Mister Belcamp.

He waited a few minutes then heard Belcamp's voice on the line.

“This is Charles Belcamp.”

“Adam Bader. You wanted me to call you.”

“Ah, yes Mister Bader. I notice you haven't asked for what I have in the State's case against your client. Under your right to discovery, I have had my people prepare to send you all that I have at the moment. At the same time and since you have asked for a continuance I assume that you don't have too much that I'd be anxious to see. In that regard, I'll wait. I will mention again the plea bargain should you change your mind,” said Belcamp.

“Thank you, Mister Belcamp. I appreciate your professionalism. I will return the favor when you are ready.”

“Oh, you're welcome. Call if you need anything. If not, I'll see you in court.”

“Yes, you will.....Yes, you will. Good by.”

After hanging up the telephone Bader turned to Nancy and said, “Getting back to Pearl's adoption, contact Frank Melber again. Give him what information we have and have him investigate. Adoption records are difficult to obtain so the more information we have the easier it should be. Then if we hit a stone wall then we'll have to subpoena the adoption records.”

“ Alright,”

“Say? When are you scheduled to take the Bar exam?”, Adam asked.

“At the end of this week. I'll be gone Thursday and Friday,” Nancy replied.

“Well, if you pass we'll have to celebrate with a nice dinner,” Bader suggested.

“Oh, I'll pass.”

“ Sure of yourself, aren't you?”

“Always.”

“In that case, I'll make a reservation for Saturday evening.

Which to you prefer, French or Italian cuisine?,” he asked.

“I like both. You choose.”

“Fine, what kind of music do you like?”

“Most kinds.”

“Do you like smooth jazz?”

“Yes, why?”

“There's a little piano bar that I know where a college friend of mine has a trio. They play some fantastic music.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“Excellent, well then good luck,” he added.

“Thank you, but I don't need luck,” Nancy responded.

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

The following Saturday evening Adam raised a glass of champagne and said, “ Here's to the next attorney at law, judge or politician. Congratulations Nancy.”

“Thank you,” she responded.

“Now, tell me where you go from here,” said Bader.

“I really don't know. Naturally, I'll continue working with you on the Pearl case. After that, I might ask Walter to keep me on as a lawyer in some capacity, however, as I've told you I have no interest in defending anyone in criminal court.”

“Well, whatever you choose to do I'm sure you'll be successful,” said Adam.

“Thank you.”

“Now what did you think of the meal,?” he asked.

“Different, but nice. French cooking is all about cream and butter but I enjoyed it,” Nancy answered.

OK, then let me pay the check and we are off to “Moe's

Piano Bar.”

Twenty minutes later the couple sat at a corner table.

“What would you like to drink?”, Adam asked.

“Either mineral water or a soft drink. We had champaign at dinner. I don't like mixing drinks.”

“Good thinking. Then Cokes it is.”

“As they talked the trio began to play, “Moonlight In Vermont.” “My they are good, particularly the piano player,” said Nancy.

“That's Dan Kaplan, a guy I went to school with. His ambition was to be a concert pianist. He studied at Julliard

but something happened and that desire never materialized.

As a result, he then turned to popular music and smooth jazz,”

Adam explained.

“Well, he is excellent.”

“Good, later if you want I'll introduce you to him. Now, Miss Milner, since I have you out of the office and in an informal setting this is an excellent opportunity for you to tell me all about yourself, ”said Bader.

“There's not much to tell.”I'm the product of divorced parents and at an early age made the decision to study hard and choose a career,” Nancy replied.

“Why did you select the law?”, he asked.

“It was either that or medicine. Rutgers has an excellent law school.”

“ Not wishing to get personal but I notice there's no ring on your finger, either engagement or wedding,” said Adam.

“That's probably because I'm not interested in either at the moment.”

“Really, you're young, attractive and single. I'm sure guys have been hitting on you.”

“Oh, they do. They also move away when they realize that in most cases I'm more intelligent then they are.”

“That, I believe,” Adam replied.

“Do you dance Adam?”, she asked.

“Awkwardly I've been told,” he answered.

“I'd like to dance. Could you ask your friend if he could play, “Misty?”

“Sure, I'm certain he can.”

She watched as Adam walked to the small raised area that served as a stage for the drummer, bass player and Dan Kaplan at the piano. The trio waited until Bader returned to the table where Nancy sat. When the music began Adam offered his hand. She stood and took it. Then, he took her in his arms and began to move with her across the dance floor.

With her, in his arms, he became aware of the scent of her. The mixed aroma of shampoo and cologne made him suddenly realize that he enjoyed the feel of her, the smell of her and the sound of her voice. Halfway through the dance, she leaned her head on his chest and he wanted to kiss the top of her head. It was at that moment that he forced himself to think of her only as just another legal mind, one assigned to him to build a defense in a court of law.

On the following Monday morning, Adam and Nancy sat ready to hear Frank Melber's report.

“First, let me tell you just how difficult it is to obtain any information about patient records in a hospital. It cost me a twenty dollar bill in every hospital I entered in Newark. Most of the time I got zilch. None of them had a record of a Ronald Pearl being born in their facility. So, instead of the name, I went with the birth date. Well, at Columbus Hospital I came up with a couple of possibilities. It seems there was a Tyrone Lofton born on July 14, 1986. There was also a Thaddeus Lofton born on July 15, 1986. The mother's name was either Anita Lofton or Althea Lofton. If you ask me, one of them could be your Ronald Pearl, ”said Melber.

“Or it could be the same baby,” said Adam.

“Possibly. Well, that's all I have at the moment. If you need anything else call me,” said Melber as he got up and left.

Turning to Nancy Adam asked, “Well, what do you think?”

“I think it gives us a place to look for adoption records.

If you want I'll start asking the State for information on any Lofton adopted on or around 1986-87. That leaves you to ask Pearl what he knows about his adoption and the name. Lofton,” said Nancy.

The next day, shortly after one PM Adam sat watching Ronald Pearl who sat across from him at the wide table. “How are they treating you?”, asked Bader.

“Could be better, could be worse too,”Pearl replied.

“I need some information,” Adam said.

“Shoot.”

“What do you know about the name Tyrone Lofton?”

“Nothing.”

“How about Thaddeus Lofton?”

“Never heard of him.”

“You've never heard the name, Lofton?”, asked Adam.

“Lots of people named Lofton. I don't know any,” Pearl replied.

“Not even an Anita Lofton?”

“Nope.”

“OK, do you need any more money?”

“No, I've been winning playing Tonk. Been taking these

dudes for their Tastykakes, cookies and candy bars. I'm cool.”

“Alright. I'll be checking in on you from time to time.

Rest assured that I'm building a defense for you,” said Adam.

“Man. I know that,” Pearl responded.

When Adam returned to the office he was met by Nancy who said, “I contacted the Department Of Children And Families. From them, I got a list of adoption agencies from Virginia to Massachusetts. However, since Ronald Pearl said he was born in Newark I'll concentrate on agencies listed in New Jersey.”

“Sounds good. While you're doing that I'll subpoena the State Police for any arrest records on a Thaddeus Lofton,” said Adam.

“Speaking of subpoenas what are you going to do about questioning Violet Beal? If she turns out to be a reluctant witness we might have to subpoena her,” said Nancy.

“Yes, I know. Have Melber interview her and see if she'll co-operate,” Adam replied.

“Do you have her address?”, she asked.

“Let's see. Pearl lives at 307 Huff Road. She's probably at 311 or 313.”

“OK, got it. By the way, the prosecutors file arrived while you were with Pearl,” said Nancy.

“Thanks. This should be interesting. Let's see how many cards Belcamp is holding,” said Adam.

Bader took a seat at his desk and opened the file. He quickly scanned the legal documents wanting to focus on evidence and witnesses. He found the name, Doctor Frederick Elco, geneticists. “I'll have to look this guy up. See just how good he is,” Adam thought to himself. Then he saw the names of the two people that swore that they had seen Pearl fishing on the banks of the Mullica River on June 21, 2015. When he read about the States evidence he found that it contained the jogging shorts of Wanda Brewer and most important the DNA sample found on the victim. The specimen given by Pearl matched that found on Wanda Brewer.

There was no mention of Sally Burns or Violet Beal as witnesses for the State.

“Did you find anything interesting?”, asked Nancy.

“Well, it appears as though Belcamp is basing his case strictly on the DNA evidence. Still, it's early. I'm sure he has his detectives digging for more information just as we are,” Adam answered.

Adam went to his computer and typed in the name, Frederick Elco. When the page opened up he read: “As a graduate student Elco used X-ray crystallography to study the three-dimensional structure of RNA which encodes DNA and carries instructions to other parts of the cell.”

“Interesting. Hopefully, Doctor Kramer can tell me more about this man and just