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

how knowledgeable he is in his field,”

Adam thought.

“What are you thinking about”, asked Nancy.

“Belcamps DNA expert, that and is Tyrone Lofton actually Ronald Pearl? ” Bader answered.

“Well, so far I haven't learned anything about an adoption

from the agencies I've contacted in Newark. Still, it's early yet.

Something might turn up,” Nancy replied.

“Not knowing important things is very frustrating,” said Adam.

“I agree. In fact, I feel the same way. I'm going out on a limb and say, why don't we both unwind tonight at Moe's?”. she asked.

“Sounds good to me. What time shall I come by?”

“Eight is OK.”

“ Dan's group doesn’t come on until nine.”

“Doesn't Moe serve food?”, she asked.

“ Yeah. It isn't too bad. I recommend the fried shrimp.”

“I didn't expect it to be fine dining.”

“Good, then you won't be disappointed.”

At eight-thirty that evening Adam and Nancy sat having dinner at Moe's. “Well, what do you think?”, asked Adam.

“The shrimp are delicious. So are the French fries,” said Nancy. At that moment Dan Kaplan walked up to their table.

“Have a seat, Dan,” said Adam.

“Thanks. I see you had the specialty of the house,” Dan said to Nancy.

“Yes. I was just telling Adam how good everything is,” Nancy replied.

“Don't tell anyone but the secret is that Moe never changes the cooking oil, ”said Dan.

“OOOOH!, Nancy responded.

“Take it easy. He's only kidding,” said Adam.

“True. Well, it's good seeing you kids. Time to get the boys together. Are you both planning on staying, maybe dance? ” Dan asked.

“That's up to her,” said Adam.

“Yes, will you play Moonglow,” Nancy asked.

“Sure, just give me a wave when you're ready, Dan replied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Five

Thaddeus Lofton

 

On a warm rain-soaked morning Adam Bader ran from his parked car to the building housing the office of the Public Defender. Once inside he walked slowly to his desk leaving wet footprints on the wood floor. Upon reaching his desk he stood and removed the blue blazer and noticed the wet marks rain drops had created on his gray trousers. “ Thank goodness the marks will dry,” he thought to himself.

“Do you want coffee?” Nancy called from across the room.

“No, thank you,” he answered.

When she walked up to him she said, “Well how are you this morning?”

“Wet, late, agitated and running out of time. We go to court in three weeks and we both know that I'm not ready, ”he said.

“Relax, I've got some news for you,”Nancy announced.

“I hope to hell it's good news,” Adam replied.

“Well, since I had no luck with adoption agencies in Newark I decided to take a look at those in Elizabeth. Guess what?”

“I can't imagine,” said Adam.

“When I contacted The Adoption Placement Service there and may I add under the threat of a subpoena I came up with the fact that Tyrone Lofton, born July 14, 1986, was adopted on September 9, 1986, by Sonia Pearl.”

“Great, anything else?,” he asked.

“Yes. Frank Melber is coming in this morning,” Nancy answered.

“He probably wants to get paid,” said Adam.

“We'll see,” Nancy replied.

Shortly after ten, AM Frank Melber sat down next to Adams desk. He then opened a small notebook and then began his verbal report. “I really think that you're not going to like what I have to say. You tell me what you want investigating and who you want me to question and I do that to the best of my ability. Now then, you wanted me to question Violet Beal about her and Ronald Pearl on the afternoon of June 21, 2015. I did that. Violet Pearl stated that she remembers Pearl coming to her house that afternoon. When I asked her just how sure she was of that fact she said, and I repeat, “I remember because he asked me to fix his hand.”

“ Now, it appears that Pearl had scratches on the back of his right hand. According to Violet Pearl said he got the scratches retrieving trash that had blown in behind a rose bush in front of his home, ”said Melber.

Adam shook his head then made written notes on a paper pad. Turning to Melber he said, “Well, thanks, Frank. This information will be a big help.”

When Melber left Nancy asked Adam, “What now?”

“You can bet that I can't put Violet Beal on the witness stand now. If she testifies before a jury that Pearl showed up at her home with an injured hand they're going to relate it to the homicide. At the same time, has Belcamp's detectives talked to her and got the same information? We don't know. I'm not going to use her as an alibi witness, ”said Adam.

“Then what are you going to do?” Nancy asked.

“One thing is to ask Pearl about the scratches he had on his hand that day,” Bader replied.

“Two hours later Adam opened a large envelope. It has been sent by the New Jersey State Police. He leaned back in his chair and carefully opened it. After removing the documents he first looked at the police photograph of Thaddeus Lofton. “Son of a bitch!” he said aloud.

“What's wrong?” Nancy called from her desk across the room.

“Come look at this,” he said to her.

Nancy got up and walked quickly to Adam. He handed her the photograph. “Tell me. Who is that?”, he asked.

“It's Ronald Pearl”, she answered.

“Wrong! It's Thaddeus Lofton,” said Adam loudly.

“Are you sure?”

“Here, read this and if I'm wrong then the State Police are wrong. According to them, Thaddeus Lofton spent three years in the Trenton Penitentiary for Breaking and Entering and Larceny. Here's his mug shot. It's uncanny how he resembles Ronald Pearl,” said Bader.

“As I recall, didn't Melber tell us that when he went to the hospital  he came up empty on Pearl's birth. Then, he changed from the name to the date of birth. That's when he found the name Tyrone Lofton, born July 14, 1989. And, he also found the name Thaddeus Lofton, born July 15, 1989.,” said Nancy.

“Yeah, but the births are a day apart,” Adam related.

“What if the births were hours apart? The mother could have delivered Tyrone let's say at eleven thirty PM and then delivered Thaddeus one or two minutes after midnight. If that happened then the dates on the birth certificates would indeed be different,” Nancy explained.

“Good point. I want to review something. I'll be in the library. See if you can get Doctor Kramer on the line and if so get a time when I can call him,” Bader said.

Thirty minutes later Adam returned to his desk. Nancy walked up to him and said, “You can call the doctor at any time.”

“Would you please get him on the line and feel free to listen in to our conversation,” said Bader.

A few minutes passed and then Nancy said, “I have the doctor on line two.”

Adam pushed the lighted button, lifted the receiver and said, “ Hello Doctor Kramer. I hope I'm not bothering you at this time, but I have something rather important that I'd like to run by you.”

“Very well. Let me hear it,” said Kramer.

“Are you familiar with the Bertillon System of identification?”, asked Bader.

“As I recall it has something to do with exact measurement of the body with the assumption that no two people would have the same measurements,” Doctor Kramer replied.

“Exactly, however, even though the system was introduced in the United States in 1887 and relied on as a means of positive identification of criminals there was an occurrence in 1903 that changed everything. A man named Will West was committed to the penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. There he was photographed and his measurements taken using the Bertillon System. Will West's measurements were found to be almost identical to a convict in the same penitentiary named William West. A comparison of the photographs of the two men indicated a strong resemblance to each other although there was no evidence that they were related. The thing that distinguished them apart were their fingerprints.

Now, Doctor, I'm faced with a similar problem. A man who has served time in the Trenton Penitentiary is identical to my client. At this time it is even possible that they are twins. What I need to know from you is the possibility of the DNA being the same in both men,” Adam explained.

“I see. You say that it is possible that the two men are twins. Let me say this. Normally twins will not have the same DNA. However, if they are identical twins then the DNA will be the same and exact.”

“Oh, how I wish you would say that in court Doctor,” said Adam.

“As I have already told you I'm not interested.” Doctor Kramer replied.

“I'm sorry to hear that. While I have you on the line, what can you tell me about a Doctor Frederick Elco?.” Bader asked.

“Elco? Frederick Elco is the State's expert witness on the subject of DNA?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let me say this. Put me down as your witness on the matter of DNA.”

“Excellent!~ Doctor you just made my day,” said Adam excitedly.

“Good, now please allow me to finish enjoying mine. I suggest that you come here so we can meet and discuss not only your case but what you need from me.”

“Is tomorrow too soon sir?”

“Make it the day after tomorrow,” said Kramer.

Two days later Adam and Nancy sat in the living room with Doctor and Mrs. Harvey Kramer.

“Did you have any problem finding the house?,” asked Doctor Kramer.

No sir, I just listen to the instructions given by the GPS,” said Adam.

“I tell you I'm at a loss in today's electronic contraptions.

In fact, I don't know how I survived in the world without a laptop computer and a telephone stuck in my ear twenty-four hours a day. But, that's me. Now then let's begin with what the State has in relation to DNA. After looking at it I'd say they have a very good case,” said Kramer.

“I was afraid of that,” Adam replied.

“Take it easy. I said very good, not perfect. Since I have agreed to testify in court on behalf of your client I suggest that you question me on, DNA and Monozygotic or identical twins.

You are sure that the prosecutor doesn't have this information yet?”, Kramer asked.

“No sir, but he has a right to what information and evidence I have under the right to discovery,” Bader responded.

“No matter. Even if he has he will probably bring the subject out when he has Elco testify. Believe me after what I have to tell you about Doctor Elco he will not be a problem in court.”

Later, on their way back to New Jersey Adam drove his BMW into the parking lot of the Woodstown Diner. Hope you're hungry. This place has excellent food. It's been awhile since I was here last but every time I have stopped I wasn't disappointed,” he said.

As they ate their dinner Nancy wiped her lips with a paper napkin the asked, “ What are you plans now that you've met and talked with Doctor Kramer?”

“Tomorrow I'll see Pearl. I might kick him in the ass if I find out that he's been lying to me,” said Adam.

“Why would he lie? Surely he knows his freedom is at stake.”

“ I have no idea other than the fact that I feel that he's hiding something. What bothers me is that I can't identify what it is that he's keeping from me.”

The next day Adam Bader sat at the table in the small room. He waited as usual until Ronald Pearl had handcuffs removed and the deputy left the room. “How are things?” Bader asked.

“Ain't nothing going to change in here man. Same old shit,” Pearl remarked.

“You've got a point there. Now, look at this photograph and tell me who that is,” said Bader.

Pearl took the photograph looked at it a minute, handed it back to his lawyer and said, “Nobody I know.”

“That's a photo of Thaddeus Lofton,” said Adam.

“That right? Told you. Don't know anybody named Lofton.”

“I know what you told me Ronald, but the guy in that photograph is a dead ringer for you.”

“White people think all Black people look