Animal Instinct by Rosenfelt, David (top 5 books to read .TXT) 📗

in the garbage bag.”

“What did you do next?”

“We obtained and executed a search warrant on Mr. Douglas’s house.”

“Did you find any other knives similar to the one that you found in the Dumpster?”

Lillard nods. “Yes. The knife matched a set of steak knives that was in his kitchen.”

“What about the garbage bag that the knife and clothing were in?”

“There was an open box of garbage bags in Mr. Douglas’s house. They were the same make, size, and color as the one in the Dumpster.”

Dylan turns Lillard over to Andy for cross-examination. He starts by asking if Lillard recognized me when he arrived at the house.

“I did. I knew Corey … Mr. Douglas … from his time on the force.”

“Did you recognize his dog, Simon?”

“Yes.”

“Did Simon have any blood on him?”

“Yes. On his paws.”

“When you questioned Mr. Douglas, did you do it in the same room that the body was found in?”

“No, the forensics team was doing their work, so we went into the kitchen.”

“Did Simon go with Mr. Douglas into the kitchen?”

“Yes.”

“Did he have to be instructed to do that, or did he just go where Mr. Douglas went?”

“He did not have to be instructed.”

“When Mr. Douglas finally left, did Simon go with him?”

“Yes.”

“Again without being instructed?”

Lillard nods. “Correct.”

“When you knew them on the force, was that always the case? To your knowledge, Simon stuck with him at all times?”

“Absolutely.”

“Were there bloody paw prints leading to the back of the house, along with the human footprints?”

Lillard seems to fight to resist smiling. “No, there were not.”

Andy pauses for a short while to let that sink in on the jury. Then, “Lieutenant, you say you knew Mr. Douglas on the force. At that time, did you consider him a good cop?”

“Very much so.”

“A smart cop?”

“Definitely.”

“One who understands police procedures and how an investigation is conducted.”

“Certainly.”

“Would you describe your decision to search the surrounding area as a brilliant one? An inspired one?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Was searching the area standard procedure, or a stroke of genius on your part?”

“It was standard procedure.”

“Any good detective would have had it done?”

“Yes.”

“So Mr. Douglas, who you just described as a smart cop, would have known a search like that would be standard procedure?”

“I certainly would think so.”

“And testing the clothing for DNA, also standard procedure?”

“Yes.”

“And obtaining a search warrant for a suspect’s house … groundbreaking detective work, or standard procedure?”

“Standard procedure.”

“So a good cop like Mr. Douglas would likely have known exactly what would be done?”

“I would think so.”

“Were you surprised that he left you so many obvious clues?”

“Somewhat … yes.” I can see Dylan trying not to cringe at this. He’s going to be pissed at Lillard for his honesty.

“In the garbage bag, was there a signed note from Mr. Douglas saying, ‘Arrest me … I did it’?”

Lillard smiles. “I didn’t see one.”

Andy returns the smile. “So just to recap; please tell me if this accurately sums up the prosecution’s view of the situation. Mr. Douglas, smart cop that he was, did not commit the murder and then leave, taking his clothing, knife, and garbage bag with him. Instead, he committed the murder and then stayed there and called the police. He then left all of those items behind, where they could easily be found and traced back to him. Is that about right?”

“I can’t speak for the prosecution.”

“I think you already have. Thank you, Lieutenant. No further questions.”

Andy was brilliant, and I tell him so when he comes back to the defense table.

“Shucks,” he says, “enough about me.”

What I don’t say is what he and I both know. The factual part of today’s testimony was squarely on Dylan’s side. Andy handled it as well as it could be handled, but the “How could the defendant be this stupid?” defense will rarely carry the day.

We’re going to need something more.

LAURIE answered the phone at 10:45 P.M.

Taking the phone into the den where Andy was going over his case notes, she covered up the receiver. “It’s for you. He asked if this was the lawyer Andy Carpenter’s number. He sounds nervous … this is a strange one.”

Andy picked up the phone on his desk. “Hello?”

“Mr. Carpenter. My name is Harold Marshall. I have been following the trial.… I knew Gerald Kline. Well, let’s say I had dealings with him.”

“How can I help you, Mr. Marshall?”

“I want to help you, but I do not want my name used. Can I have your word on that?”

“I would need to know what it is you have to say. But I would certainly make every effort.”

“If you bring me into it or contact me in any way, I will deny everything.”

“I think it would be best for you to say whatever it is you have to say. Then we can go from there.”

There was a silence for a few moments, which became a few more. Andy believed the man was trying to decide whether to continue the conversation or abort.

He continued, “I don’t think your client killed Gerald Kline. I wanted to kill him myself. I am not without resources.”

Andy doesn’t say anything; if this guy was going to get to the point, it would have to be at his own pace, on his own terms.

“Kline was blackmailing me; he had information.… I could have lost my family, my profession, everything I care about.”

“Where did he get this information?”

“I don’t know. I had never met him, never had any association with him. He just appeared one day, and everything changed.”

“Did you pay him?”

A long pause, then, “Fifty thousand dollars. But it wasn’t enough; it was never going to be enough. I was very happy when I read that he was dead. I expected someone else to take his place, but no one did.”

“Did Mr. Kline mention anyone else, anyone he was working with?”

“No. Never.”

“This was brave of you to come forward.”

“I’m not brave at all, and I’m not coming forward. Mr. Carpenter, this is the end of it. I just wanted you to know the truth; maybe you can do something with it.”

“Can