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“Yes.”
“That test could have just as easily have shown that Alice Co
“Well… Yes.”
“In fact, isn’t it true that if the residue test had been performed, and no residue was found on Alice Co
“Then why would she oppose the test?” Merwicke’s eyes flashed with anger, and Be
“It’s a yes or no question, Dr. Merwicke. If no residue was found on Alice Co
“Yes. But then why-”
“Dr. Merwicke, do you know for a fact that Alice Co
“I assume she would know-”
“You assume wrong,” Be
“Move to strike, Your Honor. Defense counsel is testifying.”
Judge Guthrie nodded quickly. “Sustained. Please strike that comment, Ms. Reporter.”
“No further questions,” Be
And she couldn’t turn away.
73
The defense team, including Lou, huddled back at the office over a di
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“It wasn’t so bad,” Mary said. Her eyes were tired from a predi
“Cheer up, Rosato.” Lou rolled his chair back and crossed his damp loafers. “At least we got a lead on Lenihan. Tomorrow I find Joe Citrone.”
Be
“Oh, I forgot.” Lou saluted. “You order, and I obey.”
“Don’t do it, Lou.”
“I won’t, Ben.”
Be
“Whatever you say, lady, but Joe Citrone is tall.”
“Then show ’em pictures of Citrone. Find me a defense witness. It would make a nice change.”
“First thing in the morning, dear.”
“Lou, I mean it. That’s an order.”
Lou took another slug of Rolling Rock from a green bottle. His was the only beer on the table with all the diet Coke cans. Lou loved beer, always had. It was his one vice, going back to when he was thirteen and his father gave him his first one. Ortleib’s, in the brown bottle, which they didn’t make any more. Ortleib’s was his favorite, classier than Schlitz, a real Philly brand. And Frank’s soda, too, that was from Philly. “If it’s Frank’s, thanks,” Lou said aloud, faintly buzzed, and Be
“Snap out of it, Lou.”
“I can’t. I saw a girl with a tattoo today.” Lou took another slug. “I’ve had all I can stands and I can’t stands no more.”
Judy laughed. “That’s Popeye, isn’t it? Popeye the Sailor Man. That’s what Popeye always says before he eats the spinach.”
“Good girl!” Lou raised his bottle in silent tribute. To Popeye. To Ortleib’s. To old-fashioned bakeries and his well-loved ex-wife.
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Judy laughed again. “The spinach flies into the air with a really loud squirt, and Popeye catches it in his mouth. Then you see it go down his throat and his arms turn into anvils. Or they, like, inflate.”
Lou imitated her. “Right, they, like, inflate.”
“Shut up, you,” Judy said, and threw a straw at Lou, who ducked.
“Plus, girls shouldn’t have tattoos,” Lou shouted. “You hear me? No tattoos for girls! Only for sailor men!”
Mary clapped, suddenly lighthearted. Being a lawyer wasn’t so bad, at least one night a year. “Sailor men? Sailor men?”
“What’sa matter with sailor men?” Lou asked, and they all laughed, suddenly giddy.
Be
“Sing it!” Lou was shouting, and the associates began warbling the Popeye theme song, complete with fighting to the finish and eating spinach. Singing filled the conference room, and Be
Toot toot!
74
The next morning, Alice dressed for court in the small holding room. She hadn’t slept at all last night. Rosato wouldn’t return any of her calls and she had no contact with Bullock or the outside. She couldn’t tell which way the trial would go, but yesterday went terrible. Rosato should put her up on the stand. Alice could sell the story. She could sell anything.
She slipped into a gray skirt and yanked on a silk blouse. It would be a big day in court, the last day of the prosecution’s case. Alice had saved the gray suit for today on a hunch that Rosato would be wearing hers. In the photos Alice had seen, Rosato wore the gray suit for her most important appearances, with matching gray shoes. Co
She started brushing her hair. Rosato’s hair would be freshly washed, so Alice had made sure her own hair was clean and hung limp like Rosato’s. If Alice did her job right, she and Rosato would look exactly identical today. The guard knocked on the door. “Wait a goddamn minute,” Alice called out.
A few minutes later, she was walking handcuffed behind the guard, led through one locked door, then another, and through the narrow hallway to the courtroom. “Like a lamb to the slaughter, huh?” Alice said, but the guard shook his head.
“Trust in the Lord, Miss Co
Alice snorted. “Why? Will he work on contingency?”
The guard opened the door to the courtroom, and the first thing Alice saw was Rosato, sitting at defense table. And she was wearing her best gray suit.
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