“Then why wasn’t another photograph taken with them?”
“It was.”
“Really? I don’t have it.”
“You didn’t ask for it.”
“I asked for all evidence to be handed over when I took this case,” said Lee.
“We didn’t have it at that time. When we found them, we catalogued them, and another photograph was taken and put in the respective file. It’s up to you to ask for it, but you were so enamored by the title I gave this one, you weren’t interested in looking at it.”
Lee felt his face flush with anger. The detective was right. He had overlooked it for that very reason, never expecting to be called out in court over it. It was time to put the detective in his place.
“I asked you earlier about what was found buried behind the sheriff’s office.”
“No, you said something about it, but you didn’t ask me anything,” said Robert.
“Well, I’m asking you now. Isn’t it true that two skulls were dug up from behind Sheriff Fuller’s station?”
“Yes.”
The crowd erupted with cries of astonishment. Judge Foley banged his gavel to restore order in the room.
“Yet you refused to reconsider the sheriff’s department as suspects?”
“Yes.”
The gallery grew agitated. That level of corruption in the police department could never be tolerated.
“How could they not be?” asked Lee.
“I didn’t consider it relative to the investigation,” said Robert.
The audience went berserk. This time, all the gavel banging the judge could do would not restore order. Bailiff Tyndale strutted out to the gallery, grabbed the arm of a local disruptive hayseed standing in the aisle, and forcibly escorted him out. By the time he came back to remove another, the crowd had calmed down and taken their seats.
“No further questions, Your Honor,” said Lee. “However, I will request that a thorough investigation be conducted immediately and that the detective be removed from the state police and charges brought against him as soon as possible.”
“I’m leaning toward doing just that,” said Judge Foley. “What a disgrace.”
Robert showed no concern and sat back. He winked at Billy, who bit hard into the side of his mouth to keep from laughing.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN
“Detective Stallworth,” Vaughan asked when it was his turn to question the detective, “there seems to be a lot of explaining for you to do. I, I’m not sure where to begin.”
“Begin wherever you like,” said Robert.
“Is it true that two skulls were found buried behind the police station?”
“It is.”
“Yet it never occurred to you that this might implicate members of Sheriff Fuller’s department in this crime?”
“No, it didn’t.”
“How can this be?”
“Oh, it can be,” said Robert.
“I’m not understanding this at all.”
“That’s because, like Douglas Lee, Esquire, here, you’re not asking the right questions.”
“You could be right. I guess someone who asks a lot of questions for a living like you do becomes an expert at that.”
“That’s in your job description as well, Counselor.”
“That it is,” agreed Vaughan. “Okay then, let’s stop with the shenanigans. Why weren’t the skulls found behind the police station considered pertinent to the investigation?”
“Because they weren’t related to our case.”
“And how do you know this?”
“Because they were canine skulls.”
The audience buzzed with puzzlement.
“Come again?”
“Canine skulls,” said Robert. “They came from a pair of dogs. Gunner and Apache, to be exact. They were police dogs that were buried out back after their retirement and demise. We got a tip that some bones were buried there, and we did our due diligence, just in case. We didn’t want to leave any avenue of investigation open without the proper attention paid to it.”
“I see,” said Vaughan. “But you also said that the two skulls that belonged to the murdered girls were later found. I know this to be a fact because I looked at all the evidence and saw them for myself.”
“Yes, we found those as well.”
“Where did you find them?” asked Vaughan.
“On Eustice Winchester’s property,” said Robert.
The crowd exploded with cries of condemnation. Judge Foley banged his gavel repeatedly.
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN
“Hello? Mr. Lee,” Judge Foley said for the third time, “we’re waiting on you.”
“Uh, sorry, Your Honor,” Lee replied. “If you’ll allow me one minute to confer with my client.”
“We’ve given you ample time.”
Lee and Eustice were in the midst of a heated argument, their whispers beginning to morph into shouts when the judge interrupted them again.
“Mr. Lee!” Foley banged on the bench with his gavel.
“If it pleases the court, I’d like to ask for a brief recess,” pleaded Lee.
“Denied! Counselor, this trial has gone on long enough.”
“But, Your Honor—”
“In my chambers!” Judge Foley slammed his gavel on the bench and headed to his office. Douglas Lee pulled away from a noticeably perturbed Winchester and followed the judge, his head down. Garland Vaughan picked up a file and casually strolled into the back office behind them, smirking at the detective on the way out.
Once seated behind his desk, Foley waited for Lee’s explanation.
“Your Honor, I was completely caught off guard by this. All I’m asking for is—”
“—for the rest of us to wait while you get your shit together,” the judge finished the sentence for him. “This is unacceptable, Douglas. I expected a lot more out of a man with your reputation. What the hell is the matter with you?”
“But the detective—”
“The one I had to rescue you from the first time around. I warned you to stay away from him, which, by the way, could be seen by some as overstepping my boundaries as judge. If it were not for the professionalism and discretion that Mr. Vaughan here has shown, we could be looking at a mistrial. Thank you again, Garland, for your patience in this matter.”
“Don’t mention it, Your Honor” said Vaughan.
“As for you, I told you not to ask questions unless you wanted those questions answered. I shouldn’t have to tell you that. You’re not a first year law student.”
“They were hiding evidence,” countered Lee.
“I object to that allegation,” said Vaughan.
“You don’t have to,” said Foley. “Douglas, unless you have concrete proof to support your assertions, you’d better have an apology ready.”
“But, I—”
“Counselor!”
“Okay, I apologize. I, I made a mistake.”
“Accepted,” said Vaughan, “provided you don’t do it again. Who you really need to apologize to is the detective.”
“Oh, come on!” exclaimed Lee.
“Oh, come on what?” said the judge. “But don’t worry. I won’t make you do that, if only for the sake of your client. He’s the one you should apologize to. Now, we are going to go out there and wrap this up. No more delays. I’m not telling you what to do, but you’d better have a plan. If you’ll take my advice, and, if it’s okay with Garland here, I’d advise you to move on from Stallworth. He’s eating your lunch.”
Lee nodded and composed himself before they resumed their places in the packed courtroom. Rock of Ages wafted in through the open window to greet them.
“Is there anything else you’d like to ask the witness?” implored the judge.
“No, Your Honor,” said Lee.
“Mr. Vaughan, do you have any questions for this witness?” asked the judge.
“No, Yo
ur Honor,” replied Vaughan, barely containing the smile threatening to appear on his lips.
“The witness is dismissed,” said Judge Foley.
Robert nodded and walked back to his spot next to Watts. Billy grinned. “Eustice Winchester’s property?”
“Eustice Adam Winchester,” said Robert.
“Junior,” countered Billy.
“To be exact,” said Robert.
“Clever boy.”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN
Another stanza from the choir next door drifted in from the window behind the jury. Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy law’s demands.
“Mr. Lee?” asked Judge Foley.
Lee and Eustice stopped their whispered disagreement in mid-sentence. Lee glanced at the judge, then back at his client one more time, pleading his argument with his eyes to no avail. Eustice nodded vehemently, and Lee bowed his head momentarily before standing.
“Your Honor, the Defense wishes to call Brother Eustice Elijah Winchester to the stand.”
…thou must save, and thou alone.
“Praise be!” a rotund woman with a ruddy complexion shouted from the second row.
“Glory, glory, glory!” answered a wiry fellow wearing overalls.
Nothing in my hand I bring…
Winchester stopped before Bailiff Tyndale and put his hand on the Bible. He gazed into the bailiff’s eyes with a fiery glare and whispered, “Go on, Porter, bless us with your pious duty.”
The bailiff gulped and asked for the oath, his voice cracking under the strain. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. I do.”
“You may be seated,” said the bailiff as he retreated.
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
“Mister Winchester,” said Lee.
“You may call me Brother, as we are all children of the Lord,” interrupted Eustice.
“Amen!” came from the gallery.
While I draw this fleeting breath…
“Okay then, Brother Winchester, many a vile thing has been said about you during this trial. What do you say about all of that?”
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. It hurts when those you love speak ill of you, but you bear it all the same, for who am I to deny forgiveness when it is I who needs to be forgiven most of all?”
“Forgiven? If you are innocent, like you say, what is it that you need forgiveness for?”
“Let he amongst you who has not sinned, cast the first stone. We are all sinners, Brother Douglas. Are we not?”
See thee on thy judgment throne…
“You know the crimes of which you have been accused.”
“I am aware. I must confess, such wickedness I was oblivious could exist in this world, much less in Alabama. But, alas, here we are.”
“Are you saying that you or your followers took no part in these offenses?”
“I am not here to speak for my neighbors, but to answer for my own transgressions.”
…let me hide myself in thee.
“What are you saying?”
“What are you askin’?”
“Are you guilty?”
“I am,” said the preacher. He paused to allow the whispers to circulate the courtroom before continuing, “but, of what?”
“Forgive me if I must ask these repulsive things, but I must. Did you kidnap the girls?”
“No, I did not kidnap any girl. I stand accused of this, yet, even when lyin’, not one of my flock has ever said that I did such a thing.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Accordin’ to the testimony, which is questionable at best, I didn’t drive the alleged stolen truck. In fact, I don’t believe anyone has been able to produce this ghost truck. I’m no policeman or lawyer, but I think if someone is accused of stealin’ somethin’, that somethin’ should be proven to exist.”
“I never thought about it that way,” said Lee. “You make a good point. So you are saying you didn’t steal a truck or kidnap anyone?”
“Of course not,” said Brother Eustice. “Why would I do that? I already own a Buick, but I can barely drive that thing myself. What am I going to do with a truck?”
“I don’t know. When you put it that way, it doesn’t make much sense.”
“There ain’t no other way to put it, but what do I know?”
“Some of your fellow church members have claimed that you instructed them to do these things.”
“I heard what they said,” said Eustice. “Why would that matter?”
“It matters because, if you told them to do it, then you are as guilty as they are.”
“I’ve told them many a thing over the years: how to be righteous men, how to treat others as they wish to be treated, how not to lie, or lust upon loose women. It seems that they’ve not listened to those instructions. Why would they listen to others?”
“But if they did.”
“If they did right by my word, is it I who should get the credit? If they do ill, should I be to blame?”
“If they felt coerced into action, some might consider you an accomplice.”
“Perhaps,” said Eustice, “and if I did my best to prevent such happenings? What then?”
“It all depends. Did you?”
Eustice sighed. “I’ve always tried to be there for my flock; to give comfort when I can; to give sound advice when asked; to give spiritual counsel to those in need. Sometimes, I come up short. I am but a man. I live with that shame every day.”
“Did you murder the girls?”
“I did not murder the girl.”
“Do you know who did?”
“I will not speak upon my brothers.”
“You can be made to testify.”
“By whom? Satan? He has sent his best to trick us, but I was not fooled, unlike my brothers. I tried to warn them, but they heeded my warnings as much as they heeded the rest of my instructions.”
“Did you have any part in these crimes whatsoever?”
“Yes.”
“What part did you play?”
“Spiritual guidance, but as I said before, I was unsuccessful, or we wouldn’t be here.”
“I think I’m beginning to understand now,” said Lee. “You accompanied the men to prevent them from committing such atrocious deeds, yet despite your best efforts, they did these horrible crimes anyway. After that, you tried to protect them, even from themselves, but still were unable to do so. Is this correct?”
“It is as you say. I have failed my brethren.”
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
Lee sat down, relieved that Winchester didn’t say anything stupid. The angelic voices of Reverend Beecher’s Gospel Revival sang another hymn, one that would have an unexpected effect upon the prophet of the Lord.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN
“Mr. Winchester,” Vaughan asked when it was his turn to question the preacher.
“Call me Brother,” interrupted Eustice.
“As I said, Mister Winchester, you stated that Satan sent someone to trick and deceive you. Would you care to elaborate on that?”
“Evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceivin’ and bein’ deceived. One such demon sits amongst us now, cloakin’ the truth with his wicked lies.”
“Are you talking about yourself?” asked Vaughan.
“Objection!” shouted Lee.
“Sustained.”
“Who is it that you speak of?” asked Vaughan.
“We all know who I speak of,” said Winchester. “Through his shrewdness, he causes deceit to succeed by his influence. He will destroy many while they are at ease.” Eustice turned to the jury and asked, “Can’t you smell the sulfur in the air, brothers, or has the evil one ensnared you, too, with his trickery?”
“Will the witness please address me and me alo
ne?” said Vaughan.
“Sure, that’s what you want, isn’t it? You want to keep that cloak of deceit over the eyes of the righteous men of the jury, my peers. You want to keep them in the Devil’s grasp so that they will unwittingly do the deeds of the Evil One, thus, castin’ their own souls into the fire.” Eustice turned to the jury again. “Heed my warning, brothers, for the Lord has spoken, that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan if we are not ignorant of his schemes.”
“Judge Foley, I implore you to instruct the witness—” said Vaughan.
“When the preacher quotes the Good Book, he speaks from a place higher than my bench,” said the judge. “I will not chastise him for that.”
Choruses of “Amen!” and “Praise the Lord!” rose from the gallery.
“What just happened?” whispered Billy.
“I don’t know, but it’s not good,” said Robert.
“Speak plainly then, Brother,” said Vaughan, trying a different tactic. “Who is it among us that you say has been sent by the Devil?”
“Stallworth. Curse his name,” said Winchester. “It’s obvious. Only he knew where the bones were buried. Only he knew where the gypsy girl came from and what happened to the conjuror that held her captive. The deacons of my flock were weak, I admit that, but none of them told of their righteous actions. No, the detective knew it all, but how? How could he know? There is only one answer: sorcery.”
The gallery erupted with shouts of rage directed at Robert. Cries of “Devil!” and “Satan!” echoed throughout the room. A middle-aged woman seated behind him made her way to the aisle and flung herself on the hard tile floor while babbling in tongues.
“Order!” shouted Judge Foley. “Order in the court!” He banged his gavel repeatedly on the bench. “Bailiff, remove that woman from the courtroom!”
Bailiff Tyndale helped two of the men in the audience drag the woman out the back door. He then walked up the aisle with his chest puffed out, one hand on his baton, daring anyone in the room to continue their outbursts. By the time he took his place next to the bench, the room had grown silent, with the exception of the choir outside, whose beautiful rendition of the religious classic drifted in through the open window behind the jury box.
The Bone Puzzle Page 41