“Oh, muchas gracias,” Luis said.
“Now, are both sides ready to proceed?”
“Yes, Judge, on behalf of Luis Corona.”
“I may not be able to proceed completely this afternoon,” Santini said.
“Well, better get ready, sir. You can send your two accomplices out to get whatever you need. This hearing will be finished this afternoon.” Judge Hammel looked as if he might not make it through more than the afternoon. “Take a minute to speak to your client, Ms. Katz, and then we will begin with your evidence since you asked for the hearing.”
Santini was on his feet again. It looked like he was going to object to everything from here on out. “Judge, that’s backward. I’m supposed to be given the opportunity to show you why we cannot allow the petitioner to be released.”
“You’ll get your chance. I think I know how to conduct a hearing. I’ve been doing it since you were in grade school. Whenever you’re ready, Counsel.”
I turned to Luis and whispered as quietly as possible. “How do you feel? I need you to testify to everything you told me at the jail the other day. Do you think you can do it?”
“I’ll do my best. I’m a little dizzy and I think I may be running a temperature, but I know this is my chance to get free.”
“Good. I have other witnesses to call first, so you rest and drink your coffee. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I’m ready, Your Honor. We call Miguel Corona to the stand.”
Catherine moved up the aisle to the center doors and led Miguel down the aisle. I had stashed Miguel and Señor Marquez in the hallway, so the government wouldn’t complain that the witnesses had listened to everything in the courtroom and were now tainted. But they hadn’t even invoked The Rule. They hadn’t even thought to complain that the witnesses were not sequestered.
Miguel gasped when he saw Luis. He stopped at our table and bent and planted a kiss on Luis’s sunken cheek. Tears streamed down Luis’s face. The escorts reared up out of their seats like race horses, but before they could complain Catherine took Miguel by the arm and delivered him to the witness chair where he was sworn in.
I began my questioning in what had become one of the most important hearings of my career. “State your full name for the record, please.”
“Miguel Fabrecio Contes Corona.”
“And where do you reside?”
“In Buenos Aires, Argentina, all of my life.”
“Are you employed, sir?”
“Yes, my spouse and I own a chain of high-fashion boutiques featuring Argentine and other South American designers. That’s my wife seated back there.” Maria raised her hand.
“Are you related to Luis Corona?”
“Yes, of course, he’s my only son.”
“Now did you have an occasion to send Luis to the United States some weeks ago?”
“Yes, I did. We were in the process of purchasing our first store in the United States. I sent Luis to Miami to conclude the purchase. It was our intention for Luis to be in charge of this store.”
“Can you tell us where this store is located?”
“Of course, it’s the shop now owned by Paulina Morrero in Coral Gables. It’s called Paulina’s.”
“How was Luis to conclude this purchase?”
“He was bringing a hundred fifty thousand in American dollars to Paulina as an initial payment. We were to pay her on a monthly basis every month for three years until the shop was paid for.”
“Are you saying that Luis was carrying a hundred fifty thousand dollars in cash on the plane with him?”
“Yes. This is what Paulina wanted. She didn’t trust bank checks. Many South and Central Americans don’t really like banks, you know.”
“Did you hear from Luis when he arrived in Miami?”
“No, we didn’t. We were terrified. We called the Floridian Inn where he had a reservation and learned that he never arrived there. We called the Argentine consul in Miami, who started a search for him. Finally two days later, we had a phone call at five a.m. Luis told us he had been arrested and he didn’t even know why. He said his money and all his possessions had been taken. Then they made him hang up. The nightmare for Maria and me began then and it goes on today.”
“Why was Luis staying at the Floridian Inn?”
“We selected it for him. It’s a good clean place. Many business people stay there. In fact, I have stayed there on occasion.”
“Has Luis ever been arrested?”
“No, never. Once the police kicked him and some of his friends out of a club for making a disturbance, but basically, he is a good boy.”
“Has he ever attended any Muslim mosques or training camps?”
“Muslim?” Miguel looked at me like I was crazy. “Luis goes to Mass with us every Sunday. He is a good Catholic boy. The only camp he ever went to was the summer camp in the mountains, but he was homesick, so we picked him up and brought him home.”
This brought a chuckle from the spectators. I waited for the laughter to subside. “Has Luis traveled much out of the country?”
“He came with us to Miami twice to visit our friends and look for space for a shop, and he went with us to Paris for Fashion Week a year ago.”
“Okay, thanks, Mr. Corona.” I sat down.
Michael Santini walked to the lectern. “Do you have any proof of this purchase of a shop here?”
“I saw the owner in the hall. I assume she’s going to be a witness.”
“Where did the cash you gave Luis come from?”
“From my corporate bank account.”
“Now you love your son. I can see that. You don’t want anything to happen to him, isn’t that right?”
“Of course that’s right. I am in pain looking at what you people have already done to him.”
“I don’t have any other questions of this witness.” Santini sat down.
“Your Honor, my next witness is Paulina Morrero.”
Catherine escorted Ms. Morrero down the aisle. She was using a cane and looked like each step was an effort. She looked shocked when she saw Luis. She asked the judge if she could be seated while she took the oath. “Sorry, Judge, I am awaiting surgery on my hip. I thought I’d have concluded the turnover of my shop to the Coronas by now. I’ve rescheduled my surgery twice,” Paulina said.
“Are you the owner of a boutique that carries your name, ma’am?” I began my questioning.
“Yes, I own Paulina’s in the Gables.
“Are you in the process of selling this shop?”
“Yes, to the Coronas. They are lovely people, and I especially liked young Mr. Corona. He has a certain joie de vivre that I thought would be enjoyed by the clients of the shop.”
“Do you see the young Mr. Corona in the courtroom?”
“Yes, he’s sitting over at that table next to the interpreter who’s speaking into his ear, but I must say, he looks nothing like he did when he came to the shop to negotiate the contract. He looks as if he’s been ill.”
“What were the terms of the sale?”
“Luis was to bring me the cash down payment at the beginning of June. We worked out a payment schedule for the next few years. I was anxious to retire. As you can see, I have some health problems.”
“Okay, thank you for coming to court today.”
Santini stood next to his table. He didn’t even bother to go to the lectern.
“Ms. Morrero, isn’t it unusual to request so much money in cash?”
“Not in my country. In the Dominican, American cash is the most reliable currency.”
“Do you have any proof that you own this boutique that you speak of?”
“Obviously, you aren’t from Miami. Everyone knows Paulina’s. But Ms. Katz said you might ask that, so I brought my business license and my certificate of occupancy.” She pulled the papers out of her oversized designer handbag and held them out.
Santini approached and studied the papers. “Do you wish to see these, Judge?”
“What else do you want to know, young man?” Paulina tapped her cane impatiently.
“That’s all, ma’am.” Santini sunk into his seat.
Catherine helped Paulina down the two steps from the witness chair and took her arm as they proceeded slowly up the aisle.
“Your Honor, my next witness will be my client, Luis Corona.”
“Maybe this is a good time to take a break,” the Judge said. “It sounds like he may be a long witness. We are in recess for ten minutes.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
I moved up the aisle to talk to Luis’s band of supporters. Miguel had rejoined Maria in the courtroom now that he was finished testifying. Mr. Marquez stopped me.
“I thought I’d be called as a witness,” he said.
I’m leaving you in case I need to call a witness after the government has put on their case. You can discredit many things they may imply.”
I moved on to talk to Carlos. Angie was out of her seat as I approached.
“Mary, darling, I am so shocked at what the government has done to Luis. Is he as sick as he looks? And you are just amazing. I told Carlos he could have his hands full with you, you clever girl,” she said.
“Thanks, I think.” I was never sure with Angie whether she was giving me a compliment or a veiled insult.
Carlos interrupted Angie before she could level more backhanded remarks. “I apologize again for getting you into this,” he said. “I never imagined that Luis’s arrest would become an international cause.”
Before I could say a word to Carlos, Harlan McFarland was standing in front of me. “Have you been able to assess your client’s physical condition? If he is freed, will you be suing the government?”
“Harlan, I can’t really answer any of those questions now. Let’s talk later.” I pushed past him and headed for the restroom before anyone else had anything else to say.
A few minutes later I tried to calm Luis. He was very weak and very scared to answer questions in court. In these few weeks, it seemed to me that he had been brainwashed into believing that whatever he said would cause authority figures to inflict more physical and emotional punishment.
“Just remember, I’m here with you to protect you and so is Judge Hammel,” I said as the judge resumed his seat and called us to order.
“Ms. Katz, your client will have to testify from his seat at your table due to the government’s insistence on his being restrained. Can you manage this?”
“Certainly, Judge.” I moved to the aisle separating my table from the Washington lawyers and positioned myself so the judge and Luis could see me. The Washington boys would be looking at my rear, which seemed fitting to me.
“Luis, can you raise your right hand a little, so you can take the witness oath?”
Luis complied. We were off and running.
“Luis, tell the judge your full name and age.”
“Luis Miguel Corona. I am twenty-two.”
“Luis, I see that you are answering my questions in English. If at any time you don’t understand a question or you feel more comfortable using the services of the interpreter, please consult her. Tell the court where you live and where you went to school, a little about your background.”
“Well, I was born and raised in Buenos Aires in my country, Argentina. I have always lived in the same house with my parents and I still do. I attended the Academia de Santa Maria near La Plaza Mayor. I graduated there with high marks in everything except science. Then I finished at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. We call it UCA for shorthand. There I learned much about design and business to assist me in my duties in my family’s business.”
“Have you ever lived in any other countries?’
“No. I have visited in this country, and in France. I vacationed in the island of Barbados two years ago.”
“Now you boarded a plane a few weeks ago to come here to Miami. Why were you coming here?”
“To open a shop for my family.”
“Was this plane an Argentine plane or an American plane?”
“It was American. It offered the best fare.”
“Did you go through a security check when you boarded the plane?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Tell us about that.”
“Well, I put my carry-on bag on the carousel with my shoes and my belt, like they said to do. I showed the lady my passport and ticket and my work papers that I had received a few days before. I filled out a paper showing the money I was bringing and that I was traveling for business. A man looked at my bag in the x-ray and I showed him my little bottles of cologne and deodorant. I put the things from my pockets into a little bowl and the man looked at all of it.”
“Did anyone take anything away from you and tell you that you couldn’t bring it on the plane?”
“No, no one. Could I have some water, por favor, I mean please?”
I quickly poured a glass from the carafe on the table. “Are you okay, Luis?”
“Just a little weak.”
“Once you got on the plane and got in the air, what, if anything happened next?”
“I had taken out my magazines to read, and the man next to me said they looked interesting. We started to talk. We had some drinks. Well, I guess I had some drinks. I felt very festive, coming to Miami, being trusted to start a business.
“He asked if he could look at my magazines and I said okay. We started talking about our governments. He was American. I think he asked me what I thought of the war in Iraq. Pretty soon we were quarreling. It got a little heated. Finally, I told him the rest of the world was laughing at his country for getting into such a war. The flight lady came and told us to stop shouting. The man told her that I had hit him and she should go tell the pilot. I said to him, ‘I didn’t hit you. I just poked you in the chest to make my point.’ ”
“What happened next?”
“I was embarrassed so I shut up and I guess I fell asleep for a while. Then the flight lady brought out our dinners. I tried to buy the man a glass of wine, but he refused.”
“You were trying to apologize?”
Santini was on his feet. “Judge, she’s asking leading questions. I object.”
“That last one was leading, but I haven’t heard any others. Ask direct questions, Ms. Katz. And Mr. Santini, I haven’t forgotten that you’re there. You’ll get your opportunity in a few minutes to refute any testimony.”
“Luis, did anything else happen on the plane?”
“Many things. After dinner and café were served, I got up and went to the bathroom. What I did was wrong, I know. I lit up a cigarette. It’s a long flight, but I knew better. I just couldn’t resist. The smoke alarm went off. Then people pounded on the door and a man shouted to come out of there with my hands up.”
“How were you able to light your cigarette?”
“I had a little lighter in the shape of a pen. It was in my pocket.”
Did you put the lighter through the x-ray machine at the airport?”
“Sure. It was with all my stuff that I put in the little bowl.”
“What happened next?”
“When I came out of the bathroom, two men threw me on the floor. I saw one of them was the man from my seat. I didn’t know he was a policeman.”
“What did the men do next?”
“They pulled me down the aisle in front of all the passengers and put me in the back of the plane where they pour the drinks. They handcuffed me to a cart. They asked me many questions all at once like where was I going? Why did I try to light a fire? I tried to answer everything, but they were screaming at me. They searched my pockets and took everything away.”
“Did you ask them what you had done or why they were searching you?”
&nb
sp; “No, I was so scared.”
“What happened next?”
“I think the next thing that happened was they got my suitcase and they started taking everything out of it and asking me more questions.”
“Did they ask your permission to search your things?”
“No, never.”
“Did they explain to you that you didn’t have to talk to them or that you could have a lawyer?’
“No, they just kept taking things out of the suitcase and holding them up. The man from the seat said, ‘Look at all this money.’ I told him that it was for my shop. I tried to tell him to call Paulina, but he wouldn’t listen. They opened my shaving kit and took out my mustache scissors, and they all nodded their heads. By then the flight lady was there too.”
“No one removed the scissors at the airport?”
“No one. Then they pulled out the white powder wrapped in the prayer paper.”
“What powder was that?”
“Our housekeeper is from Cuba. She practices Santeria. It’s a kind of religion. She buys the powder at the bodega and she always puts it in our bags when we travel. She says it’s to bring us home safely.”
“Do you know what’s in the powder?”
“I don’t know. They got real excited about it. They put on gloves and took it somewhere. Then the man from the seat started asking me about my magazines. But whenever I tried to answer, they all just laughed at me.”
“What are those magazines, Luis?”
“They are what is called—” Luis leaned over to the interpreter and whispered some words. “They’re called in English graphic comics. They are imported from Japan. They’re very popular with many people my age.”
“What are they about?”
“They’re like Superman, only the strong guys invade the earth and have battles with humans. It’s not real, it’s —”
“Science fiction?” I asked.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Once again Santini pulled his heavy frame out of his seat. “She’s doing it again, Judge. I object to her leading her witness.”
“I apologize, Judge. I was just trying to move things along, but while we are stopped, I need to know if the government has brought these items confiscated from my client to court this afternoon. I’d like to introduce them so you can see how innocuous these possessions are.”
Justice in June Page 21