Redress of Grievances (46 page)

"I
have evidence that the witness changed his name and that prior to that he was
indicted and convicted of a felony offense which would negate the prosecution's
claim that he is an expert. He should never have been granted a license to
practice and without said license he has been practicing psychiatry
illegally."

"That's
crap and you know it! Your Honor, the prosecution would never offer up
testimony from such a witness," Lassiter protested.

"Maybe
you should have done your homework better," Harriett snapped. "If I
found it you should have as well."

"Dr.
Stevenson has testified in dozens of trials."

"Maybe
those should be revisited as well."

"Enough,"
Landers said as he looked over the paperwork Harriett had given him. Looking at
Harriett, an eyebrow slightly raised, he said, "He was nineteen years old
when this happened, Harriett."

"It
still doesn't absolve him of the lie. He served eighteen months and changed his
name immediately after his release in a deliberate attempt to hide his
involvement in a crime," Harriett said.

"What
crime?!" Lassiter demanded.

"The
paperwork says sexual assault, counselor," Landers said, handing the
papers to Lassiter.

"This
is teenage sex, for Christ's sake," Lassiter said. "It happened
nearly fifty years ago. It in no way abrogates the validity of his
testimony."

"It
does if he has been practicing without a valid license," Harriett said.
"And if the license is invalid then his testimony should bear no more
weight than my gardener's."

Looking
back at Lassiter, Landers shrugged. "She's right, Mr. Lassiter."
Turning his eyes back toward Harriett, he frowned, "Step back, counselors."

Lassiter
and Harriett returned to their respective seats as Landers addressed the court.
"You may step down, Dr. Stevenson." Waiting as the confused witness
left the witness stand and was escorted from the courtroom, Landers smiled at
the jurors.

"Ladies
and gentlemen of the jury. Dr. Stevenson has been disqualified as an expert
witness. Anything he testified to as an expert will be stricken from the record
and you are instructed to disregard it. Mr. Lassiter, do you have another
expert you would like to call as a witness?"

Rising,
Lassiter said, "No, your Honor. The people were relying on the testimony
of Dr. Stevenson."

"Objection
to the use of the title of doctor regarding the previous witness,"
Harriett said as a formality. "It unduly lends credence to his testimony
regardless of your Honor's admonition to the jury."

"So
noted," Landers nodded.

Harriett
knew using the information Nick had found was a cheap trick, but it was the
best she had to counter Stevenson's testimony. In all likelihood, he wouldn't
lose his license considering the length of time since his felony conviction,
and she knew Landers didn't like having stunts pulled in his courtroom. She
would have to face those consequences when and if they arose.

HARRIETT
HADN'T HEARD from Jess since she and Lacey had moved back to the townhouse. She
had slept off and on, alone in her own bed for the first time in nearly two
weeks. It felt strange to roll over and not feel the warmth of Jess's body next
to her. She wished Jess would call...just to hear her voice. She missed the
laughter they had shared, the small touches, and the passion Jess had rekindled
inside her. The bailiff's booming voice brought her back to the present.

"All
rise! The court is back in session. The Honorable Howard Landers presiding."

"Be
seated," Landers intoned as he adjusted his robe. "Mr. Lassiter, are
you prepared to call your next witness?"

"The
people call Louise Harmon," Lassiter said.

Glancing
at the witness list in front of her, Harriett stood immediately.
"Objection! This individual is not on the witness list, and the defense
hasn't had an opportunity to prepare its cross-examination."

Harriett
felt Sharon's hand grab her arm. "You can't let her testify," she whispered.
For the first time Harriett thought she saw fear in Sharon's eyes.

"Ms.
Harmon was only brought to the people's attention late last night, your Honor.
The prosecution is willing to grant the defense sufficient time to consult with
her client regarding the testimony of this witness," Lassiter offered.

"Ms.
Markham," Landers said. "I'll grant you a one hour recess to confer
with your client."

"Thank
you, your Honor," Harriett said, glancing down at Sharon.

Harriett
and Nick watched as Sharon paced back and forth in front of them.

"Please
sit down, Sharon," Harriett finally said.

Shaking
her head as she continued to pace, Sharon said, "You can't let her
testify."

"Why?
What does she know that can hurt your case?"

"She
knows I did it."

"We
already know Jan did it, Sharon."

Raising
an eyebrow, Sharon smiled slightly. "No, counselor. Lou knows I did
it," she said stabbing her chest with her index finger. "How the fuck
did they find her anyway?" she said almost to herself as she resumed
pacing. Glaring at Harriett, Sharon walked to the table and, placing her hands
flat, leaned closer to Harriett. "Have you breached our attorney-client
privilege?"

"That's
absurd," Harriett said. "If we knew Ms. Harmon was your friend,
surely others did as well. If the woman knows about Jan, there's nothing she
can say that will hurt your case. In fact, it could help."

Turning
her gaze to Nick, Sharon asked, "Could I have a moment alone with Ms.
Markham, please?"

"Of
course," Nick nodded as he stood. Placing a hand on Harriett's shoulder,
he said softly, "I'll let you know when they're ready to reconvene."

As
she watched her client, virtually seeing her mind working furiously, Harriett
gave Nick a nod and settled back in the hard wooden chair. Obviously, Sharon
was struggling with whatever it was she needed to say, but Harriett decided to
let her client make the first move.

"What
do you know about Lou Harmon?" Sharon asked a few moments later.

"Just
what you and my investigator have told me. She is or was your best friend, your
daughter's godmother, and a reporter for a Dallas newspaper. What else do I
need to know?"

Staring
out the small window of the conference room, Sharon didn't turn to face
Harriett as she spoke. "Lou is my best friend. I love her very much. I
just didn't love her well enough, but I can't believe she would betray
me."

"Do
you have any idea what she will say under direct questioning?"

"The
truth," Sharon shrugged. "It's not in her nature to lie, unlike most
people I know."

"What
is the truth?"

"I
killed those people. I, Sharon Collins Taggart, did those things. I planned to
do them, and I carried out my plan. I didn't plan for it to be so many."
Finally turning toward her attorney, her lips hinted at a smile. "It
became...I don't know...addictive. I wanted someone to suffer besides me, I
suppose. For just those few seconds, I held all the cards. I was in control of
something."

"And
Jan?"

"Ah,
yes. Well, Jan wasn't as strong as she thought she was after all. I had to kill
her, too."

"Did
she ever really exist?"

"When
I needed her to. I don't need her any more now."

"What
can I do to help you, Sharon?"

"Probably
nothing. But I'm going to finally get the one thing I've always wanted. Perhaps
the only thing I've ever wanted."

As
Harriett looked at her, the unasked question in her eyes, Sharon smiled
contentedly. "Peace," she said so softly that Harriett could barely
make out the word.

Harriett
sat quietly as Sharon returned her attention to the world outside the window.
She didn't know any more about Louise Harmon than she did before, but she knew
much more about Sharon Taggart. Or at least she thought she did. When Nick
tapped at the conference room door a few minutes later, Harriett escorted her
client back into the courtroom. She was still her defense attorney.

Shortly
afterward, Harriett settled in her chair and watched as Louise Harmon stepped
into the witness box and swore to tell the truth. As Lou adjusted her body in
the witness chair, seeking a comfortable position, Sean Lassiter rose from his
chair.

"Your
Honor, this witness is here as a reluctant witness and was escorted to court by
an officer from the Dallas Police Department to ensure her presence. I ask
permission to treat her as a potentially hostile witness."

"Granted,"
Landers said, glancing at the witness. He had never seen so many hostile
witnesses in one trial in all his years on the bench.

"Ms.
Harmon, you are a friend of the defendant's, are you not?"

"Yes."

"How
long have you known Sharon Taggart?"

"Since
before she was Sharon Taggart."

"Since
before her marriage?"

"Yes."

"How
old was she when you met her for the first time?"

"Mid-twenties."

Harriett
rested her head on her hand and stared down at her legal pad, suppressing a
grin. Lou Harmon was planning to say nothing more than she had to as her way of
protesting being forced to testify. Although she couldn't remember for sure,
she seemed to remember from Wayne's preliminary report that Lou Harmon was
about her own age, forty-five. Her hair was short and casual, as was her attire
for court. She appeared to be relaxed, which Harriett took as a positive sign.

"How
did you meet Mrs. Taggart?" Lassiter continued.

"She
was a summer intern for the Dallas newspaper where I am employed. I oversaw her
internship."

"So
you were her boss?"

"More
or less."

Lassiter
picked up a folder from the prosecution table and opened it, looking at the
contents for a moment before proceeding. "Are you familiar with a
manuscript entitled
An Accidental Death?"

"Relevance,
your Honor?" Harriett asked.

"To
establish intent, your Honor."

"Of
what? The intent to read a book?" A smattering of laughter followed
Harriett's retort.

"If
it pleases the court, the people request that this partial manuscript, the
beginning of a novel written by Ms. Harmon, be marked as People's Exhibit
Number Nineteen at this time. The relevance will become clear."

"Objection
overruled," Landers said as he motioned Lassiter forward. "I mark it
People's Exhibit Nineteen," Landers said before handing the folder back to
the prosecutor.

"Did
you write this manuscript, Ms. Harmon?"

"Yes."

"Have
you submitted it for publication?"

"It
was never completed, so the answer would be no," Lou chafed at the
direction of the questioning.

"Have
you allowed other people to read what you have written thus far?"

"Yes."

"And
was one of those people the defendant, Sharon Taggart?"

"Possibly,"
Lou answered as her eyes darted toward the defense table. Harriett felt a
little sorry for Lou Harmon.

Changing
his tactic slightly, Lassiter continued. "How long have you and Mrs.
Taggart been friends?"

"Objection,"
Harriett interrupted. "Asked and answered."

"Sustained."

"Isn't
it true, Ms. Harmon, that you and the defendant are more than just close
friends? In fact, weren't you once lovers?"

Lou's
eyes shifted to where Sharon was sitting before she answered. Out of the corner
of her eye Harriett saw her client nod almost imperceptibly.

"Yes,"
Lou responded calmly.

"And
was it during the time that you and she were lovers that you began writing
An
Accidental Death?"

"It
might have been. I don't remember the date I started the piece."

"Did
you ever discuss the premise of this story with Mrs. Taggart?" Lassiter
asked as he held out the folder for the jury to see.

"We
might have. It was a long time ago," Lou said.

"Did
you ever discuss ways to commit a perfect murder with Mrs. Taggart?"

"I
might have."

"When
the killings on the freeways in Dallas began, didn't you think it was a little
strange that they mirrored what you had written?"

"Those
were reported as accidents, Mr. Lassiter, and there is nothing strange or
unusual about traffic accidents on the Dallas freeways."

"You
know," Lassiter said, shaking his head slowly, "I've read this
partial manuscript, and it is amazing how similar it is to both the freeway
killings and the actions of the defendant."

"Objection,"
Harriett said. "Is there a question somewhere in that book review?"