The Perfect Game (16 page)

Chapter Forty-two

(Tuesday, September 12–Friday, September 15)

The following morning, Candace called the medical examiner to the stand. Dr. Brian Gunther had thick gray hair, wire-framed glasses, and a meek demeanor. He spoke in medical jargon such that Candace had to ask him to explain his testimony in layman's terms on several occasions. His testimony was explicit. Candace had given Lauren permission to excuse herself if necessary, but Lauren felt compelled to hear the details as if it would somehow force the truth to sink in. However, she could not bear to view the photos as they were projected onto a large screen each time one was introduced into evidence. Although she didn't look, Lauren could hear Dr. Gunther discussing the extent of the injuries in minute detail. It was not unlike many of the graphic lectures Lauren had endured in medical school, but something altogether different when depicting the anatomical damages to somebody you loved.

Jake stared dispassionately as Dr. Gunther described Liz's horrifying injuries. Thirteen of the twenty-two bones in Liz's skull had been broken, with three of her teeth dislodged. She also had fractures in both arms, defensive wounds acquired as Liz had used her arms to shield her head. Dr. Gunther estimated Liz was hit with a solid object similar in size and shape to a two-by-four plank of wood at least twice. Lauren's stomach churned. Jake now buried his face in his hands as if he was crying, but no tears fell.

Given the trajectory path of the blows, Dr. Gunther opined that the assailant was likely left-handed. This revelation caused a stir in the courtroom as people stared at the famous southpaw pitcher at the Defense table.

Dr. Gunther asserted the injuries were consistent with an assailant taller than the victim because the blows were executed in a downward fashion. He guessed the assailant to be male based upon the force of delivery.

As expected, Dr. Gunther estimated time of death to be between the hours of seven p.m. and eleven p.m. on the evening of July twenty-third.

The Defense didn't spend much time on cross-examination. Medical examination was a relatively straightforward science. The cause of death was not under dispute. Pratt did manage to get Gunther to admit it was possible that the blows had been delivered by a physically fit female. Gunther also conceded the assailant may not have been taller than Liz, especially if Liz had been hunkered down to protect herself.

The next Prosecution witness was the state criminalist. Dr. Lantu Wong, an Asian American woman with a Ph.D. in microbiology, was employed as a senior supervisor at the Scottsdale Police Department crime lab. A seasoned expert witness, Dr. Wong clearly summarized the findings in the Wakefield case. The only fingerprints found at the scene belonged to Liz, Jake, and Teresita. The only hairs recovered at the scene were consistent with those of Jake and Liz Wakefield. Blood spatter patterns confirmed the killer was left-handed. There was less than a one in 21,257,984,722 chance that the DNA found under Liz's fingernails belonged to anyone other than Jake. No other DNA was found at the scene. The presence of significant blood in the master bedroom shower drain suggested the killer had cleaned up in there, which would be strange behavior for a burglar.

“Dr. Wong, did you find any evidence suggesting Lauren Rose was involved in this crime?”

“None whatsoever.”

Pratt was unable to do much to mitigate the power of Dr. Wong's scientific testimony on cross-examination. The jury would have the whole weekend to contemplate the CSI findings. Candace was in a celebratory mood and invited the others out for an early dinner.

“Oh, I don't know,” Lauren hesitated, glancing sidelong at Ryan, who was her ride home.

“Come on,” he urged. “What else are you going to do? Start work early?”

“No,” she said with mock indignation. “I was planning to do a little leisure reading and finish
Gray's Anatomy
. The textbook, not the show.”

They were the last people left in the otherwise empty courtroom. Candace and Kyle took a side exit to drop paperwork at their offices before heading to the restaurant. Lauren and Ryan moved toward the courtroom doors. They were chatting as Ryan pushed the heavy door open and Lauren rounded the corner. Slamming into somebody standing in the hallway, she lost her balance. Ryan grasped her left elbow to prevent her from tumbling to the floor. Reflexively, Lauren reached out and grabbed hold of somebody with her right hand before regaining her footing. “Oops, sorry,” she apologized to the person she had nearly tackled.

It was Jake. He stared at Lauren coldly as he wrenched his arm free from her hand, thrusting her backward roughly. If not for Ryan's grip on her other elbow, he would have sent her sprawling on the floor.

His ocean-blue eyes were stormy. Lauren knew it was childish, but she did not want to look away first. He held her gaze for a few long moments before turning on his heel and catching up with his legal team who were already outside on the front steps. The television cameras rushed Jake. He was one of the most newsworthy faces on the planet these days.

Ryan continued to hold Lauren's arm gingerly as he led her out the side door of the lobby. The courthouse reporters were so preoccupied with Jake that Lauren and Ryan slipped away unnoticed.

“What a jerk,” Ryan seethed.

Lauren nodded, dark ideas invading her thoughts. As Liz took her last breaths, had she known she was about to die at the hands of the man who had promised to love, cherish, and honor her?

Majerle's was a nearby sports bar where prosecutors often convened after work. Candace was entertaining a small crowd of admirers with ribald jokes when Lauren and Ryan arrived.

Kyle casually touched Candace's back as he steered her into the dark leather booth and Lauren wondered if the two were more than colleagues. Kyle was more than ten years younger than Candace, but they were both single and consenting. Lauren found herself hoping they were blowing off a little steam together on the side. It must be hard for them to make any time for themselves in the midst of this madness.

Lauren found herself musing again about Ryan's personal life. Despite the time they spent together, she knew little about his time away from work. Like the others at the table, this trial had been consuming his life. She stole a glance at him. His thick dark lashes framed his aqua eyes, which crinkled as he laughed at one of Candace's inappropriate jokes. He was a good-looking decent man; of course he probably had a woman in his life.

Kyle gestured at the television. Coverage of the trial was the top story on the news nearly every night. The restaurant crowd hushed as the television anchor began discussing the case. There was grainy coverage of Lauren stumbling into Jake in the courthouse lobby and Jake shoving her roughly away. A news photographer had captured the incident through a dirty window.

Candace grinned. “This is priceless. Jake's true colors shining through. I'm sure every juror has already heard about it, even though they're ‘sequestered.'” She used her fingers to put air quotes around the word. Candace remained skeptical about the objectivity of the jury members. Rumor had it that Juror Number Six was already writing a book.

Candace raised her glass to Lauren. “To your killer heels. That little stumble of yours may have just won us this entire case.”

Chapter Forty-three

(Friday, September 15–Thursday, September 21)

“What time do you get off?” Ryan asked as they pulled into the hospital parking lot.

Is he asking me out?
Lauren wondered, noticing a warm tingling sensation at the prospect.

“My shift ends at midnight, but I often work later depending on how busy it is. And weekend nights usually get pretty crazy.”

“I can be here by midnight to give you a ride. Or I can stay later if you have to work longer.”

“I can catch a ride from one of the other interns,” Lauren insisted. “I'm pretty sure your professional escort assignment doesn't extend to weekend duty.”

“This time, I was offering as a friend.” He smiled.

“That's thoughtful of you, but I can catch a ride with Ritesh. He lives near me.”

“Okay, if you're sure…” he let his words trail.

“I'm sure,” she said, suddenly not feeling sure at all. Had she just declined a date or a polite offer made out of a sense of obligation? Was he disappointed or relieved?

“Okay, have a good weekend.”

And that was the last she heard from Ryan until he arrived to drive her to court on Monday morning.

Candace had saved Wallace for last, calling him to wrap up the entire police case with a pretty bow for the jury. Wallace was an experienced witness, not easily rattled on the stand.

Wallace's immediate impression upon arriving on the scene was this was a homicide staged to look like a burglary. The jewelry chest in the master bedroom was left with drawers hanging open, but nothing else in the house had been disturbed. A Rolex watch was still visible on a dresser in the same bedroom. There was no evidence of forced entry into the home.

Wallace testified Jake Wakefield had demonstrated considerable self-confidence during his initial police interview along with an unusual display of emotion. While Jake had made sobbing noises throughout the interview, Wallace testified he had seen no tears. The rapidity with which Jake alternated between weeping and coherence made Wallace suspect Jake wasn't really crying at all.

Jake had been wearing a long-sleeved shirt despite the 114-degree temperature that day. On a hunch, Wallace had asked Jake to roll up his sleeves. Jake had hesitated before agreeing. Detectives had observed fresh scratches on Jake's right forearm. Candace introduced several police photographs of the scratches. The injuries were consistent with those that might result from someone engaged in a violent struggle.

Jake had refused to take a polygraph test on July twenty-fifth and had “lawyered up” at that time, making it impossible for the detectives to question him further. But that hadn't stopped Jake from calling the detectives to place the blame elsewhere.

Jake told detectives almost immediately that Lauren was the beneficiary of Liz's life insurance, insistent that Lauren might have killed Liz for the payout. A few days later, Jake had called the detectives to report Lauren was spending money lavishly and had purchased an expensive new car. And the day after Jake had given Lauren the diamond ring, he had called the police to report he had spotted her wearing one of Liz's stolen rings.

This accusation prompted the search of Lauren's apartment. They had tested every pair of her shoes for Liz's blood and found none, did a forensic examination of her computer which revealed nothing suspicious, and looked for a possible murder weapon, finding nothing. Detective Wallace emphasized they had absolutely no reason to suspect Lauren other than allegations instigated by Jake.

On cross-examination, Pratt forced Wallace to acknowledge that the expensive antique diamond ring had been found in Lauren's apartment. Pratt also accused Wallace of a rush to judgment regarding Jake's guilt, therefore failing to investigate other leads. But ironically, Jake's accusations had forced the police to investigate Lauren with comparable intensity, which Wallace pointed out. Pratt then delighted in belaboring the investigative efforts that had focused on Lauren.

“Isn't it possible that the real killer had been after Elizabeth Wakefield's jewelry specifically?” Pratt demanded.

Wallace offered a measured response. “I suppose that's a possibility, but I don't know of any burglars that would overlook an expensive Rolex watch sitting out in the open.”

“Unless the female perpetrator wanted only women's jewelry she could later wear?” Pratt sneered.

“Was there a question for me in there or were you just planning to testify for me?” Wallace asked. Scattered laughter followed.

“Isn't it true that deep scratches were also found on the upper arm of Lauren Rose shortly after the crime?” Pratt asked.

“Yes, but those were unrelated to the crime.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“None of Lauren Rose's DNA was found underneath Liz Wakefield's fingernails. The blood and skin tissue found there belonged solely to Jake Wakefield. Additionally, Dr. Rose was able to provide a credible explanation for the scratches on her arm.”

“And what was that explanation?”

“She had been scratched by a combative patient.”

“And you have a witness to this?”

“No, there were no witnesses.”

“You must have spoken to the patient?”

“Yes, we did.”

“And the patient admitted to scratching her?”

“He said he might have.”

“He said he
might
have?” Pratt asked sarcastically.

“He had been driving under the influence and he resisted Dr. Rose's medical blood draw because he feared she was taking a legal sample. He admits he may have scratched her, but he can't remember because his blood alcohol level was 0.232. He has no memory for most of that evening.”

“How convenient for Miss Rose,” Pratt said.

“It would have been much more convenient if he remembered scratching her.”

Wallace was forced to admit they never found bloody shoes or clothes belonging to Jake, but Wallace postulated Jake disposed of both the clothing and murder weapon on the way to the airport. “There are at least nine dozen dumpsters between the Wakefield home and the airport.”

“And did you search those dumpsters?”

“With countless potential dumping places? No, we didn't attempt to search every dumpster in the Phoenix metropolitan area.”

Pratt pushed on. “Are you aware Lauren Rose has access to fresh scrubs at her hospital?”

“Naturally. She's a doctor.”

“Isn't it possible Miss Rose wore hospital scrubs, cap, and booties to commit the crime and returned those items to the hospital laundry where blood-stained scrubs wouldn't attract any attention?”

“Almost anything is
possible
. It's possible I'll win the lottery tomorrow, but I haven't quit my day job.”

More laughter in the gallery.

A vein on Pratt's forehead began to visibly pulse. “Objection. Nonresponsive.”

Judge Robles looked over his glasses at Wallace. Wallace had testified in Robles' courtroom on several previous occasions and the two men were friendly with one another, but neither man showed signs of familiarity now. “Sustained. The witness is reminded to limit his responses to the questions posed by counsel.”

“Detective Wallace, isn't it possible Miss Rose wore hospital scrubs and booties to commit the crime and returned those soiled items discreetly to the hospital laundry room?” Pratt asked again.

“I can't answer that. I have no idea.”

Pratt continued with a different line of questioning, “What evidence do you have that Jake Wakefield gave this ring to Lauren Rose?” He thrust the bagged ring under Wallace's nose.

“Dr. Rose told us that is how she came in possession of it.”

“And you took her at her word?”

“We have no evidence that Dr. Rose was deceptive with us.”

“Didn't she fail a polygraph in this case?”

“Objection, inadmissible,” Candace raged.

“Sustained.” But the jurors had already heard the damaging question.

Pratt grinned like the Cheshire cat. “Isn't it possible Lauren Rose came in possession of the ring when she murdered her sister and stole her jewelry?”

“That's not what the evidence shows.”

“So you have proof that Lauren Rose did not kill her sister, Elizabeth?”

“We have alibi witnesses confirming Dr. Rose was at work for the entire evening on July twenty-third. We have absolutely nothing to implicate her.”

Pratt grinned broadly. “Nothing except for an extravagant ring that Miss Rose coveted since the day it was given to her sister by Jake Wakefield?”

“Only if the ring was really stolen at the time of the crime and I only have Jake Wakefield's word about that, which doesn't mean much because he has lied and stonewalled so many times.”

“Detective Wallace, did you personally witness Miss Rose take possession of the ring?” Pratt asked.

“No.”

“So it's possible that Miss Rose stole the ring from Elizabeth Wakefield's jewelry box?”

“Anything is possible, but using that logic, there are a lot of pawn shop owners that should be considered suspects in robberies because they come in possession of stolen property all of the time.”

Pratt attempted to discredit Wallace one final time, “Detective Wallace, isn't it true you focused so exclusively on Jake Wakefield that you ignored credible evidence that might exonerate him, including evidence implicating Lauren Rose?”

Detective Wallace responded decisively. “That is patently untrue. This investigation took seventy-five days, two full-time detectives, several criminalists, countless other police officers, and more than twenty-four hundred man hours to complete. This was an exhaustive, careful, and cautious investigation and all of the resulting evidence points squarely at Mr. Wakefield.”

“I guess, you have to believe your own theory,” Pratt said.

“Because it's based on the facts,” Wallace retorted, but Judge Robles was already admonishing Pratt for making speeches in the courtroom.