“That brings me to witness number two,” said Yuki.
Neither man at the table spoke. She had their undivided attention.
She said, “The cop who commissioned the hit on Kordell is one of the three who killed the drug dealers.”
Parisi said, “You’re saying that a cop who participated in the murder of the dope dealers had Kordell put down to cover his tracks?”
“That’s right,” said Yuki. “Witness number two was in the crack house on Turk and Dodge and can corroborate that. He saw the shooting. With protection, he’ll testify that Aaron-Rey Kordell didn’t do it, and he may be able to identify one or more of the men who did.”
CHAPTER 83
JUDGE QUIRK CLOSED the door to his chambers. He picked the Bible up from his desk and went to the seating area where several people were assembled: Yuki Castellano, Leonard Parisi, Warren Jacobi, and a jittery young man in jeans and a hoodie who sat in a side chair, jouncing his feet.
The judge settled into a wing chair beside the witness and said, “Please tell us your name, young man.”
“Arturo Mendez.”
“Place your hand on this Bible, Mr. Mendez. Now, I need you to swear before me and everyone here that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.”
“I do. I swear.”
Judge Quirk said to him, “The nice lady sitting behind you, that’s Ms. Pearson, and she’s going to record what we all say. Ms. Castellano is going to ask you questions, and then Mr. Parisi, the district attorney, may have some questions.
“Mr. Parisi is the one who authorized an order of protection for you. The gray-haired man sitting next to Mr. Parisi is Chief of Police Jacobi. His interest is also in getting to the truth, Mr. Mendez. But only the truth. Not what you think. Not what you were told. Not what you think we want to hear. Just what you saw and heard. Any questions so far?”
“No, sir. I used to watch Law & Order.”
“Fine,” said the judge. “But that’s a TV show, and this is real. If you lie, that’s perjury, and that means jail time. Understand?”
“Yes, Your Honor. I get it.”
“Ms. Castellano, your witness.”
Yuki sat across from Arturo Mendez. She said, “Arturo, when did I meet you?”
“Yesterday.”
“And how did I come to meet you?”
“You got my name from Aaron-Rey’s mom. She has my number ’cause I was friends with A-Rey.”
“That’s right,” said Yuki. “And did I meet you on the corner of Turk and Dodge within view of the three-story hou
se where the drug dealers were killed?”
“That’s right.”
“And do you know who shot the drug dealers inside that drug house?”
“Yes, ma’am. Because I was there and I watched it happen,” said Arturo Mendez.
“Were you under any drug influence when you witnessed the shooting?” Yuki asked.
“Nah. I never got a chance to score.”
“Are you straight now?”
“Yes, ma’am. I ain’t no junkie, anyway. I can pee in a cup if you want.”