Dead in the Water (Stone Barrington 3)

“No, just Mrs. Manning.”

“You were not aboard the yacht with them when it sailed, were you?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“So you have no personal knowledge of what occurred aboard that yacht when Paul Manning died?”

“I have Mrs. Manning’s account.”

“But you have no personal knowledge of these events, do you?”

“No.”

“I have no further questions of this witness.” Sir Winston sat down.

Stone stood. “Your Lordship, I have a brief redirect.”

“Proceed.”

“Mr. Forrester, you saw Mr. and Mrs. Manning together in the Canaries, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And you were the last person alive to see them together?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Relying on your judgment as a journalist and as a human being, do you believe them to have been happily married?”

“I certainly do.”

“Do you believe Allison Manning’s account of her husband’s death to be true?”

“Yes, I certainly do.”

“Thank you, Mr. Forrester, I have no further questions.”

“You may step down, Mr. Forrester,” the judge said. “Mr. Barrington, do you wish to call any other witnesses?”

“Yes, Your Lordship. The defense calls Mrs. Allison Manning.”

Stone watched Allison as she left the dock and walked to the witness box. She seemed relaxed, serene; she certainly looked beautiful. If I can just get her through this, he thought, and if she stands up under cross without losing it, I can win this case.

Allison took hold of the Bible and swore to tell the truth.

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55

Stone waited while Allison arranged herself in the witness chair and recited her full name and address. He began questioning her slowly about her family background and education, letting her settle down and deal with easy questions. She was following his instruction, making eye contact with the jurors as she answered. Then he began to get to the meat of the matter.

“Mrs. Manning, when and how did you first meet your husband, Paul?”

“It was a little over five years ago,” she said. “I was working as an art director with an advertising agency in New York, and I was invited to dinner at the home of my boss. Paul was a guest, too.”

“Did you hit it off immediately?”

“Yes, we did. Paul took me home in a taxi and asked me out for dinner that weekend.”