I called Yuki.
“You did fine, Lindsay.”
“Hah. Let me know how it goes for Joe,” I said.
“Will do,” said Yuki.
CHAPTER 36
THE COURT OFFICER opened the doors, and Yuki watched Joe Molinari enter the courtroom in a wheelchair, pushing the wheels with his hands. When he reached the witness box, the bailiff brought the Bible to him and swore him in.
Joe asked for assistance.
He leaned on the bailiff’s arm, pulled himself to his feet, and hopped a short way, then hoisted himself into the chair a step up from the floor.
Yuki thought that Joe truly looked like a victim of the explosion. Not only was he unable to walk, his hair had grown back enough to highlight the terrible scars on the back of his head.
She felt tears coming into her eyes as she looked at him.
Parisi approached Joe and thanked him for coming to court in person rather than being televised by closed-circuit TV.
Joe said, “No problem. Glad to do it.”
Len asked, “Mr. Molinari, what’s your occupation?”
“I’m an independent security contractor.”
“What kind of work did you do before you went out on your own?”
Joe thought for a second and then said, “I was deputy director of Homeland Security, and both before and after that I was a senior agent with the FBI.”
“How would you rate your observational abilities before your recent injuries?”
“I would rate them as exceptional.” Joe hesitated a beat, then said, “And after my injuries also.”
“You suffered brain trauma in the second blast at Sci-Tron, isn’t that right?”
“Correct.”
Yuki waited for him to continue. His memory was fine. He was articulate. But his responses were slow.
Joe said, “I’ve had several MRIs and a lot of testing, and my cognitive faculties are intact.”
“Thank you, Mr. Molinari. Judge Hoffman, I wish to enter exhibits 1 through 9, medical documentation and certification by neurologists and psychologists that Mr. Molinari has no mental incapacity or defect as the result of his injuries.”
“Go ahead,” said the judge.
The material was entered.
Joe looked over at Yuki. Their eyes met. He smiled.
Parisi moved back toward Joe and asked him, “Do you remember the evening of the bomb incident on Pier 15?”
“Like it just happened.”
“Do you remember hearing the defendant, Mr. Connor Grant, describing his role in the bombing to your wife, Homicide sergeant Lindsay Boxer?”
“I do.”