The 17th Suspect (Women's Murder Club 17)

“What about Giftos’s cross-examination?”

“Well, as I read it, it was pure hell for Paul. His testimony was honest, but when it came to the gun identification, he choked. I don’t know if I could identify her gun, either.”

Yuki said, “It was a smooth move by the defense. Not probative, and yet Giftos got it in.”

Marc shook his head. Then he said defiantly, “Giftos can’t shake me. I know what happened.”

It was brave talk. Did he mean it? Or was he talking tough to himself? Yuki had never seen him looking so vulnerable. She felt for him, and she wondered again what was wrong with Briana. Was she a predator who had never been called out before? Or had she, like untold numbers of men in top jobs, taken her executive position at the agency as license to be sexually abusive?

After a long pause Marc asked, “Do you think Briana is going to testify?”

Yuki said, “It’s generally not a good idea to put the defendant on the stand. But in this case I think she has to speak to the jury. If she does, I’ll be ready for her.”

There was no point telling Marc what she was thinking: After Marc gave his testimony, Giftos was going to do his damnedest to gut him.

CHAPTER 55

MARC WENT SILENT and stared at his wineglass.

Yuki wondered if he was worried about what Briana would say on the stand. More likely, he was worried about his own performance. He looked scared.

She reached over and patted his hand.

“You did a perfect job when you testified to the grand jury. You can do this,” she said.

Marc’s trance was broken and he gave her a direct, confident gaze.

“I know. We can do this.”

She was glad that she had persuaded Red Dog to let her try this case. If she won, Marc would be vindicated. Men who’d been sexually assaulted would be more free to say so and to pursue justice in the courts.

Dinner arrived and it was delicious. She had duck breast; he had braised short ribs. She and Marc went off topic and for the first time didn’t strategize about the trial.

Yuki told him about the break she had taken from the DA’s office and what it was like to come back.

“Exhilarating,” she said with a smile.

He confided that he was in line for Briana Hill’s job.

“I’ve been told off the record that it’s mine if I want it,” Marc said. “I don?

??t think that would look or feel good. I’ll probably go to another agency when this is over. Maybe I’ll relocate—to another country.”

They each had a second glass of wine, but when the waiter came to take a dessert and coffee order, Yuki said, “No, thanks.”

Marc asked for the check, and Yuki said, “Are you sure, Marc? I can expense this.”

But he handed his card to the waiter and said to Yuki, “I’ll give you a ride home, okay?”

“I drove,” she said.

“Then I’ll walk you to your car.”

Yuki’s Acura was parked on California. Marc kept to the street side of the sidewalk, and when the car was in sight, he reached across her shoulders to straighten the collar of her coat.

Yuki looked up at him, and then his arm was around her and pulling her close to him.

“You have no idea how much I like you,” he said.