The People vs. Alex Cross (Alex Cross 25)
“You’re still under oath, Ms. Binx,” Judge Larch said.
The web designer nodded and sat down with composure and poise.
Anita said, “Ms. Binx, did you alert Claude Watkins that you were on your way the day of the shootings? Call to tell him you were coming to the factory with my client?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t think so.”
Naomi handed Anita a plastic evidence bag. Anita took it over to Binx.
“Recognize this?” Anita said.
Binx frowned and took the bag, saw what it was. “It’s a SPOT.”
Anita looked to the jury. “A SPOT is a satellite personal tracker, a GPS device that tracks the wearer. Runners like Ms. Binx use them to plot their workout routes, isn’t that correct?”
Binx nodded. “And in cases of emergency, you can send an SOS signal.”
“There’s also a button that allows you to send a prepared text to people you list on the SPOT website, correct?”
“Um, I guess.”
“Actually, we looked at your account with SPOT, Ms. Binx,” Anita said. “On the day of the shootings, from your apartment and twenty minutes before you arrived at the factory, you pressed that button and sent a text to Claude Watkins that read ‘Game on.’”
“I don’t remember that,” Binx said, pushing back her hair. “And what does it matter?”
Anita smiled and said, “It shows premeditation, Ms. Binx.”
CHAPTER
78
BINX’S FACE FELL, but she said, “Premeditation of what? Performance art?”
Anita did not answer. Instead, she said, “As I understand it, you were taken into custody after the shootings. Is that correct?”
“They let me go after they figured out the truth.”
“But you were booked, yes? Fingerprints. Cheek swabs. Photographed for your mug shot.”
“It was humiliating,” the witness said coldly. “I’d done nothing wrong.”
Anita returned to the defense table. Naomi handed her several thin files and a large sealed plastic bag. Anita handed one of the files to Wills and then went to the bench.
“The defense would like to introduce exhibits A, B, C, and D,” she said, handing Judge Larch a file. “Exhibit A includes chain-of-evidence documentation for cheek swabs taken from Ms. Binx by DC Metro Police shortly after the shootings. Exhibit B documents the FBI’s chain of evidence following cheek swabs taken two days later from my client upon his arrest. Exhibits C and D include the results of tests of those swab samples that the defense requested from the FBI lab.”
“Genetic analysis?” Judge Larch said.
“Your Honor,” Wills said, rising. “This is the first we’ve heard of any swabs or lab analysis.”
“Not true,” Anita said. “My assistant found reference to the swabs in the materials you sent us during discovery, Mr. Wills. And no, Your Honor, we did not do genetic analysis. We had tests done on the saliva, not the cheek cells used for DNA testing.”
“I’ll admit the files,” Larch said.
“Your Honor,” Wills said.
The judge fixed the prosecutor with a withering stare, and I realized it was well past her usual time to recess for a puff or two. Wills was swimming in very dangerous waters.
“The reports are in, Mr. Wills,” Larch said. “Ms. Marley?”