Body of Evidence (Marcus Douglas 2)

“Black.”

“I think that will be all, Mr. Temple. Thank you very much for your time. Your witness, Mr. Doug

las.”

Marcus didn’t move or say anything at first. He just sat and looked at the very smug look on Paxson’s face. He still hadn’t connected Panthea to any of the events of the murder. And once again left Marcus with nothing to refute but the facts.

What Paxson had done was establish how the murder was committed, how the victim died and how the killer left the scene.

Marcus wondered what he was going to ask Temple. He never said he saw Panthea leaving the scene, only that he had seen somebody get in a Benz and drive away. Marcus stood up and walked toward the witness box.

“Mr. Temple, you testified that you saw somebody leaving the building and drive away in a Mercedes. Can you tell us what time that was?”

“I don’t know exactly, but I know for sure it was after nine.”

“How can you be so sure of the time?”

“Because when I came in the house with the first load of groceries, Law & Order Criminal Intent was already on. It comes on at nine o'clock,” Temple said and some of the jurors laughed a little, so did the judge. “That’s why I was in such a hurry to get my stuff in, because I was missing it.”

Marcus just shook his head and sat down. Marcus knew he would recall Mr. Temple to the stand when he needed him, so he wasn’t really all that worried about asking any more questions at this time.

When Paxson called Scott Daniels to the stand, Marcus knew that he was going to use this testimony to connect Panthea to the crime.

“Mr. Daniels were you surprised when the police came to your house and told you that Abril Arrington was dead?”

“I was shocked.”

“How well did you know her?”

“I was in love with her,” he said bitterly and stared at Panthea. Marcus looked at the expression on some of the juror’s faces. They seemed a little shocked that a married man would sit proudly on the stand and profess his love for another woman. Marcus had to admit he was a little surprised too, but he felt confident that he could use it to his advantage.

“Sir, you are married to the defendant, and you were having an affair with Abril Arrington, is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Did your wife know about this affair?”

“I thought she didn’t know about it.”

“Don’t we all, Mr. Daniels, don’t we all.”

“Objection,” Marcus said.

“Sustained,” the judge said.

“Apologies, your honor. Mr. Daniels, would you be so kind as to tell the court where you were on the night Abril Arrington was murdered?”

“I was having dinner with a client named John Abraham at Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante on Nineteenth Street.”

“What time was this?”

“We had eight o'clock reservations. I got there shortly after that. We didn’t wrap up until after ten.”

“What time did you get home?” Paxson asked.

“About ten-thirty.”

“Was Mrs. Daniels there when you got home?”