They were all there, his friends, seated together. Sodapop was jittery, nerved up, much as he was the day I met him. Darry's worry was deep in his eyes and the set of his jaw, he was completely still. Ponyboy looked around at everything, much as Johnny had and it made me think of how they were similar, two good quiet kids caught up in a mess.
The other two I didn't know so well were also there. Keith "Two bit" Matthews and Steve Randle.
And Dallas. Blond hair falling in his eyes, he'd snap his head up and flip the hair back, just to have it fall in his eyes again. He looked like he wanted to kill someone, and I was afraid it was me.
........................................................Witnesses
The prosecution's first witness, the cop who responded to the call from Robert's friends, looked young. Not much older than Robert.
There was not much I could do with him. There was no reason to cross exam him. He took the stand, swore to tell the truth, and looked terrified.
"Who is it?" Johnny whispered to me.
"The cop that found him at the park,"
"Oh,"
The prosecutor stood, addressed the witness.
"Officer Jackson, in the early morning hours of October 15th, 1966, you received a phone call?"
"Yes,"
"Could you relate the content of the call?"
"It was from Randy Adderson and he said his friend was hurt, maybe dead, at the park on the east side, the one with the fountain,"
"Did he say the manner in which his friend was hurt or killed?"
"Yes. He said he was knifed in a fight,"
"And did you go to the scene?"
"Yes,"
"Could you describe the scene you encountered?"
"Objection!" I stood. Johnny looked at me, startled. The prosecutor smiled a little smile.
"Your Honor, the question is not relevant. His answer will not shed light on whether my client intended to kill Robert Sheldon, "I said.
"Your Honor," the prosecutor said, "the scene officer Jackson encountered is very relevant. The scene illustrates the savage nature of the crime,"
"Over ruled," The judge, a slender man with receding hair, looked calm, almost bored.
"Officer Jackson, could you describe the scene at the park?" Johnny squirmed.
"When I arrived the park was empty. There was a body next to the fountain surrounded by blood. I searched for a weapon and did not find one,"
The prosecution's next witness was David Smith, a soc who was present at the park. David was not as darkly handsome as Robert had been. Rather, his face had a pinched aspect, his eyes were small, his nose pointed.
"Mr. Smith, were you present at the park when Robert Sheldon was killed?" The prosecutor said. Johnny made a noise in his throat and was staring at David.
"Yes,"
"Did John Cade kill Robert Sheldon?"
"Yes,"
"At the time when he killed him were you harming or threatening to harm Mr. Cade?"
"No,"
"Was Robert Sheldon harming or threatening to harm Mr. Cade?"
"No,"
"No further questions,"
Johnny looked drained, exhausted. With his head down he'd look up at the witnesses, the prosecutor.
The judge granted a recess, and I would begin a cross examination of this witness when court resumed.
........................................................Mrs. Sheldon
She watched the trial, I saw her stark pale face. As I headed from the courtroom she stopped me, tugged on my sleeve with her bloodless hand.
"He has all the rights, doesn't he?" she said, and I saw the tears form in her eyes.
"Who?" I wanted to pull away, get away from her. What could I do for her?
"Him," she spat it, refused, on principle, to say his name.
"What rights does my son have?" she still held my sleeve. A tear slid down her cheek.
I was speechless.
"I'll tell you. None. He took all of my son's rights away. And now you're spending all this time, all this money, defending him," Tears were streaming from her eyes and her grip was unrelenting.
"What rights does my son have! Huh! You tell me! What rights! What rights!" she was screaming and crying and I just stood there, frozen.
