Author's Note: Enjoy and let me know what you think!

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Landmine

Chapter 13

"Doctor, will you please state your name and your profession for the record," Gwen said, her voice loud and powerful in the immense room.

He leaned in towards the small microphone that was in front of him. "My name is Doctor Carl Reynolds and I am a forensic pathologist. I also serve as the coroner for River Heights."

Gwen nodded. "And were you the one to perform the autopsies on Ann Granger and Brenda Carlton?"

"Yes, I did."

Gwen walked back to her table and grabbed two file folders. "Your Honor, I would like to enter Exhibit A—the autopsy findings for Ann Granger and Brenda Carlton."

Judge Kent nodded and put on his reading glasses as Gwen handed the bailiff the folders. He read over them as she continued to question the doctor.

"Doctor Reynolds, please tell the court your findings," she said.

"The first victim—Ann Granger—died as the result of a single stab wound to her abdomen," he said.

"Is that what killed her?" Gwen asked.

"That and the fact that she bled to death," Doctor Reynolds stated.

"And based on the wounds, could you tell what kind of weapon was used?" she asked.

Doctor Reynolds shook his head. "I couldn't give you a precise weapon, but I would say she was killed by some kind of hunting knife," he explained.

"And what about the second victim—Brenda Carlton?"

"She was killed as the result of strangulation," he said.

"And do you happen to know what she was strangled with?" Gwen asked.

"Yes, it was a nylon rope that is generally used for boating, camping, and other everyday uses. The crime scene techs found the rope at the murder scene and the threads from that rope matched the threads that were embedded in her neck," Doctor Reynolds said, looking at the jury.

Gwen walked to the table again and produced a plastic evidence bag that contained a blue and white rope.

"Your Honor, I would like to now enter Exhibit B—the rope that was used to murder Ms. Carlton."

The bailiff took the bag from Gwen and handed it to Judge Kent.

"Thank you, Doctor Reynolds," she said, smiling at the doctor. She then looked at Judge Kent. "No further questions, Your Honor."

Judge Kent nodded and looked at Carson. "Mr. Drew, your witness."
Carson stood up from his chair and buttoned his blazer. He then cleared his throat and approached Doctor Reynolds.

"Doctor Reynolds, how long have you been a forensic pathologist?"

"Going on fifteen years," he answered.

"So, you feel you're good at your job?" Carson asked.

"I would say that, yes. I'm one of the most highly respected forensic pathologists in Illinois," Doctor Reynolds said.

"Have you ever made any mistakes?" Carson asked.

"I'm not sure what you mean," Doctor Reynolds said.

"I'll clarify—in any of your years of being a forensic pathologist have you ever made any mistakes?"

Doctor Reynolds seemed to blanch at the question.

Gwen jumped up from her seat. "Objection, Your Honor. Where is Mr. Drew going with this line of questioning?"

"Mr. Drew, that's a good question," Judge Kent said, looking at him intently.

Carson held up a hand. "Your Honor, this goes to character."

Judge Kent studied Carson a bit longer and then nodded. "I'll allow it. Please continue, Mr. Drew."

Gwen silently scoffed and then sat back down in her chair.

"I'll ask again, Doctor Reynolds. Have you ever made any mistakes?" Carson asked, again focusing his attention on the doctor.

"Not that I can recall," Doctor Reynolds said.

"Allow me to refresh your memory," Carson said, walking back to his table. He picked up a legal pad from his desk and read over some notations he had made. "Five years ago, you were called to testify on another murder case. The Hollinger case—does that ring any bells?""Slightly," Doctor Reynolds said.

"You performed the autopsy on Jimmy Gallagher and later testified against the accused, Sophie Davies. You testified that Mr. Gallagher died as the result of blunt force trauma to the head and that the evidence pointed to Sophie as being his killer," Carson said.

Doctor Reynolds fidgeted in his chair. "That's correct," he said trying to keep his voice strong.

"Sophie Davies was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to twenty years in prison. But the Gallagher family requested that a second autopsy be performed on their son by a different pathologist. Do you know what they found, Doctor?"

Doctor Reynolds slightly nodded his head. "Yes—the second autopsy found that he had suffered a seizure and that he had hit his head on the corner of the table, thus resulting in his death."

"Meaning that your testimony sent an innocent woman to prison," Carson said, putting down his pad.

"Yes," he said through gritted teeth.

"So, let me ask you, Doctor Reynolds. Could you have messed up on these autopsies?" Carson asked.

Doctor Reynolds vehemently shook his head. "That's not possible. Since that terrible tragedy with the Hollinger case, I always double-check my findings."
"Did you find any forensic evidence linking my client to these murders?" Carson asked.

"Not directly, no," Doctor Reynolds.

"Meaning what, exactly?" Carson asked.

"Meaning that we found no direct forensic evidence to link Dominic Shepard to the murders," Doctor Reynolds said, slightly agitated.

"No further questions," Carson said and returned to his seat.

Judge Kent looked at the doctor and nodded. "Doctor Reynolds, you may step down." He then focused his attention on the room. "We will adjourn for lunch. Court will resume at one o'clock with the prosecution's next witness." He banged his gavel and the room rose as one as he retired to his chambers. The bailiff then escorted Dom through the door he had entered from.

"Your dad really tore into him," Frank commented to Nancy.

"Yeah," Nancy said. "I told you that he was tough."

"I guess I just had no idea," Frank said.

"We have an hour. Did you want to grab some lunch?" Ned asked Nancy and the brothers.

Nancy shrugged. "I probably won't eat much, but we may as well."

She bent down to grab her purse as Doctor Reynolds came up to Gwen. "Gwen, I am so sorry about that happened up there."
Gwen shook her head. "Don't worry about it, Carl. I had no idea that Carson was going to do that to you. You did fine."

"Did he have any right to bring up my past like that?" Carl asked.

Gwen nodded. "Unfortunately, he did. He wants to show the jury that you may not be a credible witness. But those women were murdered and the jury isn't going to forget that, no matter what tricks Carson manages to pull."

"He just caught me off-guard," Doctor Reynolds said.

"He caught us all off-guard," Gwen said, ruefully. "Don't worry about it though. I have plenty of other witnesses so the jury may not even remember what happened up there."

"Did you want to grab some lunch? I was going to go over to the deli across the street," Doctor Reynolds said.

Gwen shook her head. "I brought something with me. Thank you, anyway."

Doctor Reynolds smiled and walked out of the courtroom.

"Is it really going to be okay?" Nancy asked.

Gwen seemed to think about it for a few seconds. "I really think it will," she said, finally.

"I forgot how ruthless my dad could be in the courtroom," Nancy said.

"He definitely is at the top of his game," Gwen agreed. She then looked at Nancy apologetically. "I really should get going. I need to talk to Lieutenant Hawkins before he takes the stand."

"We were just going to grab something to eat," Nancy said.

Gwen smiled. "Don't worry, Nancy. We have only just begun."

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