Chapter Seventeen: Testimony
The judge took his seat. He was about sixty, with thinning hair and a million wrinkles. The bailiff made a settling motion with his hands and everyone sat down.
The judge cleared his throat and said, "We are here today on account of the murder of Alfonso Rodriguez, age twenty-two, on the night of December 14th, 1976, and the suspects Roger Stanton, Nelson Williams and Jason Shah. How do they plead?"
Each lawyer stood up in turn and said, "Not guilty." The judge nodded at the prosecutor. He was a man named James Wolf. Wolf stood up and made his opening argument.
Darry was half-asleep when he was finished. He groaned inwardly. Is all of the trial going to be this boring? He thought.
The remaining lawyers made their opening arguments, by which time two hours had passed. Lucky's lawyer was the last to present her argument.
Darry and A.J. sat up to listen to her argument. It was just as long-winded as the others had been, but Darry struggled to pay attention and understand what she was saying.
Most of it was pointless fluff that surrounded her main point: "My client is not guilty."
Darry felt like smacking his forehead with the heel of his hand like A.J. was doing next to him.
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Oh, no, A.J. thought helplessly. Stupid government lawyer!
When the lawyers were finished, testimony began. "We call to the stand Anjali Jahaji," the judge said.
A.J. froze. That was her! She stood up slowly and made her way to the stand. The bailiff swore her in.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
It took a moment for A.J.'s mouth to work. She hated getting up in front of people to do anything, even just walking across the room. "I do," she said.
The prosecutor began questioning her. "How long have you known Mr. Stanton?"
"Since I began college."
"And when was that?"
"A year ago."
"How well do you feel you know Mr. Stanton?"
"We're good friends."
"Where were you on the night of the murder?"
"I was at the comedy show at the McCormick Place. My cousin was doing her routine and she sent me tickets."
"Who was with you?"
"My friends Lu—Roger Stanton, Jennifer Andrews, Andrew Michaels and Michael Rogers." A.J. bit back a laugh as she realized the relation between all their names. How come she hadn't noticed them before?
"Whose name did you start to say?"
"Lucky. That's Roger's nickname." A.J. stole a glance at Lucky as she said his name. He was staring at her pleadingly, as if to say, don't let me down. She wanted to tell him, don't worry, I won't.
"Nickname? Is that a trend?"
"Yeah," A.J. said, and because she suspected the question was coming, she said, "A.J.'s mine."
"All right, Miss Jahaji," the prosecutor said. "Would a nickname be possibly be used other than among friends, such as to cover up an illegal activity?"
The lawyer sitting by Jason Shah jumped up and said angrily, "That's leading!"
The judge said calmly, "Sustained. The jury will disregard the question."
"Where did you go after the comedy show?"
"Back to the dorm."
"Do you know where Roger went?"
A.J. glanced at Lucky and felt as though she was betraying him when she said, "I don't know for sure, but I know he got stoned. He was sick the next day."
"You saw him the next day?"
"Yeah."
"Did he say what he'd been doing?"
"No. Just that he felt sick."
"Nothing further."
The sun had completely set in the background. The lawyers continued questioning A.J. for a grand total of four hours before they were all completely satisfied.
The judge called a recess until tomorrow afternoon.
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A.J. was lying awake in bed. She couldn't fall asleep.
Just before the guards had led Lucky away, he had turned to look at her. He had had a very strange expression on his face.
She could see it in her mind. She didn't know what it meant. She didn't know if she wanted to know what it meant.
She tossed and turned. As hard as she tried to forget it, she just couldn't. His face kept popping up in her mind just when she thought she had forgotten about it, clear as ever.
It was an expression like no other. And as much as A.J. denied it, refused to believe it, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was accusing her of something she hadn't even known she did.
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Darry couldn't fall asleep either. He was haunted by what had happened just after the judge called a recess.
Everyone got up and began to leave. Darry sighed and stood up to begin filing out with everyone else.
"Darrel? I didn't expect to see you here."
Darry whipped around. He knew that voice all too well. It took all his effort not to melt into a pathetic, lovestruck puddle as Ms. Hart smiled up at him.
"Ms. Hart? What're you doing here?" Darry blurted before he could stop himself.
"Oh, I'm here supporting David of course. I suppose you're here supporting Roger?"
"Yes," Darry said. "May I ask who—?"
"David? Oh, he's my fiancé. I just had to come down and support him. This is the biggest case he's ever had."
"He's one of the lawyers?" Darry asked, trying to hide his shock. "W-which one?" He wasn't sure if he wanted to know.
"He's the prosecutor."
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Aren't I twisted?
