For the People Chapter 27

"Beckett, I appreciate your husband's research. And we may be able to use it in some way, but don't bring up any more connections to churches," Shapiro instructs.

"Kate stares at her boss. "Why, Sir?"

"Because Kudrow will make it out to be a religious attack. The point is to show that Duffy's murder arson had nothing to do with his religious convictions. Bringing in more church ties will work against that message. If you want to use anything more about those other fires, it will have to be completely secular. In the absence of the churches, what would be your procedure?"

Kate presses her fingertips to her lower lip. "I know exactly when the other fires took place. I'd look at Duffy's financials for payments on and around those dates."

"And you already have his financials, do you not?"

"Yes, I used them to verify Mark Silverstein's testimony."

"And the defense has copies?"

"Yes."

"Then we have no problems with discovery. Start checking. Since you know the approximate dates of the transactions, it shouldn't take you long. And while you're at it, look for purchases from chemical suppliers before the other arsons. Duffy admitted to setting the fire at The Woman's Clinic. But he'd have no excuse to obtain carbon disulfide before the other two. And unless he's a total fool, he wouldn't keep something around that stinks and catches fire if you look at it, would he?"

"No, Sir, I don't believe he would."

"Then get going." Shapiro checks his watch. "Court starts again in 15 hours, and you should spend as many as possible of them sleeping. I want you at your best."

Kate pushes out of her chair. "Going right now."


Grabbing the covered dish with mitted hands, Rick pulls a casserole out of a warm oven. "Honestly, I expected you to be later than this. You and Shapiro must have come up with a strategy pretty fast."

"Actually, he already had one," Kate confides. "He didn't get elected DA because of his politics. He knows his job, and he's very sharp. He told me exactly what he wanted and where to look for it. I don't think the research took me more than half an hour. It also led me to another witness. And Shapiro just about commanded me to get a decent night's rest."

"Good man! After the trial, I should send him something. Some very good wines come from Carmel in Israel. They're kosher and everything. I had dinner once with Harry Kemelman before he passed. He introduced me to them."

"I think Kemelman's Rabbi Small and Gidon Shapiro might have gotten along," Kate considers. "They have a similarly logical way of going at problems."

"You read the Small books?" Rick questions. "I would think they were a bit before your time. They were almost before mine."

"My dad liked them, so he had a collection. I read a couple. We both got a good laugh out of the Rabbi's solution of how to start padding the seats of the synagogue."

"Yeah, the big shots in the congregation had to decide whether they wanted to sit where they'd show off their status or keep their asses comfortable. I remember. Kemelman had a knack for bringing the high and mighty back to Earth."

Kate nods. "I think that's what my dad loved about the books. It's very much like the way he goes after big corporations who think they can roll over ordinary people."

Rick scoops the casserole onto a plate. "Or the way you go after assholes like Baird who think they can do the same."

Kate fills her fork with the comfort food. "Duffy's no sweetheart either. I think he gets a kick out of taking his supporters who think he's a spiritual warrior, for a ride. And Shapiro wants to make sure I don't put any more fuel in Duffy's tank. So he doesn't want me to use the church connections you dug up. I'm just following the money."

Rick shrugs. "Whatever works, Kate. Just make sure the jury sees Duffy for the murdering bastard he is."

"That's the plan, Babe."


"Call your next witness, Ms. Beckett," Judge Willis instructs.

"I call Yaphet Goldberg," Kate announces. "Mr. Goldberg, where are you employed?" Kate asks after the witness takes the oath.

"First Third Chase City Bank," Goldberg replies.

"And what are your duties at that bank?" Kate inquires.

"I oversee transaction records, and use algorithms to ensure they're accurate."

"And how do you do that?" Kate inquires.

"Cards and other account numbers have checksums. Transactions also are recorded in specific formats unknown to the public. I make sure everything matches up and flag anything I find questionable for investigation."

"And did you check Linwood Pernell Duffy's records?" Kate queries.

"I did."

"And did you find them to be accurate?"

"I did."

"Your Honor, permission to approach the witness."

"Granted," Willis rules.

"Mr. Goldberg, I'm going to show you copies of Mr. Duffy's records the DA's office subpoenaed from First Third Chase City Bank," Kate explains. "Do these look like the records you oversee?"

"They do."

"Do you have any reason to believe they are incorrect or have been tampered with in any way?"

"No, Ms. Beckett, I do not."

"Then please read the highlighted portions, Mr. Goldberg."

Goldberg pulls a pair of reading glasses out of his pocket. "Account of Linwood Pernell Duffy. Payment to Lysander Chemical Company March 25, 2017, $325. Transfer of funds from Feckner CNC March 30, 2017, $50,000. Payment to Lysander Chemical Company June 10, 2017, $325. Transfer of funds from P. Diggsby June 17, 2017, $50,000."

Kate nods. "Thank you, Mr. Goldberg. That's all I have."

"Mr. Kudrow, cross?" Willis inquires.

Kudrow stares down at his notes. "No questions, your honor."

Willis shifts his view to Kate. "Call your next witness, Ms. Beckett."

"People call Farley Noice," Kate proclaims.

"Your Honor," Kudrow protests, "Defense was just informed of this witness this morning."

"That's when the People became aware that we would need to call him," Kate explains. "Mr. Noice is only here for the purpose of elucidating publicly available information that follows directly from documents the defense has already received and Mr. Goldberg's testimony."

"Then keep your questions exclusively to that testimony and that information, Ms. Beckett," Willis directs. "You have a very short leash."

"Yes, Your Honor," Kate acknowledges.

"Mr. Noice," Kate asks as her witness settles into his seat, "for whom do you work?"

"The Val-Rite Insurance Company. I'm an insurance investigator, specifically assigned to industrial fires."

"How long have you been an investigator of industrial fires?"

"Ten years."

"And what territory do you cover?"

"New York and New Jersey."

"And did you investigate a fire at a factory in New Jersey that was owned by Pennwood Diggsby?"

"I did."

"When did the fire take place?"

"June 16, 2017."

"And what did you conclude from your investigation?"

"That the fire was arson."

"What was the accelerant used in the fire, Mr. Noice?"

"Carbon disulfide."

"And how would an arsonist obtain carbon disulfide?"

"It would have to be purchased from a chemical supplier."

"And are you aware of chemical suppliers that offer carbon disulfide?"

"I'm aware of several."

"And what are they?"

"Pure-Est Solvents, Lemuel Chemical Company, and Lysander Chemical Company."

"Are you aware of any arsons with a signature matching the one at Pennwood Diggsby's factory, Mr. Noice?"

"Not from personal investigation."

"Do you have access to the Arson Registry?"

"I do."

"And did you check that registry for fires with an identical signature?"

"I did."

"And what did you find?"

"A fire at Feckner's CNC in Ohio on March 29, 2017."

"Thank you, Mr. Noice. Your witness Mr. Kudrow."

Kudrow rises with less than his usual vigor. "Mr. Noice, did you ever find any direct evidence that the defendant set either the fire in New Jersey or the one in Ohio?"

"No, I did not."

"Thank you, Mr. Noice. That's all."

"Redirect?" Kate requests as Kudrow sinks into his seat at the defense table.

"Keep it short and on point, Ms. Beckett," Willis warns.

"Mr. Noice, based on your long experience as an investigator, what would you conclude from the matching arson signatures combined with corresponding payments to Mr. Duffy?"

"That Mr. Duffy set the fires."

Kate allows herself the faintest of smiles. "Thank you, Mr. Noice. I appreciate you sharing your expertise."