Telling the truth

Chapter 15

The Odeon restaurant on West Broadway is truly the essence of New York City. An American French Bistro that reflects retro, from its high stylish letters that spell the words cafeteria and Odeon in reddish-orange neon, to the Americana oil paintings on its walls.

Inside, the uncharacteristically wide booths, ribbed glass and burnished woods recall a simpler era of the 1950's. Mike and Connie sat in one of the curved cushioned booths. In fact, it was the exact same booth they had sat when they were on their "spy mission" regarding Judge Reynolds and Carly, his law clerk.

But this was not a luncheon to reminiscence.

After they placed their order, Mike and Connie began to immediately discuss the case. Although both were exhausted from the case, they were aware that they had a deadline as to whether or not they planned to prosecute Tim Brantley.

"Assistant Katherine Scott believed Tim Brantley innocent and I think she is right about that." Connie commented.

"Or perhaps you want to believe that love conquers all?" Mike asked, as he watched her reaction.

Connie tilted her head, "You're sounding a bit cynical about love, Mike."

He shrugged, "That's because in this particular case, I don't remember the feelings being a two way street. I believe it was Miss Scott who held all the desires. And from the little I know about love, all I can say is that sometimes the person you fall for isn't ready to be caught."

Mike couldn't seem to meet her eyes and Connie occupied her time by taking a sip of her drink. The conversation seemed to be getting more personal than either one had expected.

In a way, Mike was relieved to have this conversation out in the open because previously Connie always seemed to keep her guard up when it came to any intimate conversation. Meanwhile Connie was also glad this conversation had come up. Any talk about a relationship, even regarding two entirely different people, almost seemed like the white elephant in the room.

Connie took a deep breath to stead her nerves.

"Is that why you never found anyone, Mike?" she candidly asked, "because you felt that if you had a relationship, it would be one-sided?"

Yes, I need to be guarded-unless you are the one who wishes to change my mind, Mike internally thought. But he would never let Connie know these thoughts.

"I'm a lawyer and we've learned early not to trust anyone," Mike half-jested, "including themselves. Besides, being alone isn't so bad...look at Jack. "

Connie knew how much Mike looked up to Jack, how much Jack 's opinion mattered to him.

"I'm not sure Jack is the person people should use as a role model, despite his brilliance," admitted Connie.

"Perhaps, " Mike agreed, though he attempted to keep the subject matter light, "but as you know,great, successful men are often alone."

"And that is something to admire?" Connie inquired.

"It's sometimes the price you have to pay, Connie. Men like Jack have built such high standards for themselves that they are too busy to connect with others. Their drive to succeed is what they desire the most."

Their plates had arrived and was set in front of them.

"I think if you told Jack that was the reason for his success, he might disagree," Connie said, taking a bite of her meal.

"Don't discount aloneness too quickly, Connie," Mike said, "because I know for a fact that Jack does enjoy his solitude. He even plans on taking a vacation on his own."

That was news to her.

"Oh? So now you want to discuss the office gossip?" Connie seemed almost relieved at the change of subject.

"I never discuss office gossip!" Mike pretended to be indignant, "although I may at times discuss office truth. "

Connie couldn't help the grin that spread on her face, "Oh, do tell."

"I had stumbled upon Jack's next vacation itinerary," Mike stated, " According to the schedule, he will be touring Europe on his own this summer. And if I know Jack, the minute he signs that guest registration he'll be telling hotel management how to run the place more efficiently. "

Connie started to smile, thinking about Jack vacationing, going from hotel to hotel, complaining about the last hotel while at the same time signing in at the most recent guest registry book. Her smile dissipated, however, when an idea about the case suddenly entered her head. She turned slowly to look at Mike, a knowing expression on her face.

"Connie?" Mike asked, leaning forward, "What is it?"

"Mike, you had mentioned Jack and the hotel guest registry...and I started thinking about the case and something suddenly occurred to me." she declared.

He looked confused, "Really... what?"

"We need to find out who signed that guest registry at the Starlite Motel," Connie responded and then added, "because a ghost certainly didn't sign it."

She didn't need to explain further. Mike knew exactly her point.

"You're right, Connie" Mike's eyes seemed to sparkle, "the registry at the Starlite Motel will have read that a person named Larry Carson had signed in, however, we know it couldn't have been him!"

"True," Connie concurred, her voice sounding more excited with each word, "so I think finding out who actually DID sign that registry may be the key to this whole case!"

"At least we have a chance at finding the truth," Mike stated.

"A big chance," Connie concurred, anxious to know the answer.

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And by the time court was in session again, Mike was ready.

The courtroom was once again filled to capacity being that this was a high profile case. Everyone rose when Judge Harper entered the courtroom and the Bailiff announced everyone to take a seat.

"Call your next witness, Mr. Cutter," Judge Harper stated.

Mike stood, "The people call Heather Brantley to the stand."

Heather Brantley made quite an impression on the jury as she walked to the stand. The trim lines of her figure, the expressive blue eyes, the vivacious yet subdued manner she conducted herself in deference to the solemnity of the occasion made the jury like her right from the start.

All eyes were focused on her as she identified herself to the court, adjusted herself on the witness stand and then looked directly at Mike as he approached her.

"Good day, Ms. Brantley," Mike greeted her professionally as she acknowledged him, "Could you please tell the court where you were on the night of May 19th of this year?"

"Of course," she stated pleasantly, "I was with my husband in Mexico. His hobby is studying different Indian tribes of Mexico and this time he was focusing on the Yaqui Indians who basically settled in Northern Mexico. I, myself, preferred the luxury of our private yacht, docked at one of the private American resorts nearby. So you might say we were on a working location."

Defense lawyer Granick stood, "Objection. Although the Brantley's vacation habits may be impressive, I find the testimony to be irrelevant."

"Counsel seems to be impatient, Your Honor," Mike countered, "and my hope is that he isn't trigger quick with everything in his life..." the comment caused Granick to look indignant as Mike added, "...needless to say I will be making a point shortly."

"Overruled," the judge noted as Granick reluctantly sat down again.

"Ms. Brantley," Mike began, "It took you awhile to discover the news regarding the trial of Tim Brantley, is that correct?"

"Yes," she replied, "When I am docked on the yacht, I like to cut off communication with the world. LIkewise, my husband had no access to phones while interacting with the Yaqui Indians."

"I see," said Mike, "Now Mrs. Brantley, originally when your nephew had been charged, your husband had called me from Mexico, is that right?"

"Yes," she admitted.

"And were you with him, Mrs. Brantley," Mike inquired, "when your husband telephoned me from Mexico?"

"Yes," she replied, "I was with him on the yacht."

"And what was the purpose of your husband calling me?"

"It took four days for us to discover that his nephew Tim was on trial for manslaughter," she sounded very sincere and convincing, "Suffice to say, my husband was very upset and concerned. He insisted I go and help in any way I can. So he called you, Mr. Cutter, to inform you of my arrival back to the states. And then I used our private plane to fly home."

"And you saw me in my office the next morning?" Mike asked.

"Yes. I flew on our private jet."

Granick stood again, "Your Honor, again I object. I don't know what counsel is trying to prove, but this type of questioning is leading nowhere. Mr. Cutter seems to be on a fishing expedition, but instead, he caught one whale of a story!"

The judge sighed, "Though I hate to admit it, Mr. Cutter, I, too, do not see the purpose of this tedious line of questioning."

"I apologize for the extraneous questions, Your Honor," Mike stated, "I will be as direct as possible in my next set of questions."

"Sustained," the Judge announced as a very satisfied Granick sat.

From the prosecution table Connie sat back, looking more relaxed than ever. The long hours of work Mike had put in would finally pay off. They now knew why Bolt Jackman had made up that ridiculous story about The Brantleys covering up the murder of Larry Carson, when Larry Carson had already been dead for two years. And now Mike was about to have his moment.

"Ms. Brantley..." Mike said, "you had stated that on the night of May 19th, you were in Mexico with your husband...but isn't it a fact, that you were at the Starlite Motel in New York City on that evening?"

The entire courtroom seemed to make a collective gasp.

Heather Brantley's eyes became very large, but her voice was insistent "I told you I was on a yacht with my husband in Mexico, so no, that is NOT possible."

But Mike knew she was lying and he was ready to break the case wide open with the name of the murderer.

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The trial concludes next chapter!

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