Chapter 73
“I’ll do you one better than that,” Khalid replied when he heard Marcel on the phone ask if he would be free to take the stand that afternoon, giving him the reasons for his request. “I knew it would come down to explaining the knife’s provenance and I’ve already asked my brother to join us in Washington. He’s on his way as we speak. He should be ready to testify in the morning.”
An awkward silence ensued. Marcel, or Billycan for that matter, hadn’t planned on Salamir Al-Fadir Sahab being called in at all—certainly not so soon. “I’m very sorry, Prince Khalid, but this is going to be a surprise for Mr. Billycan. However, I think we can arrange for your brother to take the stand in the next couple of days, yes.”
“Mr. Fauchet, you need to be assured that my brother is better placed to answer your questions; not only about the knife, but as regards the events that led my father to be involved with the drug trafficking, which the CIA had organized originally with the helpful assistance of Mr. Osnoir.”
Marcel was lost now. That was a bit much to take at once. This case was getting farther reaching in time and scope by the minute. “I am unable to respond, Your Highness. I haven’t been briefed in the matters you described just now. Would you mind if Mr. Billycan calls you himself during the lunch recess?”
“By all means, Mr. Fauchet, I’ll be in my suite at that time.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll get him to call you as soon as he’s free.”
“Don’t mention it. Good day to you, Mr. Fauchet.”
When Marcel returned to the courtroom and told Billycan what the prince had said, Billycan couldn’t help but gawk at his assistant. “Are you telling me that we will be able to get a full explanatory statement from the prince’s brother?” Marcel nodded. “Alright then, we’ve got to get a continuance or at least an adjournment for the day. We’ve got to prepare for this. Get Ms. Stovall in my office as soon as you can. I’ll need her to attend the interview.” Soon after Marcel left the courtroom, Silverman reappeared and stepped up to the bench.
“May we approach, Your Honour?” Billycan asked immediately after the bailiff declared the court in session again.
“Yes, Mr. Billycan. Mr. Simmons, please approach.”
When both attorneys were close enough to the bench, Silverman placed his hand on the microphone. “What’s going on, Mr. Billycan?”
“One of our witnesses is flying in from Nouakchott, Your Honour, and we would like to have the time to interview him in the morning. We will be asking for a continuance, Your Honour.” Billycan turned to Simmons. “If my colleague doesn’t mind.”
Simmons didn’t return the gaze but looked up at Silverman when he said, “We’ve got no objection, Your Honour. We actually would like the time to complete the preparation of our defence in view of the added witnesses.”
“Well, it seems that everyone would be happy for the break, so go ahead, Mr. Billycan... How long?”
“Three days, Your Honour.”
“Okay then, go ahead.”
Billycan and Simmons returned to their respective seats but Billycan remained standing beside his chair.
Within a few minutes court was adjourned for three days—until the following Thursday at 9:00AM.
“Okay, let’s see if Prince Khalid can see us in a half-an-hour.” He looked at Marcel who was closing his phone.
“Yes, sir. I was just talking to Ms. Stovall; she’ll be at your office anytime her presence is required for that interview.”
Glenda was trying to keep up. This string of events and the rapidity at which things evolved in this case was all new to her. She was not new to courts’ proceedings, but this was not her usual run-of-the-mill case by any means. She looked up at Billycan while Marcel was on the phone with Khalid again.
“What would you like me to do?”
“Stay with us and observe, Ms. Blake. Just observe. You’ll be attending interviews in the next two and half days that could be useful for you to recall if I ask you to examine witnesses on the stand.”
“Me? You want me to examine your witnesses? I don’t think I can, Mr. Billycan, I might bungle things for you...” That was a polite rebuff when, in fact, Glenda looked forward to having her chance at the Al-Fadir family. She had her opinion of these Muslim royalties—not a good one either.
Billycan smiled kindly down at her. “I’m quite sure you won’t, Ms. Blake, and it’s about time you get your feet wet, don’t you think?” Glenda’s bewilderment didn’t abate. “And why did you think I asked you to second chair in this trial? You’ve got to work for your stipend, my dear.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, though, I won’t throw you to the wolves until you’re ready.” Glenda bent her head and looked at her feet. She was not about to let Billycan know how she really felt. She’d leave that for the courtroom. Billycan turned to Marcel. “All right, is the prince available?”
“Yes, sir, he’s invited us for lunch, in his suite. He said we’ll have more privacy then.”
“Very good. Shall we?” Billycan stretched an arm in the direction of the doors of the courthouse.