Act Normal, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 9

that bastard put away as much as you guys."

  "Yeah, well," Alice muttered, "that's not looking so good right now."

  I smiled. "Don't be pessimistic. The jury is pretty smart. They'll be able to sift out the truth, particularly after Wakefield gets through with Eiseman."

  "Did you give him a few pointers, I hope?" Ben said. "So far he's coming off as a pretty decent lad. He's as good a liar as Herman."

  "We met this morning and discussed how to handle the cross. I think he'll do just fine."

  Ben looked at me warily. I gave him a wry smile in return. "Well good, then. Maybe the momentum will shift. I sure hope so."

  As we continued to talk the bailiff stood and said, "All rise!"

  The judge scurried into the courtroom and took the bench.

  "Be seated," he said. "Let’s see. I believe Mr. Wakefield, you were about to cross Ike Eiseman."

  Wakefield rose. "Yes, Your Honor."

  "Bailiff, bring in Mr. Eiseman."

  The bailiff nodded and went out into the hallway. A moment later he returned and said, "Mr. Eiseman is not here, Your Honor."

  The judge frowned. "Where is he?"

  The bailiff shrugged. "I saw him sitting in the hall thirty minutes ago. He must have gone to the restroom or something."

  The judge shook his head angrily. “Well find him and get him back here. I want to get testimony wrapped up today, if possible."

  "Yes, sir," the bailiff replied and went back out into the hall.

  A jolt of fear shot through me. Had Jodie had a problem? They should have been back from having coffee by now. I got up and went into the hallway outside the courtroom. It was empty with the exception of a lawyer talking to his client outside another courtroom. Then I heard the elevator bell ring and arguing.

  "You shouldn't have strayed off like that. Everyone is waiting for you. The judge is really mad."

  "Hey man, chill. I was just getting' a cup a coffee. Jeez."

  The bailiff had Eiseman by the arm and was pulling him toward the courtroom. I backed out of the way. Jodie was nowhere to be found. We had agreed she would make herself scarce after spiking the coffee so that nobody would connect us as being together. I followed them into the courtroom and took a seat.

  "Well, Mr. Eiseman. I'm glad you could join us," the judge said sarcastically. "Please retake the stand."

  "Yeah. Whatever," Eiseman said jovially and staggered to the stand.

  Ralph's attorney looked at Eiseman nervously. He must have sensed something was awry. Ralph frowned as Eiseman smiled broadly at Wakefield.

  "Your witness," the Judge said.

  Wakefield nodded. "Mr. Eiseman, you testified yesterday that Ralph Herman was your friend, is that right?"

  Eiseman looked at Ralph and smiled, "Yes, my best friend."

  "And you've been friends since childhood, isn't that correct?"

  He nodded. "Yes, since grammar school."

  "So, for a relationship to last that long you must look out for each other—watch each other's back?"

  "You got it man. That's what friends are all about."

  "So, has Ralph ever . . . you know . . . covered for you, as they say?"

  A broad smile came over Eiseman's face. "Yeah, sure. Like when I wanted to get out of the house, I could always count on Ralph to cover for me. I'd do the same for him."

  "So, you'd lie for him and he'd lie for you?"

  Eiseman nodded. "Sure, why not?"

  "And you covered for each other in other ways too, I suppose. Like at school maybe?"

  Eiseman squinted a moment then a big grin came on his face. "Oh, you mean like if he wanted to cheat on his girl?"

  "No. I was thinking more like with tests and exams. Did you or he ever cheat on an exam—maybe get the questions in advance or get the answers from one of the smart kids in the class?"

  He laughed. "Oh, yeah. You don't think we actually studied all that crap, do you?"

  "No, of course, not. So, did Ralph ask you to help him skim money from Ben Stover?"

  Eiseman rolled his eyes and twisted his head in a weird manner. "Yeah, what a deal, huh? Stover was so loaded he never missed it."

  "Objection! Your Honor," Jacobs shouted, "there is something wrong with this witness."

  "Yeah, he finally decided to tell the truth," Wakefield spat.

  The judge took a deep breath and turned to the witness. "Mr. Eiseman, are you feeling okay?"

  A big smile came over Eiseman's face. "Never better, Your Honor."

  "Have you been drinking?"

  "Just coffee, Your Honor."

  The judge studied Eiseman for a moment and then shrugged. "Objection overruled. You may continue, Mr. Wakefield."

  "So, did the money go into the offshore account?"

  "Right, pretty slick, huh?"

  Ralph stood up and pointed his finger at Eiseman. "Shut up! You lying son of a bitch."

  Jacobs grabbed Ralph 's shoulder and tried to sit him down. Ralph turned and shoved him hard, sending him crashing to the floor. There were screams from the gallery and the jury just stared at the melee in shock. Two bailiffs came running over and tried to seize Ralph but he fought them like a raging bull and they were unable to restrain him. Finally a sheriff's deputy intervened with a billy club and Ralph collapsed to the floor unconscious.

  Within five minutes the paramedics arrived and took Ralph away. Chaos continued for several more minutes until the judge finally banged his gavel and the courtroom quieted down. Then he sent the jury to the jury room to wait until as he put it, "things were sorted out."

  "I move for a mistrial, Your Honor," Jacobs snarled. "This incident has irrevocably prejudiced the jury. There is no way my client can get a fair trial now."

  "Your Honor," Wakefield replied, "this incident was caused wholly by the defendant. You can't grant a mistrial when it was the defendant's misconduct that caused the problem. If you did that, all any defendant would have to do to thwart the court is have a temper tantrum like Mr. Herman just had."

  The judge nodded. "I would agree with you counselor, if this was completely the defendant's fault, but you have to admit Mr. Eiseman was a different man here today from the one who testified yesterday. I'm ordering he be subjected to a physical examination to be sure he wasn't under the influence of alcohol or some other personality changing drug.”

  The judge looked up and met my eyes. "Mr. Turner. What business do you have with this court?"

  A chill swept over me. I stood up tentatively. "Ah. Just a spectator, Your Honor. Ben and Alice Stover have been long time clients."

  "Well, Mr. Turner, you have a reputation for your courtroom antics. Is it just a coincidence that you are here when all hell breaks loose or did you say something to Mr. Herman or Mr. Eiseman that could have set them off?"

  I shook my head. "I haven't talked to either one of them, Your Honor."

  "Uh huh. Well, I sincerely hope you had nothing to do with what happened here today."

  I didn't respond because I didn't want to have to lie to the Court. I just shrugged and walked out of the courtroom. My heart was pounding. What if they found traces of the truth serum in Eiseman's blood? We'd be screwed. I had no idea what was in the truth serum as Mo had delivered it in an unlabeled bottle and never revealed to us its formula. I had to find Jodie and decide what to do. Should we hang around for the results of the test or go into hiding? My head began to throb as I saw my legal career going down the toilet.

  Jodie was sitting on the hood of my car when I got to the parking lot. I told her what had happened. She said there was a Denny's down the street where we could talk. I told her I needed something stronger than coffee. She raised her eyebrows and then said she thought there was also a Bennigans that would have a bar. I opted for that idea and we found it just a few blocks farther down the street. After we'd had a couple of drinks, we talked strategy.

  "Let's not panic," Jodie said. "Maybe they won't find anything in Eiseman's blood."

  "I hope not. I don't k
now what will happen if they do."

  "Even if they did, how would they prove how he got it?" Jodie added.

  "True. If the drug acts like alcohol Eiseman won't remember a thing tomorrow."

  "That's right. So, relax. All is not lost."

  I felt a little better after talking it out with Jodie and getting a few drinks under my belt. We had one more drink and then ordered dinner. An hour later we left to find a motel to stay the night. When I got to my room I called Ben and Alice and we discussed what had happened. They both said they felt good about the day's events and were anxious to find out what the judge would do in the morning. I wasn't as anxious as I feared there was trouble ahead.

  As I lay in bed trying to sleep, I prayed God would just get me through one more day. I thought back to the past year and wondered how I'd made it this far. Now that Rebekah was better and the CIA was finally out of my life, I needed some tranquility. I couldn't take another catastrophe in my life right now. It would be the end of me. Why hadn't I stayed home and ignored Ben and Alice's plea? Why was I seemingly compelled to drop everything and come running when clients were in trouble? It was a curse.

  The alarm clock startled me. I rolled over and squinted at the display. It was seven-twenty-nine a.m. I sighed. Just a little over an hour and my destiny would be sealed, one way or another. After showering and getting dressed, I called Jodie's room and asked if she was ready to get some breakfast. She said to give her ten minutes.

  At eight-forty-five I left the motel and drove to the courthouse. Jodie stayed at the motel still concerned that Eiseman might see her and remember their brief encounter. Fortunately, Ralph's trial hadn't garnered a lot of media attention, so the