Steven James - The Knight (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 3)

The Cook County Criminal Courthouse
Chicago, Illinois
8:27 a.m. Central Time

I knew the media frenzy today would be even more intense than itd been on Friday, and I really didnt want to face any reporters, so Id made arrangements for Ralph to meet me at the back door of the courthouse. And now as he opened the door and gestured for me to come in, I saw that his face was swollen. What happened to you?

Turns out Im allergic to raisins, he grumbled.

Youre almost forty years old. How could you only find that out now?

Dont ask me. I guess I never ate quite so many at once before. Now, get in here.

I joined him inside. Maybe youre allergic to being bald.

Thats not funny.

Its sort of funny.

Keep it up, Mr. Profiler, see what happens. I started toward the main lobby, but he directed me down the east hallway. I convinced em to set up a secondary security screening area, so people involved in the trial dont have to walk past the protestors. Its this way.

Good call.

Theres a lot going on, he said. I need to fill you in on a few things.

Do you mean Calvin?

Calvin?

Yes, I said. I talked to him this morning. Did you know hes in Denver?

Ralph stopped walking. You talked to Calvin?

Just before I left the hotel.

What did he say?

Ralph seemed curious, but something deeper as well, and as I summarized my conversation with Calvin he listened intently, then began walking again. He didnt mention anything else? Calvin, I mean?

No. We arrived at the security checkpoint. Why? Whats going on?

After the shooting last week, security was even tighter than it had been on Friday, and most of the people passing through were being patted down. Thankfully, Ralph and I didnt have to deal with that, although we did have to hand over our weapons.

When I couldnt find him yesterday, Ralph said, I did some checking. Ran a complete background, the whole nine. Ralph wasnt looking at me, and I got the feeling he was avoiding eye contact on purpose. Medical records included.

I didnt like the direction this conversation was going. You found something. He was quiet as we gathered our things from the far side of the X-ray conveyor belt. What is it?

Ralph eyed the hallway in both directions, then motioned for me to join him in an out-of-the-way alcove at the end of the hall.

Tell me, Ralph. Whats going on?

After we were alone, he said, I think theres a reason Calvin has become so interested in seeing justice carried out promptly.

My thoughts leapt ahead to the most obvious conclusion, one that I didnt want to be true. One that couldnt possibly be true. Youre not saying... ?

Ralph didnt answer. I waited. He looked conflicted. Torn. At last he put a heavy hand on my shoulder. Yeah. Thats what Im saying.

No. I shook my head. It cant be. He would have told me.

I talked to a couple of his family members. As far as I can tell, he hasnt even told them.

A crushing sadness overwhelmed me. I need to get back to Denver, Ralph. I need to find him.

You need to testify first.

No, Ralph. I have to

You just told me Kurt was looking for him, Ralph said firmly. Hell find Calvin. Youll see him when you get back tonight, itll all work out. Right now you need to be here at this trial. He tapped my head. All of you needs to be here.

He was right, of course, but I needed to take a couple seconds to think things through.

You all right?

Grant Sikoras dying request flashed through my mind.

Promise me you wont let him do it again.

I promise.

All right, I told Ralph. Im good. Lets go.

So, you know what youre going to say up there? It was Emilio Vandez, and the beginning of the trial was only minutes away.

I thought of the story about the midwives, about how theyd lied to protect innocent lives and God had honored them for it. And, despite Calvins misgivings about his guilt, I was still convinced that Basque was responsible for the murdersand that he would kill again if he were set free.

Yes, I told Emilio. I think I know what Im going to say.

All right. He chugged my shoulder good-naturedly. Then lets do this thing.

I slipped out Tessas cell phone and found no messages from Kurt about whether or not theyd found Calvin, or if Adrian Bryant and Benjamin Rhodes were still alive. Then the bailiff rose, I shut off the phone, and the trial began.

The opening trial procedures seemed to take forever, but finally, I swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and then I took my seat on the witness standan act that Tessa had pointed out to me one time was an oxymoronic thing to doand surveyed the courtroom.

Emilio Vandez looked anxious.

Judge Craddock, annoyed.

The jury, exhausted.

Richard Basque, confident.

And Priscilla Eldridge-Gorman looked pleased to be on center stage once again.

She spent a few minutes reviewing the previous weeks proceedings, being careful to avoid drawing too much attention to the attempt on her clients life. I suspected she was concerned that bringing up the attempted murder might cause the jurors to become convinced that Basque really was guiltyafter all, why would Grant Sikora have tried to kill him if he were innocent?

But she was taking longer than she needed to, and five minutes after I thought he should have objected, Emilio finally did, saying that if she wasnt going to ask me any questions, why had she called me back to the stand in the first place?

Judge Craddock told Ms. Eldridge-Gorman to get on with it already.

Of course, Your Honor. She plucked up a file folder.

Just to remind the jurors, immediately prior to the terrible incident on Friday, I had asked Dr. Bowers if he assaulted my client after arresting him thirteen years ago in the slaughterhouse. I would like to resume my questioning there, but, if it pleases Your Honor, may I request that the court reporter read the transcripts of the final moments of Fridays testimony so that the jury can have an accurate accounting of the line of questioning?

Judge Craddock nodded toward the court reporter, who took a moment to shuffle through a stack of papers and then read: Coun-sel: Did you break Richard Basques jaw with your fist? Did you attack him after he was handcuffed? He paused and asked Priscilla, Is that where you want me to start?

Yes. Thats fine.

The court reporter went on, Counsel: Dr. Bowers. Are you having trouble remembering that night at the slaughterhouse? Ill ask you one last time. Did you or did you not physically assault Richard Devin Basque after he was in your custody in the slaughterhouse? Judge Craddock, please direct the witness to answer the question. Judge Craddock: Dr. Bowers, I advise you to answer the counselors question. Will you answer the counselors question? Witness: No. Judge Craddock: No? The court reporter paused. And then...

Yes, Priscilla said. Thatll be fine. She gazed at me. Dr. Bowers, you answered no. Was that in response to my question, or to the honorable Judge Craddocks question?

I hadnt realized Id actually said no aloud. I was responding to Sikoras movement toward the gun, I said, not to your question or Judge Craddocks.

She might have pounced, arguing that I must have been answering either her or the judge, but she didnt go there. I assumed that once again she was avoiding that line of questioning so she could stay clear of what shed referred to a few moments ago as the terrible incident.

Instead, she opened the manila folder.

I have here the original case files from thirteen years ago in Milwaukee. Just to refresh your memory, Dr. Bowers, heres what you wrote concerning the arrest: There was an altercation. Later it was discovered that the suspects jaw was broken sometime in the midst of his apprehension. Are those your words?