Part 23 (1/2)
”The killer left a mouse in her mouth. It tried to gnaw its way out did serious damage to her cheek, then died.”
A hand immediately shoots up from the jury box and juror number eight rushes toward the restroom door without seeking the court's permission. Next to me I can feel Jana stiffen and inhale sharply when the mouse details come out. He stops doing his art. Judge Lancer-Burgess takes a ten-minute recess. The other jurors file out of the courtroom. They are clearly in shock.
Once the judge disappears through her door in the wall, the courtroom erupts in pandemonium. This is the mayor's blessed daughter we're discussing here. Phones are produced and frantic calls made to media outlets and offices. Voices are raised: ”Yes, a mouse in her mouth! Yes, you heard me right!”
AFTER ANOTHER DOZEN questions about the scene and tasks undertaken, State's Attorney d.i.c.kinson begins asking questions about Jana.
”Did you have a chance to interview the defendant?”
”We asked some questions and he gave some answers.”
”Was he under arrest when this happened?”
”No. We were down at the station, but there was no arrest. We were just investigating.”
”Investigating what?”
”Actually, we were investigating the murder of Franny Arlington. This investigation happened several weeks after Amy was killed.”
”Was Jana Emerich a suspect?”
”Objection!” I cry and leap to my feet. ”Relevance.”
”Sustained. Counsel, you know better.”
”Was Jana Emerich a person of interest?”
”Same objection!” I shout. ”This is purposeful and grounds for reversal, Your Honor.”
”Counsel,” the judge says to d.i.c.kinson, ”let's move it along. Ask something else.”
”Why was Jana Emerich at the police station?”
”Because he had said something to the football security people. He was taken by the uniforms to the station and that's where we asked him a few questions.”
”What did you ask him?”
”We asked about mice, for openers. Whether he had any mice.”
”What did he say?”
”All he would say is he wanted to see his lawyer.”
”Did you then cease asking questions?”
”Yes. We took him with us to identify another person of interest.”
”In the Franny Arlington case? Not this case?”
”Correct. It had nothing to do with Amy Tanenbaum.”
”Very well, I think that's all for right now, Your Honor.”
”Counsel? You may cross-examine.”
I stand and step up to the lectern. Laying my yellow pad on its surface, I immediately ask, ”Detective Ngo, isn't it true you know of no evidence linking my client to the death of Amy Tanenbaum?”
”No, that's not true.”
”Well, tell the jury what links you know about, please.”
”Mouse hair. Mouse hair in her mouth that matched mouse hair taken from your client's mouse cage.”
I decide to open the Franny Arlington case; it has already been referenced and I might as well clear the air.
”Could that mouse hair also have come from Rudy Gomez's mouse cage?”
The detective shoots a look at the State's Attorney. Knowing he is being watched by the jury, the SA makes no move to suggest an answer.
”Without looking at the State's Attorney, please answer my question.”
”Would you repeat it?”
”I asked whether the mouse hair removed from Amy's mouth might also have matched mouse hair at Rudy Gomez's house.”
”I don't know.”
”Did you investigate that possibility?”
”Yes. We searched Mr. Gomez's house.”
”Why did you do that?”
”He admitted being present when Franny Arlington hit her head and died.”
”Did he admit killing her?”
”Killing her? No, you couldn't say that.”
”What could you say?”
”He was there when she fell and struck her head.”
”Did he cause her to fall?”