Michelle Law sat at the front of the room, ready for the day ahead, busily typing on her laptop.
“Late night, Michelle?” Hunter stepped close to her.
She turned, looking perfectly awake. “I’ve had enough beauty sleep if that’s what you’re asking.”
He stared at her for a few long moments before leaning closer to her. “We have you, X.”
She squinted before leaning her head back to look at Sulzberger standing behind Hunter. “X is a figment of Robert’s imagination. A way to explain what’s happened in his past—it’s quite common in people with PTSD.” Her face changed. “If X were a real person, you’d have evidence that she existed, right?”
“You won’t get away with what you did last night.” Hunter was blunt.
“Last night?” Her eyebrows scrunched together. “What are you claiming X did last night?”
Hunter stared at her again for a long moment. “You can only hide for so long. We’ve got you. This game is over.”
She shook her head. “I was at home in bed last night rereading this file.” She waved the paper in the air.
Hunter stood back, his heart banging within the walls of his chest. He needed patience. His time would come.
He was sure it was a woman who attacked him last night. He told the police as such.
They questioned him for hours and took the DNA evidence away from the scene, but it would be weeks before the results came back. He pressed the police for a quicker turnaround, but they wouldn’t hear it. They had enough work to do before they started to worry about a politician and a defense lawyer—not their favorite people in the world. At least three weeks, he was told.
He didn’t have that long.
Hunter was going to ask for a court recess, a break in the case to deal with what happened, but this was his chance, his opportunity to turn the screws on Michelle Law.
After Judge Harrison walked in, and the jury was ushered inside, Hunter watched Law closely, looking for any hint of fatigue.
She showed nothing—no bags under her eyes, not a yawn, not even a cup of coffee on her desk. As she questioned the first witness of the day, another medical expert, her voice sounded fresh, awake. There was not one missed step; not one missed beat.
He did not doubt that she was X.
But he was starting to doubt whether he could prove it in time.
Chapter 43
As Law called her second witness of the day, Hunter had his head down, studying the holes in his case. He did not doubt Sulzberger’s innocence now. The life of the innocent man next to him rested in his hands, but he wasn’t sure he could save him. The chance to save a guiltless man was a horrible feeling; one small mistake would mean Sulzberger’s death.
Hunter looked around the courtroom. Kim Sulzberger was sitting in the front row of the public gallery; her hair was a mess and her makeup barely done. He stared at her for a few long moments before Law’s voice caught his attention again.
“Thank you for joining us today, Mrs. Cindy Mendel. Can you please begin by telling us about your relationship with the defendant?” Law began her questioning, sitting behind her desk, laptop glowing in front of her.
“The relationship between Robert and I used to be quite tight. We ran for office off the same platform, and we shared a lot of the same values in politics. Obviously, we were both members of the Democrats, but it was more than that. We bonded over the fact that we both wanted to help the veterans of our country, state, and city.”
“Are you a veteran of the army?” Law gently questioned her mentor.
“That’s correct. I served in Iraq, but was medically discharged after one year.” Cindy rubbed her left shoulder. “I didn’t serve with Robert, but we have a common understanding of each other’s outlook on life.”
“And your husband, Liam Mendel, may he rest in peace, did he serve his country as well?”
“He did. He suffered a lot after we returned from war, and eventually, it all became too much. He committed suicide. I walked into my kitchen one afternoon and found him hanging from the roof. He couldn’t deal with what he saw in Iraq.” She paused for a moment and looked at the ground. “That’s why I went into politics—to help returning veterans like my husband. I wanted to make a difference. Robert Sulzberger and I began politics together, and I almost felt like we were a team, helping our people.”
“And did Mr. Sulzberger maintain this value? Did he keep representing veterans?”
“No.” Her teeth gritted. “No, he didn’t.”
Hunter read the notes in front of him, trying to steer his attention away from Law and back to what he could do for the case. After last night’s events, he was hopelessly underprepared for this witness.
He reread the witness’ file, spotting things he didn’t see before.
“What did Mr. Sulzberger do that made you question his ethics?”
“Robert Sulzberger was voted into politics on the back of his ability to defend this country and what he could do for the brothers and sisters that have done the same. But did he? No, he didn’t. He abandoned them. He voted to close down an essential community support center for returned veterans to build a new stadium. He abandoned his people for the sake of a stadium.”
Hunter continued to read the file.
“Could you make a difference without Mr. Sulzberger?” Law continued.
“No.” Cindy shook her head. “Without Robert’s support in the Council, I’ll be out at the next election. That’s why we were so good together.”
“Did you feel that Robert was unstable?”
“Very. He flip-flopped faster than shoes on a beach. He stood for nothing. In his old age, he lost his spine.”
Cindy was a veteran. Familiar with death.
“Did you think that he was unstable?”
“He pushed me once when I got too close.”
She had a violent past. Lost control and attacked when approached by a group of teens. Got off on self-defense.
“Did you feel threatened by him?”
“Of course. He’s a sizable man. He’s tall and broad. He’s very threatening.”
Hated Robert and the decisions he made for his political career.
“Do you think he’s capable of killing?”
“He killed people at war. We know that.”
Hated him enough to make him pay for his decisions.
“And when he had the deciding vote for the policy that you were pushing for, what was his reaction?”
“Betrayal.” She coughed. “He betrayed his people.”
Hunter looked up from the file.
Michelle Law handed a glass of water to her mentor.
Cindy reached out her left arm, the sleeve of her shirt rising up.
And that was when Hunter noticed the large, fresh cut on her wrist.
Chapter 44
As Michelle Law finished her questions, Tex Hunter looked across to Cindy Mendel, across to Michelle Law, then back to Cindy.
The shock and confusion on his face were clear, and when Law turned to him to see what was taking him so long to begin his questioning, she squinted. This should have been a simple witness. Nothing wild. No accusations.
Cindy Mendel was an upstanding citizen, a politician, a person who had worked to better the community.
As Hunter began to turn his attention to the witness, an email notification appeared on his laptop screen. It was from Jones. Quickly, he opened it, read it, and it had everything that he needed to see. The man was a magician.
“Mr. Hunter?” Judge Harrison was impatient. “Would you please pay attention to this court and begin questioning the witness?”
Hunter paused, then turned his attention to the woman on the stand.
“Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today, Mrs. Mendel.”
“My pleasure,” she replied, chin up.
“Are you tired this morning? Perhaps you would like a cup of coffee?”
She stared at him. Intently. “I’m fine.”
“As a politician in the 4th Ward in the Chicago City Council, do you do a lot of work in the community?”
“I do.” She was defensive. “I work with the disadvantaged, and I give them a chance. I work hard to help the people that need a chance in life. It’s draining work. It takes its toll.”
“What toll has it taken on you?”
She squirmed in the chair. “It’s no secret that I’ve suffered through depression. I’ve stated that many times before in interviews. That’s the toll it’s taken out on me, but it’s worth it. It’s worth it when you’re able to help someone that needs it.”
“But who’s helping you?”
She shrugged, looking away from the eyes on her. “I help myself.”
Hunter turned to Law. Law’s head was down, unable to watch her mentor. Their bond was close, and the emotions from Cindy hit Law in the heart.
“Your medical file states that you were discharged from the army after a psychotic episode. Have you had any episodes since that day?”
“Objection. Not relevant,” Law called out.
“I’m establishing the witness’ credentials, Your Honor.”
“At this point, I will allow it, but get to your point quickly, Mr. Hunter,” Judge Harrison stated firmly.
“Please answer the question, Mrs. Mendel. After you were medically discharged from the army, did you have any further psychotic episodes?”
“I did.” Cindy leaned forward, closer to the microphone. “But not for many years now.”
“Did your husband handle these episodes well?”
“Objection!” Law’s hand slammed down onto the table, defending her mentor.
“Withdrawn,” Hunter replied quickly, standing to approach the witness. “Mrs. Mendel, have you been prescribed any medicine to deal with your depression?”
“Xanax, Valium, and codeine for my back pain.”
Hunter took his time, allowing the answer to sink into the minds of everyone in the courtroom. “Are there a lot of veterans living in your council ward?”
“There are.”
“And so, you would’ve been upset, perhaps even angry, when Mr. Sulzberger rezoned the area for the community center to make way for the stadium development?”
“Of course I was angry.” Her jaw clenched. “That’s no secret. This was my community, this was my place, and we supported people from all over the city, including the residents from Robert’s council ward, and these bigwigs came in and decided that it would be better used for a new sporting complex? No way. This community center made a difference to people’s lives; it didn’t just entertain those on television.”
“Without Robert’s support, you’ll be out at the next election, is that correct?”
“That’s possible.”
“And did the fact that you may lose your job make you even angrier?”
“I love my job, and I would hate to lose it.”
“Were you angry enough to kill?”
“Pardon?”
“Objection!” Law threw her hands out, confusion written on her face.
“Sustained.” Judge Harrison was just as confused. “Strike that from the record. Jurors, you will ignore that question. Defense, I won’t have that type of unfounded accusation in my court.”
Hunter nodded, but mostly ignored the judge, keeping his stare on the witness. “Do you support the local women of the area as well as the veterans?”
“Of course I do. I represent everyone in my area.”
“Even the women employed as prostitutes?”
She shook her head. “As you know, prostitution is illegal in this state.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to.” She looked away.
“The women that you tried to change.”
“I don’t…” She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Hunter walked closer to her. The seed had been planted in the witness’ mind. “Can you please look at the court monitor and tell me if you recognize this woman?”
Hunter returned to his table, tapped a number of keys on his laptop, opened Jones’ email, and the picture of a lady named Anthea Grace appeared on the monitor.
“Objection!” Law jumped up. “This is new evidence, and the court has not approved it! What even is this photo?”
“Remove that picture and approach the bench!” Judge Harrison slammed down his gavel. “Defense, explain yourself.”
Hunter approached the bench, Law standing inches away from him. “My investigator has received this image of a woman that looks exactly like the deceased. This woman, Anthea Grace, hasn’t been seen since the death of Jane Doe. I’m sure you can agree that there’s more than a passing resemblance between them.”
“I agree that there’s a resemblance between them, but the court must approve this evidence. You cannot present this information without it being verified.” Judge Harrison drew a long, deep breath, staring at the defense lawyer. “The court will have a recess while we try to verify the identity of the victim. We—”
“Your Honor, this is just another stalling tactic by the defense to try and prolong the case,” Law said. “I would like the trial to continue while we verify the information.”
“As you can understand, Miss Law, the identity of the victim will have a significant impact on the trial. I have no other option but to verify the victim’s identity before we proceed.”
“I would like to continue questioning this witness first,” Hunter stated.
“Unusual, but I will allow it.” Judge Harrison turned to Law. “Objections?”
“None.” She shook her head, confused.
“Very well, continue questioning this witness, and then we will recess to confirm the identity of the woman. However, there will be no more questions about the identity of Jane Doe until it’s confirmed.”
Hunter nodded, and Judge Harrison explained to the jurors that they must dismiss the knowledge of the photo until it was verified.
After Law took her seat back behind her table, Hunter waited for the murmur of the court to die down behind him.
“Mrs. Mendel,” he began. “Can you please advise where you got that cut on your left arm from?”
Shock washed over Cindy’s face as she covered up the cut with her sleeve. “Just…” She faltered. “I cut myself at home last night.”
“Really?” Hunter feigned surprise. “Interesting. I’m sure you’re aware of how DNA works.” He stared at her.
She squirmed.
“If you cut that arm on a door, and left your blood on its frame, then a DNA swab from the door would match a sample taken from you.”
She looked away.
“Are you left-handed, Mrs. Mendel?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“And when you help girls from the street, do you usually give them your Valium?”
“No.” Her voice was soft. Scared. Just the reaction Hunter wanted.
“Did it make you happy to give drugs to these girls?”
“Objection!”
“Did you enjoy drugging girls from the street?”
“Objection! Your Honor!”
“Sustained!”
“Did you love taking advantage of them?”
“Enough!” Judge Harrison shouted. “The objection is sustained! Defense, you’re on your very last warning. Don’t let me discipline you again!”
Hunter paused, walked back to his desk, and tapped his finger on the top of a paper file. “Mrs. Mendel.” His voice was calmer. “In your 4th Council Ward, does that area include Bronzeville?”
“That’s correct.”
“A council ward that is known to be a base for many escorts. Is that right?”
“When I returned from Iraq…” She squirmed again. “I worked with women who were exposed to sex work and tried to rehabilitate them. I didn’t persecute them; I helped them.”
“Did they get under your skin—these women that w
anted to sell their bodies for money?” Hunter closed the gap between them.
“It’s horrible what some women have to go through.” She looked away. “They needed to be saved.”
“Saved? Did Jane Doe need to be saved?”
“Objection!”
“Sustained.”
“Did any of the girls need to be saved?”
“They all need to be saved!” Cindy shouted. “They all do! Nobody deserves to go through what I went through! I wanted to help them!”
“And when you found Jane Doe that night, did you intend to kill her?”
“Objection!” Law called out. “Your Honor! Accusation!”
“Sustained!” Judge Harrison shouted. “Defense, you will not make that sort of accusation in the courtroom!”
“Did you mean to kill her, Cindy?”
“I didn’t kill anyone!”
“Cindy! Was she meant to die?”
“Objection!”
“Sustained! You are out of order, Mr. Hunter!”
“Cindy, you drugged her! You drugged her with your Valium!”
“No!”
“Mr. Hunter! Control yourself!”
“You killed Anthea Grace for a vote!”
“No!”
“You killed her!”
“She wasn’t meant to die!”
The courtroom went quiet. Stunned.
All eyes were fixated on Cindy.
Hunter waited.
Cindy looked to the door. Too far away.
He walked closer.
“You didn’t mean to kill her, did you?”
“It wasn’t meant to happen that way.” Cindy buried her face in her hands. “She wasn’t meant to die,” she repeated, softer this time. The fight in her voice was gone. “She was meant to survive. I didn’t mean to kill her. She wasn’t supposed to die.”
The court hustled, the reporters desperate to get the news out first.
“But Anthea Grace did die.” Hunter’s voice matched the softness of Cindy Mendel’s. “And you killed her for revenge.”
Power and Justice Page 20
