Sentinel - Progression Series 12 'Til Death Do Us Part

by Beth Manz

  "Objection. Hearsay."

  "Sustained."

  "Shortly after your arrival at the cabin, Berne's sheriff arrested your partner on assault charges, correct?"

  "Yes."

  "Charges that were later upgraded to attempted rape?"

  "That's right." Blair glanced at Hannah and swallowed against the anger constricting his throat. "But the charges were false. Hannah lied."

  "Objection!"

  "Sustained."

  Angela paused briefly. "After your partner was arrested, what did you do?"

  "I knew the charges against Jim would end up coming down to his word against Ms. Merrick's, and that worried me. I knew how manipulative Hannah could be and I wanted to do or find something that would help prove Jim's claims of innocence. So, I left Berne and headed back to Cascade. When I got there, I searched Hannah's home looking for evidence that would prove she was lying."

  "What, if anything, did you find?"

  "A box of evidence that had to do with some prior charges against Mr. Kaage. The evidence had gone missing from the station and Mr. Kaage had escaped going to trial because of that. It was my belief that Hannah, who had access to all departmental records and evidence, took the evidence and used it to obtain Mr. Kaage's cooperation."

  "Objection," Reynolds called out. "Dr. Sandburg's beliefs are not admissible here."

  "Sustained." The judge turned to Blair. "Dr. Sandburg, please keep any speculation out of your answers."

  Blair nodded. "I'm sorry."

  "Did you find anything else?" Angela asked, getting the questioning back on track.

  "Yes," Blair answered. "A sweater of Jim's that had been missing from our apartment. I also found a photo shrine to my partner."

  "At this time, Your Honor, the prosecution would like to enter into evidence all three of the items found in Ms. Merrick's closet." Angela moved to a table set up in one corner and held up the photo array of Jim. "Is this the shrine you found in her closet?"

  "Yes," Blair said, biting back the distaste that the sight of the shrine still invoked within him. "That's it. It was hanging on the wall, hidden behind her clothes."

  Angela carried the photo array to the jury box, showing it to the twelve people seated there. Blair glanced over, looking for the first time at the men and women who had been chosen to sit in judgment of Hannah Merrick. Seven men and five women, all of whom were now studying the photos with interest, some of them shaking their heads, glancing every few moments at Hannah.

  A sense of satisfaction rushed through Blair. They'd made some good points with the disturbing display of photos and he glanced toward Hannah, wanting to see her reaction. And for the first time, he noticed a man sitting just behind Hannah--an older, robust looking man who was glaring openly at him.

  Blair frowned. Who the hell is he? But even as the question crossed his mind, he thought he knew. It had to be Hannah's father. The man who had taken her down to city hall to register the gun she'd used to kill Philip Kaage. Did he know what his daughter was? But the look of disgust he was giving Blair told him that this man believed his little girl, believed that she was being framed by powerful men who held powerful positions within Cascade's law enforcement agency.

  Blair turned his attention back to Angela as she moved to the prosecution table and placed the array of photographs onto an easel that faced the jury, the shrine now acting as a constant reminder of Hannah's obsession with Jim Ellison.

  "Dr. Sandburg," she said, resuming her questioning. "What, if anything, did you do with this evidence?"

  "I didn't have the chance to do anything with it. Hannah came home while I was still in the closet. I didn't realize it until I walked out and she struck me, knocking me unconscious. When I woke up, my hands were tied behind my back and she was in an agitated state."

  "What happened next?"

  "When she found out Jim was on his way back to Cascade, she forced me onto my knees and held a knife to my throat. She told me I was an obstacle between her and Jim being together."

  "Dr. Sandburg, do you think Ms. Merrick planned to use that knife?"

  "Objection. The witness cannot testify to someone else's state of mind."

  "I'm just asking for his opinion of that moment," Angela clarified.

  "Overruled," Judge Harris stated. "Please answer."

  "Yes, she planned to use it. In fact, she told me she was going to wait for Jim to arrive and then the two of them could kill me together."

  "And what happened when your partner arrived?"

  "He managed to persuade Hannah to put down the knife by promising to go away with her. Once she dropped the knife and stepped away from me, he called in Captain Banks and had her arrested."

  "Thank you, Dr. Sandburg." Angela smiled at Blair, gave him a brief nod, then turned to Reed Reynolds. "Your witness."

  /

  /

  /

  Jim stopped his pacing and made his way over to the bench where Simon was awaiting his turn to testify. He dropped down beside the captain and leaned forward to rest his arms against his legs. "Angela just finished questioning Sandburg and handed him off to Reynolds."

  "How's it going so far?"

  Jim smiled cheekily as he looked back over his shoulder and studied his friend. "I thought you said this was illegal."

  Simon glared at him. "You're going to listen whether I think you should or not," the captain barked. His expression softened and the ghost of an amused smile crossed his features. "So, since you already have the information, you may as well share it with me."

  Jim chuckled and slumped back against the bench. "He's doing great so far. Reynolds has been making a lot of objections, but that's to be expected. I think Angela did a good job." He cocked his head slightly and held up one hand. "Okay, here comes Reynolds...."

  /

  /

  /

  Blair tensed slightly as Reed Reynolds stood and moved toward the witness box. Aware that he was fidgeting nervously with his hands, he clasped them together and tucked them into his lap.

  "Dr. Sandburg," Reynolds began in a condescending tone, "how long have you worked at the Cascade Police Department?"

  "Almost five years."

  "And has all that time been spent in the Major Crime division?"

  "That's right."

  "So, it would be fair to say that you know the officers in the Major Crime unit rather well. And that they know you rather well."

  Blair nodded, confused at where the line of questioning could possibly be going. "That's fair," he concluded.

  "Recently you were involved in a car-jacking incident that nearly cost you your life, weren't you?"

  Blair's stomach clenched tight at the mention of the car-jacking. His gaze darted to Angela. She gave him a confused, apologetic look. Why would Reynolds bring up the incident that had resulted in the death of three Rainier students at this trial? How could that event possibly be linked to Hannah?

  "Dr. Sandburg?"

  Blair's attention jerked back to Reynolds. "Uh, yes. Yes, I was."

  "It's my understanding that a lot of resources were used to locate and apprehend the men who committed this crime. Is that right?"

  "Objection," Angela called out. "Relevancy, Your Honor."

  Reed glanced toward the judge. "I'm getting to that, Your Honor."

  "Get there quickly, Mr. Reynolds."

  Reynolds turned back to Blair, his hands clasped behind his back, a contemplative expression on his face. "Again, were a lot of resources used to find the men responsible for the car-jacking?"

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  Blair frowned. Wasn't it obvious? "Three students died as a result--"

  "That's hardly relevant to my line of questioning, Mr. Sandburg," Reynolds interrupted smoothly.

  Hardly relevant? A wave of anger wound its way through Blair at the attorney's cavalier attitude. "I'll pass along your heartfelt condolences to the victims' families," he spat out before he could stop himself.

>   "Mr. Sandburg!" the judge warned. "That is enough!"

  Stupid move, Sandburg, he lectured himself. He held up a hand without looking at the judge. "I apologize," he offered.

  "Please continue, Mr. Reynolds," the judge directed simply, evidently assured that Blair would restrain himself from making any further inflammatory remarks.

  But Sandburg was still angry--and his anger wasn't assuaged in the least by the sight of the pompous defense attorney pacing slowly back and forth in front of the witness box, a triumphant smirk on his self-serving features. Let it go, he coached himself. Don't let him get to you...

  "Let me ask you again," Reed was saying, "and please answer only the question given you--why were so many resources used to find the men responsible for the car-jacking?"

  Blair glared at the attorney, uncertain what answer the man was trying to elicit. "To catch the men who committed the crime," he grated out.

  "Not because it happened to you?"

  "I must renew my objection, Your Honor," Angela protested loudly, pushing to her feet. "What is the point of this line of questioning?"

  "I'm trying to establish that the men and women of the Cascade Police Department will work harder for one of their own than they would for a mere civilian," Reynolds answered, his gaze locked on the judge as he made his explanation.

  Harris narrowed her eyes as she considered Reynolds' words. Finally, after several long seconds, she nodded briefly. "I'll allow it."

  Reynolds flashed the judge a brilliant smile then moved up to the witness box. "Do you think the Cascade Police Department devoted more time to this case because you were one of the victims?" he asked Blair again, staring at him now with thinly veiled disdain.

  "Yes, I suppose that's possible."

  "Oh, Dr. Sandburg, I think it's more than just possible. Didn't you earn your doctorate based on a thesis regarding this very subject?" The attorney crossed to the defense table and grabbed up a thick, black binder. "I have a copy of your doctoral dissertation right here." He glanced down at it. "Beyond the Thin Blue Line: An Anthropologist's Acceptance into the Closed Society of the Criminal Justice System, by Blair Sandburg."

  He looked up at Blair again. "Not only did you earn your doctorate based on your work within the Cascade Police Department, but your position there was changed from unpaid observer to paid consultant." The attorney thumped the back of his fingers against the volume but kept his gaze pinned on Blair. "And right here in the title of your own dissertation you admit that you were and are accepted by this closed society as one of its members. Isn't that true?"

  Blair dropped his gaze to his hands for a brief moment, then stared back at the counselor. "Yes."

  "And isn't it true that police officers watch out for each other?"

  "Yes."

  "They wouldn't take kindly to a fellow officer like Detective Ellison being accused of rape, would they?"

  "No, but Jim didn't rape anyone--"

  "He just tried to," Reynolds butted in.

  "Objection!" Angela shouted.

  "Withdrawn," Reynolds tossed out. "Dr. Sandburg, the day you came back from Berne--when you drove to Hannah Merrick's house--did you have a warrant to search her home?"

  "No," Blair admitted with hesitation.

  "Then you went there with the intention of breaking in?"

  "You have to understand--"

  "It's a simple yes or no question, Dr. Sandburg." Reynolds shrugged. "Yes or no?"

  "But--"

  "Yes or no, Dr. Sandburg!"

  "Yes," Blair admitted reluctantly.

  "Thank you. Now--once you were inside, did you search for evidence that you hoped would clear your friend's name? Yes or no."

  "Yes."

  "And conveniently, you found exactly what you needed. Isn't that true?"

  "Yes."

  "Tell the court--were you ever charged with the crime of breaking and entering?"

  "No."

  "No," Reynolds repeated softly, raising his eyebrows in feigned surprise, his gaze shifting to the jury.

  Nervously, Blair glanced over at the jury as well. One woman stared back at him straightforwardly, a displeased scowl pulling down the corners of her mouth. He returned his attention to the front of the courtroom, resisting the urge to look at her again, wishing he hadn't worn his earrings. It's not your earrings she's judging you by. Blair bit back a frustrated sigh. Reynolds was managing to twist everything that had happened, make it all sound so...damning.

  "Dr. Sandburg," Reynolds continued, turning toward Blair, a glint of gratification burning behind his eyes, "you live with Detective Ellison, don't you?"

  "We're roommates, yes."

  "And the work you do down at the police station, it's with him exclusively?"

  "Yes."

  "So, it would stand to reason that if Detective Ellison had been convicted and sent to jail for attempting to rape Hannah Merrick, you would have had a lot to lose."

  "Objection."

  "Overruled. The witness can answer."

  "Wouldn't you have had a lot to lose, Dr. Sandburg?" Reynolds repeated. "Your job and salary at the department, possibly your living quarters?"

  "I guess," he admitted reluctantly.

  "Gives you quite a bit of incentive to help him--to cover for him--doesn't it?"

  "Objection."

  But Ms. Mason's objection was of no consequence. With a self-satisfied grin, Reed Reynolds ended his line of questioning and took a seat next to his client.

  /

  /

  /

  "That smug bastard," Jim ground out as he stalked up to the heavy double doors barring entry to the closed courtroom. It was all he could do not to burst through the doors and confront the arrogant attorney Hannah had hired to head up her defense.

  To bring up that car-jacking in a public forum when Blair is still carrying around a load of guilt from it...all for the purpose of making it appear Sandburg received special treatment at the station... And all those questions about covering for me...

  Jim's hands fisted at his sides. He cast an annoyed glance at the bailiff standing guard at the doors, turned on his heel, and stalked down the hall to where Simon sat waiting on the long wooden bench.

  "Jim, would you get yourself under control?" Simon hissed through clenched teeth as Jim dropped down beside him. The captain glanced quickly at the bailiff, who stood not twenty feet from where the two men were seated.

  "That bastard brought up the car-jacking!"

  "Keep your voice down!" Simon warned. "You're not supposed to know what's going on in there, remember? You keep this up and people are going to start asking questions."

  Jim glared at the bailiff, ignoring Simon's lecture.

  "Are you listening to me, Detective?" Simon pressed.

  Jim sighed and allowed his shoulders to slump in defeat. He stared over at his captain. "I'm listening," he said at last. "But, Simon, do you have any idea what a relief it was that Blair didn't have to testify at a trial about that car-jacking? To have that brought up now in open court and I'm stuck out here...." His voice trailed off as his attention returned to the closed courtroom doors.

  "Blair can handle this," the captain assured him. "Give him a little credit, Jim."

  Jim sighed out and offered Simon an apologetic expression. "It's not that I don't think he can handle it, sir. I just don't think he should have to handle it...at least not in this way.

  "He's going to be fine."

  Jim clasped his hands together and shook his head in anger. "I'd like to drop-kick that putz of a lawyer--"

  "He's a snake, Jim. We all know it." Simon reached over and placed a hand on the detective's shoulder. "But you have to remember that if we can see what he really is, so will everyone in that courtroom. It won't win him any friends on the jury."

  "I hope you're right, Simon, because I think we're going to need all the help we can get." At Simon's questioning look, Jim straightened and exhaled a long sigh. "What Reynolds is doing to Blair in t
here isn't our only problem, sir. He's making it sound like the three of us had this entire thing planned out between us.... And he's making it sound believable."

  /

  /

  /

  "Redirect, Your Honor," Angela Mason announced, pushing to her feet.

  At the judge's nod of assent Angela turned her attention to Blair. "Dr. Sandburg, were you, or anyone associated with you, responsible for planting evidence in Hannah Merrick's home?"

  Blair shook his head adamantly, relieved at the opportunity to redeem his testimony in at least some small measure. "No," he answered clearly.

  "And my last question, reminding you that you are still under oath...did you, or anyone associated with you, conspire to frame Hannah Merrick?"

  "Absolutely not."

  /

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  /

  Simon Banks leaned heavily against the chair at his back and let his gaze wander out across the gallery, then over to the jury. Just a few feet from the jury box, Angela Mason sat at the prosecutor's table, her head down, her attention focused intently on what appeared to be a set of handwritten notes. Simon watched the DA as she worked and made a mental note to take her aside before he left the courtroom later in the day. He'd worked with a lot of district attorneys in his time, but few of them met or matched the concise and professional approach to questioning witnesses that Angela had displayed with Simon only moments before.

  She'd managed to bring out the details of his trip to Berne, Jim's subsequent arrest, and their rush back to Cascade with ease. And without much mention of the circumstances behind each act, circumstances that, if presented in a certain light, could make them seem less than honorable.

  His gaze shifted to Reed Reynolds. How far will he go with his questions, though? Simon fought to keep a sneer from making its way across his features as he watched the defense attorney quietly confer with his client and scribble notes on a yellow legal pad. Simon shook his head slightly as he studied the man. If Angela Mason was a notable example of integrity and professionalism, then Reed Reynolds had to be her antithesis. The man was notorious among the legal and law enforcement communities for two major attainments: he was not above using the most questionable and damaging of tactics in order to win a case...and he won most of his cases.