by Linda Warren
Sam had forgiven Ava for her duplicity. That was very clear. He loved her and forgiveness was part of that love.
Like it should be. Like it should be.
The pencil in Lucas’s hand snapped in two.
“Lucas?” Blake whispered worriedly.
“It’s okay,” he said. He returned his attention back to the trial, but he knew his life had been snapped in two, just like the pencil. Now he had to find a way to put it back together—somehow.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE NEXT DAY BLAKE was scheduled to take the stand. The moment was tense and dramatic as everyone waited to hear what he had to say. Lucas treated him like he had Ava. He let him tell his story in his own words without bombarding him with questions. He described the sordid events in a quiet, sincere manner. He told of the drugs and liquor, how he, Todd and Bonnie had gone to the park to get high, how he became ill and started throwing up, how he’d heard Bonnie scream, how he found her naked body and pulled her blouse over her bruised breasts. In a steady voice, almost a monotone, he talked about how she reached out and took his arm, then went limp. How he ran to call 911 for help, how he and Todd got into a fight and fled when they heard the sirens, and how his mother had found him later in the bathroom sick and crying.
The room became very quiet when he stopped speaking. The only sound was the weeping of Bonnie Davis’s mother.
Lucas picked up a tape that had been entered into evidence—the 911 call from the first trial. The caller had never been identified. He slipped it into the tape recorder and everyone listened.
A voice identified the location, then, “She’s hurt bad. She needs help. Hurry.”
Lucas switched off the recorder, letting the frantic words ease their way into the jurors’ minds.
Then he asked Blake, “Is that your voice, Mr. Logan?”
“Yes, sir, it is.”
Lucas reached for a piece of paper that had also been entered into evidence. He handed it to a juror, who passed it around. “That’s a sworn statement from Dr. Phillip Smyth. He’s a voice expert and he’s listened to the tape and matched it conclusively to Blake Logan.”
Lucas turned back to Blake. “Mr. Logan, I have a few more questions.”
“Okay.”
“Did you murder Bonnie Davis?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you help Todd Easton murder Bonnie Davis?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you attempt to rape Bonnie Davis?”
“No, sir. I did not.”
“Thank you,” Lucas said, and resumed his seat.
After lunch, Carl took over, and the next four hours were grueling. Carl related a scene that made everyone in the courtroom ill. He said that Blake had held Bonnie down while Todd raped her, then when it was his turn he got scared and couldn’t. Once he saw what they’d done to her, he ran for help, but it was too late. On and on Carl tried to break him, but Blake remained steadfast until Carl made him look at the photo of Bonnie. Tears welled up in Blake’s eyes and Lucas held his breath. Blake brushed away the tears and said that he’d lived with that picture in his mind for the past sixteen years. The pain in his voice was evident to everyone.
Still Carl didn’t let up, and Lucas could see that Blake was tiring under the pressure. Carl got in some good points; he did some damage. Lucas sensed that the jurors were listening and thinking that maybe the murder had happened the way Carl was alleging. There was nothing Lucas could do now but wait for Carl to bring his cross-examination to a close.
When he finally did, Lucas was planning his next step. They’d located the photographer and Lucas intended to call him, but the judge adjourned court for the day.
Later that evening, Lucas kept going through the photos. Something wasn’t connecting…but what? Suddenly he knew exactly what it was. He called Derek and told him to get the medical examiner back on the stand. He had a few more questions.
THE NEXT MORNING Lucas called the photographer as a witness. His name was Mel Burke.
“Mr. Burke, did you take the crime-scene photos of the Bonnie Davis murder?”
“Yes, I did.”
Lucas handed him the photo Blair had found. “Do you remember this one?”
Mr. Burke looked at it, turned it over. “It’s been so long ago and I took so many.”
“Take your time.”
“Yeah, now I remember. The detective in charge wanted me to get some photos outside the crime area, in case I found something they could use. This was about fifty feet from the body and it smelled awful. I snapped the picture, but the detective never used it.”
“What was it?”
“Looked like vomit.”
“Was it fresh?”
“Yes, and it had the worst smell.”
“Thank you, Mr. Burke.”
Carl rose to his feet.
“Mr. Burke, was it animal or human vomit?”
“Don’t know. Couldn’t tell.”
“Did you see Blake Logan throw up?”
“No, of course not.”
“So you don’t know where this—” Carl tapped the photo “—came from.”
“No.”
Lucas left it at that. The jury knew it was vomit and they’d have to decide where it came from. Lucas could have called a doctor to testify that the quantity of drugs and liquor Blake had ingested was enough to make him throw up, but he knew that Carl could also get the doctor to admit that with so many intoxicants, a person could be capable of murder. So he didn’t take the chance. He didn’t want the jury to hear that.
Next he called the medical examiner again.
“Dr. Lee, I want to go over the teeth marks on Bonnie Davis one more time.” Lucas looked at the transcript in his hand. “You said that the teeth marks on her breasts and neck were so deep that they broke the skin in places.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Lucas walked to the evidence table and lifted a plastic bag. “Dr. Lee, can you tell us what this is?”
“It’s the blouse Bonnie Davis was wearing the night of the murder.”
“Is this all she had on her body?”
“Yes.”
Lucas opened the bag and drew out the bright red blouse. It was short-sleeved with a collar and colorful red, yellow and blue buttons. There were grass stains in several places and blood on the collar and a couple of spots on the front.
“All the buttons are still on the blouse—is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“So would you say the buttons were not undone in a hasty or violent fashion?”
“Doesn’t seem that way.”
“Now, Dr. Lee, look at the photo of Bonnie Davis.” Dr. Lee turned to stare at the photo that was still on an easel by the jury box. “Her blouse is open, but pulled together across her breasts.”
“Yes.”
“Are there any teeth marks on the blouse?”
“No, we didn’t see any.”
Lucas held up the blouse so the jurors could see it. “I don’t see any teeth marks or rips, either.” Lucas paused, then said, “So tell me how Todd Easton bit Bonnie Davis’s breasts through this blouse when clearly there are no teeth marks on the blouse?”
“I don’t know.”
“Could it be that the blouse was open at the time of the rape and murder?”
“Yes, that would explain it.”
“But look at the photo. Bonnie was found after the murder with the blouse covering her breasts.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“So, is it possible that someone pulled the blouse over her breasts afterward?”
“Yes, it’s possible.”
“Thank you, Dr. Lee.”
Carl walked toward the witness.
“Dr. Lee, in the heat of the moment, could the blouse have been pushed aside and then pulled back?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
“No further questions.”
Lucas stood. “A few more questions, Your Honor.”
“Go ahead. M
r. Culver.”
Holding pages of transcript, Lucas went to the evidence table and selected another plastic bag. He laid it in front of Dr. Lee. “Dr. Lee, can you tell us what this is?”
“Those are the female clothes found at the crime scene.”
“Tell us what clothes are inside the bag.”
Dr. Lee peered at the tag attached to the plastic. “A skirt, panties, shoes and a bra.”
Lucas handed him the pages. “From the transcript, would you please read where those items were found.”
Dr. Lee studied it. “Strewn around her body.”
“Specifically where was the bra found?”
“Six feet to the right of her body.”
“What kind of bra was it?”
“It was a strapless push-up variety,” he read from the transcript.
“Was the bra or any other item of clothing torn or ripped in any way?”
Dr. Lee glanced up. “No.”
“Okay,” Lucas said. He carried the bag back to the evidence table. “So, in your expert opinion, would you say that these clothes were not removed in a violent way?”
Dr. Lee moved uncomfortably in his seat. “I can’t say how they were removed. I can only say they weren’t ripped or torn.”
“Thank you, Dr. Lee,” Lucas answered, letting the jurors deal with his answer in their own way. Lucas suddenly turned back. “One more question, Dr. Lee. Were there any drugs found in Bonnie Davis’s system?”
“Yes, the toxicology report showed traces of marijuana and cocaine.”
“That’s all, Your Honor.”
Lucas brought the defense to a close, knowing he’d done everything he could to cast doubts on Blake’s guilt.
The judge announced that closing arguments would be heard in the morning.
As Lucas stood, he saw Blair and his heart knocked noisily in his chest. She was hugging her parents. He wanted to talk to her but knew this wasn’t the time. She looked up and her eyes caught his. The world seemed to fade away as they gazed at each other. So much hurt, so much pain, yet… Sam said something to her and she turned back to her father.
Lucas took a deep breath. He had to forget about Blair. He had to forget about everything but the closing. The trial was coming down to its final moments and he had to give it everything he had. Derek wanted to help, but Lucas needed to do this alone.
BLAIR COULDN’T SLEEP. She knew that tomorrow it could all be over. The jury would deliberate after the closings. It could take them hours or it could take them days to decide Blake’s innocence or guilt. She was hoping for a quick verdict, but she knew the longer they deliberated the better Blake’s chances.
She kept seeing Lucas’s eyes as he’d looked at her today. He didn’t seem angry with her anymore. He almost seemed glad to see her. Of course, that was what she wanted to believe. She curled up and closed her eyes, seeing Lucas the way he’d been at the farmhouse that night. A smiling, affectionate Lucas. The man she loved….
THE NEXT MORNING, court convened and Lucas was ready. He’d spent most of the night writing and rehearsing what he was going to say in his closing argument. He’d gone through the evidence and the photos of the crime scene, writing down specific points he wanted to make.
The courtroom was packed. He’d had a hard time escaping reporters to get into the building. The Logan family sat behind him and the Davis family sat behind Carl. Spectators vied for a bird’s-eye view. He didn’t see Lloyd Easton and wondered why.
Court was called to order and Carl began his closing. He described the gruesome details one more time and brought out the photo of Bonnie. He asked the jurors to take a good look at the photo and try to imagine Bonnie’s last minutes of life—to imagine the horror and pain of two boys attacking her. He went over the evidence of Blake’s DNA matching, of Blake being high on drugs, of Blake’s being at the scene of the crime.
He finished with, “The state has proven its case beyond the shadow of a doubt.” He glanced at Lucas. “Lucas Culver wants you to believe in the truth.” He turned back to the jury. “The truth is that Blake Logan’s the only one of that threesome still alive and he’s twisted the truth to suit his own purposes. The truth is that Blake Logan attempted to rape Bonnie Davis, and helped murder her. He’s gotten away with it for sixteen years. It’s time for him to pay. It’s time to put Blake Logan behind bars where he belongs. I know you’ll do that.”
Lucas stood up and fastened a button on his dark blue suit jacket. He wore a pristine white shirt and a red tie. It was his red, white and blue outfit—his victory outfit. It gave him the confidence he needed, which would have been a shock to anyone who could have read his mind. He exuded self-confidence and control as he walked over to the photo of Bonnie Davis. He tapped it with his forefinger.
“Mr. Wright is very fond of showing you this picture,” he said, speaking to the jury. “I’ve noticed that some of you have a hard time looking at it. I do, too.” He walked closer. “I know you’re tired of the evidence, tired of Mr. Wright and me going after each other, tired of the whole thing. But I want you to bear with me once more. Mr. Wright is telling you one story and I’m telling you another. Who’s telling the truth?” He turned back to the photo. “I want all of you to look at the photo. It will tell you the truth.” Two ladies gazed down at their laps. “Please,” Lucas entreated. “Look at the photo.” The ladies raised their heads. “Good. Now I’m going to go through this, step by step, and I want you to follow me.”
He pointed to the bruises on Bonnie’s neck. “Todd Easton squeezed her neck so hard that his thumbnail broke off into her skin. Todd Easton’s teeth marks were on her breasts, neck and thigh. Blake Logan’s teeth marks are nowhere on her body. It’s what the transcripts from the experts told you. That’s the truth.” He paused. “If my client had held her down as the D.A. alleges, it stands to reason there’d be more physical evidence. There were masses of Todd Easton’s skin under her nails, remember, but only minute bits from Blake Logan’s. Think about it.” He paused again.
“Now, I want you to look at Bonnie Davis’s blouse. See the way it’s carefully laid across her breasts to hide them. Blake Logan told you that when he found Bonnie, she was naked and beaten. Her blouse was open and pushed aside. He told you he pulled it together to cover her. Take a good look—that’s exactly what you’re seeing in this picture. Blake Logan covered her up. That’s not the work of someone who murdered her or attempted to rape her. It was the work of someone who wanted to help her. Bonnie sensed this and reached out to Blake and caught his arm. That’s how a small amount of his skin got under her nails. She didn’t claw or scratch him. She reached out to him for help. It’s what the expert told you. That’s the truth.”
Lucas waited a moment. “You heard the 911 tape. You heard Blake Logan begging for help for Bonnie. That’s the truth.” He paused. “So many things have overshadowed the truth—Blake’s failure to report the crime, his mother’s failure to report the crime and then paying Todd Easton to keep quiet. Colossal mistakes. We have a young, frightened teenager being manipulated by adults into making the wrong decisions. Yes, he’s been silent for sixteen years, but when Ethan Ramsey found him, he couldn’t stay silent any longer. He gave his DNA willingly and he knew what that meant. He’s ready to face his punishment.” Lucas paused again and looked directly at the jury. “The truth is that he’s been punishing himself for sixteen years, blaming himself for not being able to help Bonnie Davis because he was so affected by drugs that he was physically ill.”
He placed his hands on the railing, staring intently at each juror. “Now, I want you to think about Bonnie Davis’s clothes. There are no rips or tears on them. If she’d been violently attacked, as the D.A. is alleging, why aren’t her clothes torn? Think about it.” He took a breath. “Blake Logan told you that Todd and Bonnie were ‘going at it pretty heavy.’ That’s the reason he left the car. He doesn’t know what happened after that, but it’s not hard to fill in the blanks. Todd became aggressive and violent, hurti
ng Bonnie, and she wanted him to stop. Todd got angry at her for spoiling his fun and he silenced her for good. And all the while, Blake Logan was in the bushes puking his guts out. Blake Logan told you that. You heard the photographer and you saw the photo of the vomit. That’s the truth.”
Lucas inhaled a long breath. “I told you that there are two sides to every story—as there are in this case. We’re not disputing that Blake was at the party buying drugs. We’re not disputing that he was with Todd and Bonnie. We’re not disputing that Blake went with them to the park. We’re disputing what happened after they reached the park. That’s where the two stories differ. In the beginning, I asked you to listen to the witnesses and the evidence with open hearts and open minds and hear the truth.” He walked back to the picture and tapped it. “This is the truth. Take a last look, ladies and gentlemen. Look at the blouse—how it’s carefully laid across her. That tells you so much. It corroborates Blake Logan’s story—as do the vomit and Bonnie Davis’s clothes. The picture tells you the truth, and the state hasn’t proven otherwise.” He paused for effect. “Let the truth set Blake Logan free. I trust you to make the right decision. Thank you.”
The room was deathly quiet as Lucas took his seat. No one moved or spoke. Everyone was staring at the photo—even Mrs. Davis.
Blair didn’t even realize she was holding her breath until her chest started to burn. She exhaled slowly, realizing she’d just seen a great attorney at work. She also understood that was the reason he always got to her when she faced him in a courtroom. She’d never had that rapport with a jury, the charisma and magnetism that made him stand out. Now it was so different; his brilliance didn’t intimidate her anymore. It only made her love him more—if that was possible. Her heart ached for all the could-have-beens.
Carl stood, as Blair knew he would. He had to try to taint the image Lucas had just created.
“Rebuttal, Your Honor.”
“Go ahead, Mr. Wright.”
Carl walked over to the jury box, but every single juror was still staring at the photo. Carl had to step in front of it to get their attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, please don’t confuse the truth with fabrication. Mr. Culver is very good at doing that.” He pointed to the photo. “As you look at this picture, please remember that this young girl’s life was taken by two boys high on drugs. The evidence supports that. Please listen to the evidence. Thank you.”
