jg.atimetokill-第100部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　The　expert　hesitated。　〃No；〃　he　said　meekly。
　An　immense　feeling　of　anxiety　hit　Jake　and　felt　like　a　hot　spear　tearing　into　his　stomach。　The　question　could　only　mean　trouble。
　〃Are　you　positive？〃　Buckley　asked　with　raised　eyebrows　and　an　enormous　amount　of　distrust　in　his　voice。
　Bass　shrugged。　〃Maybe　when　I　was　younger。〃
　〃I　see。　Now；　I　believe　you　testified　that　you　studied　medicine　at　the　University　of　Texas　Health　Science　Center？〃
　〃That's　correct。〃
　〃And　where　is　that？〃
　〃Dallas。〃
　〃And　when　were　you　a　student　there？〃
　〃From　1956　to　1960。〃
　〃And　under　what　name　were　you　registered？〃
　〃William　T。　Bass。〃
　Jake　was　numb　with　fear。　Buckley　had　something；　a　dark　secret　from　the　past　known　only　to　Bass　and　himself。
　〃Did　you　ever　use　the　name　Tyler　Bass　while　you　were　a　medical　student？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Are　you　positive？〃
　〃I　certainly　am。〃
　〃What　is　your　social　security　number？〃
　〃410…96…8585。〃
　Buckley　made　a　check　mark　beside　something　on　his　legal　pad。
　〃And　what　is　your　date　of　birth？〃　he　asked　carefully。
　〃September　14；　1934。〃
　〃And　what　was　your　mother's　name？〃
　〃Jonnie　Elizabeth　Bass。〃
　〃And　her　maiden　name？〃
　〃Skidmore。〃
　Another　check　mark。　Bass　looked　nervously　at　Jake。
　〃And　your　place　of　birth？〃
　〃Carbondale；　Illinois。〃
　Another　check　mark。
　An　objection　to　the　relevance　of　these　questions　was　in　order　and　sustainable；　but　Jake's　knees　were　like　Jell…O　and　his　bowels　were　suddenly　fluid。　He　feared　he　would　embarrass　himself　if　he　stood　and　tried　to　speak。
　Buckley　studied　his　check　marks　and　waited　a　few　seconds。　Every　ear　in　the　courtroom　waited　for　the　next　question；　knowing　it　would　be　brutal。　Bass　watched　the　D。A。　like　a　prisoner　watching　the　firing　squad；　hoping　and　praying　the　guns　would　somehow　misfire。
　Finally；　Buckley　smiled　at　the　expert。　〃Dr。　Bass；　have　you　ever　been　convicted　of　a　felony？〃
　The　question　echoed　throughout　the　silence　and　landed　from　all　directions　on　the　trembling　shoulders　of　Tyler　Bass。　Even　a　cursory　look　at　his　face　revealed　the　answer。
　Carl　Lee　squinted　and　looked　at　his　lawyer。
　〃Of　course　not！〃　Bass　answered　loudly；　desperately。
　Buckley　just　nodded　and　walked　slowly　to　the　table；　where　Musgrove；　with　much　ceremony；　handed　him　some　important…looking　papers。
　〃Are　you　certain？〃　Buckley　thundered。
　〃Of　course　I'm　certain；〃　Bass　protested　as　he　eyed　the　important…looking　papers。
　Jake　knew　he　needed　to　rise　and　say　something　or　do　something　to　stop　the　carnage　that　was　seconds　away；　but　his　mind　was　paralyzed。
　〃You're　certain？〃　Buckley　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　Bass　answered　through　clenched　teeth。
　〃You've　never　been　convicted　of　a　felony？〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃
　〃Are　you　as　certain　of　that　as　you　are　the　rest　of　your　testimony　before　this　jury？〃
　That　was　the　trap；　the　killer；　the　deadliest　question　of　all；　one　Jake　had　used　many　times；　and　when　he　heard　it；　he　knew　Bass　was　finished。　And　so　was　Carl　Lee。
　〃Of　course；〃　Bass　answered　with　feigned　arrogance。
　Buckley　moved　in　for　the　kill。　〃You're　telling　this　jury　that　on　October　17；　1956；　in　Dallas；　Texas；　you　were　not　convicted　of　a　felony　under　the　name　of　Tyler　Bass？〃
　Buckley　asked　the　question　while　looking　at　the　jury　and　reading　from　the　important…looking　documents。
　〃That's　a　lie；〃　Bass　said　quietly；　and　unconvincingly。
　〃Are　you　sure　it's　a　lie？〃　Buckley　asked。
　〃A　bald…faced　lie。〃
　〃Do　you　know　a　lie　from　the　truth；　Dr。　Bass？〃
　〃Damn　right　I　do。〃
　Noose　placed　his　glasses　on　his　nose　and　leaned　forward。　The　jurors　quit　rocking。　The　reporters　quit　scribbling。　The　deputies　along　the　back　wall　stood　still　and　listened。
　Buckley　picked　out　one　of　the　important…looking　documents　and　studied　it。　〃You're　telling　this　jury　that　on　October　17；　1956；　you　were　not　convicted　of　statutory　rape？〃
　Jake　knew　it　was　important；　in　the　midst　of　any　great　courtroom　crisis；　even　this　one；　to　maintain　a　straight；　poker　face。　It　was　important　for　the　jurors；　who　missed　nothing；　to　see　the　defendant's　lawyer　with　a　positive　look　about　him。　Jake　had　practiced　this　positive；　everything's…wonderful；　I'm…in…control　look　through　many　trials　and　many　surprises；　but　with　the　〃statutory　rape〃　the　positive　and　confident　and　certain　look　was　immediately　replaced　by　a　sickly；　pale；　pained　expression　that　was　being　scrutinized　by　at　least　half　of　those　in　the　jury　box。
　The　other　half　scowled　at　the　witness　on　the　stand。
　〃Were　you　convicted　of　statutory　rape；　Doctor？〃　Buck…ley　asked　again　after　a　lengthy　silence。
　No　answer。
　Noose　uncoiled　and　leaned　downward　in　the　direction　of　the　witness。　〃Please　answer　the　question；　Dr。　Bass。〃
　Bass　ignored　His　Honor　and　stared　at　the　D。A。；　then　said；　〃You've　got　the　wrong　man。〃
　Buckley　snorted　and　walked　to　Musgrove；　who　was　holding　some　more　important…looking　papers。　He　opened　a　large　white　envelope　and　removed　something　that　resembled　an　8　x　10　photograph。
　〃Well；　Dr。　Bass；　I've　got　some　photographs　of　you　taken　by　the　Dallas　Police　Department　on　September　11；　1956。　Would　you　like　to　see　them？〃
　No　answer。
　Buckley　held　them　out　to　the　witness。　〃Would　you　like
　to　see　these；　Dr。　Bass？　Perhaps　they　could　refresh　your　memory。〃
　Bass　slowly　shook　his　head；　then　lowered　it　and　stared　blankly　at　his　boots。
　〃Your　Honor；　the　State　would　introduce　into　evidence　these　copies；　certified　under　the　Acts　of　Congress；　of　the　Final　Judgment　and　Sentencing　Order　in　the　case　styled　State　of　Texas　versus　Tyler　Bass；　said　records　being　obtained　by　the　State　from　the　proper　officials　in　Dallas；　Texas；　and　showing　that　on　October　17；　1956；　a　one　Tyler　Bass　pled　guilty　to　the　charge　of　statutory　rape；　a　felony　under　the　laws　of　the　State　of　Texas。　We　can　prove　that　Tyler　Bass　and　this　witness；　Dr。　W。T。　Bass；　are　one　and　the　same。〃
　Musgrove　politely　handed　Jake　a　copy　of　everything　Buckley　was　waving。
　〃Any　objections　to　this　introduction　into　evidence？〃　Noose　asked　in　Jake's　direction。
　A　speech　was　needed。　A　brilliant；　emotional　explanation　that　would　touch　the　hearts　of　the　jurors　and　make　them　weep　with　pity　for　Bass　and　his　patient。　But　the　rules　of　procedure　did　not　permit　one　at　this　point。　Of　course　the　evidence　was　admissible。　Unable　to　stand；　Jake　waved　in　the　negative。　No　objections。
　〃We　have　no　further　questions；〃　Buckley　announced。
　〃Any　redirect；　Mr。　Brigance？〃　Noose　asked。
　In　the　split　second　available；　Jake　could　not　think　of　a　single　thing　he　could　ask　Bass　to　improve　the　situation。　The　jury　had　heard　enough　from　the　defense　expert。
　〃No；〃　Jake　said　quietly。
　〃Very　well；　Dr。　Bass；　you　are　excused。〃
　Bass　made　a　quick　exit　through　the　small　gate　in　the　railing；　down　the　center　aisle；　and　out　of　the　courtroom。　Jake　watched　his　departure　intently；　conveying　as　much　hatred　as　possible。　It　was　important　for　the　jury　to　see　how　shocked　the　defendant　and　his　lawyer　were。　The　jury　had　to　believe　a　convicted　felon　was　not　knowingly　put　on　the　stand。
　When　the　door　closed　and　Bass　was　gone；　Jake　scanned　the　courtroom　in　hopes　of　finding　an　encouraging　face。　There　were　none。　Lucien　stroked　his　beard　and　stared　at　the
　floor。　Lester　sat　with　his　arms　folded　and　a　disgusted　look　on　his　face。　Gwen　was　crying。
　〃Call　your　next　witness；〃　Noose　said。
　Jake　continued　searching。　In　the　third　row；　between　Reverend　Ollie　Agee　and　Reverend　Luther　Roosevelt；　sat　Norman　Reinfeld。　When　his　eyes　met　Jake's；　he　frowned　and　shook　his　head　as　if　to　say　〃I　told　you　so。〃　On　the　other；　side　of　the　courtroom；　most　of　the　whites　looked　relaxed　and　a　few　even　grinned　at　Jake。
　〃Mr。　Brigance；　you　may　call　your　next　witness。〃
　Against　his　better　judgment；　Jake　attempted　to　stand。　His　knees　buckled　and　he　leaned　forward　with　his　palms　flat　against　the　table。　〃Your　Honor；〃　he　said　in　a　high…pitched；　shrill；　defeated　voice；　〃could　we　recess　till　one？〃
　〃But　Mr。　Brigance；　it's　only　eleven…thirty。〃
　A　lie　seemed　appropriate。　〃Yes；　Your　Honor；　but　our　next　witness　is　not　here；　and　will　not　arrive　until　one。〃
　〃Very　well。　We'll　stand　in　recess　until　one。　I　need　to　see　the　attorneys　in　chambers。〃
　Next　to　chambers　was　a　coffee　room　where　the　lawyers　loitered　and　gossiped　by　the　hour；　and　next　to　it　was　a　small　res