Hell's Bells

By Thomas Bryant

Outlaw Sammy Page made a solemn promise to his wife and daughter to change his ways after a jury found him innocent of double homicide having been at the scene while a husband-and-wife were being brutally murdered.

“What Has Happened to Women in Juárez?” The newspaper headline jumped off the page as Sammy paced the jail cell following his arrest on suspicion of foul play after his wife and daughter went missing in the West Texas border town of El Paso.

Hell’s Bells contains extreme raw sexual content

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Bryant
• Release date: Oct 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463786628

Thomas Bryant

Thomas Bryant received his education at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, CA. While studying political science, he began a love affair with books and discovered a passion for writing. Coming from humble beginnings with economic demands, he took an internship in the service industry as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic, which left him little time for books or writing. He sought challenges, including baseball, football and wrestling as a young man and loved speed on the water in a flat bottom race boat called BORN to be WILD. Two weeks before he entered Arizona Bail Enforcement Academy to become a licensed Bounty Hunter, he was involved in a near fatal crash. Disabled and facing his toughest challenge, he returned to his first love of writing and found a whole new world in print and writing suspense thrillers. He lives in the Ozarks of Missouri.

Book preview

Chapter 1

On Trial

I fall in love as I did the first time I laid eyes on her.

She's mouth-watering voluptuous in a gray skirt and matching silk blouse accentuating every curve. He read her lips to say, I love you, as he shuffles into the courtroom dwarfing two dump truck size guards, making his way to the defense table, taking short choppy steps with a chain dragging the floor between the cuffs of his pants.

They steal a few glances and flirting winks as she throws back her long flowing auburn hair, her silky caramel eyes watering as her lashes float like feathers on a soft, warm breeze. He had thought after two years behind bars he’d resigned himself to his new way of life, now he’s dying inside knowing he may never again touch her.

Most lovely indeed, his attorney said tipping his hat before rifling through papers in his briefcase as the large double doors swing open and two men wearing Levis, vests and motorcycle boots, giving him the thumbs up as they strolled inside.

Friends of yours? His attorney said straightening his bow tie.

I’ll never tell.

Fuckin’ Torch and Duffy. Take off your shades you idiots.

Remember Sam, his lawyer said tugging at the sleeves of his seersucker suit before closing his briefcase and clasping his hands. No matter what's happening or what's being said, you act as though it’s entirely expected. His honey soaked soft southern tone whispered below the hum of the spectators. You have got to get a handle on your emotions. Don’t act shocked or surprised because you never know how the jury is going to interpret that. Ignoring Sammy’s look of exasperation staring from the corner of his eyes, he said, Don't be afraid to look at them, not just as a group, let them get to know you. Don't be afraid to look them in the eye. Let them know you have nothing to hide. Someone who shies away from eye contact looks as though they’re hiding something. So don't be shy in that regard.

For Christ’s sakes, Charlie, after the tenth time, I think I got it, Sammy said, fighting to keep his voice down.

ALL RISE! The dark-skinned linebacker sized Bailiff announced, his voice echoing throughout the courtroom rising from his desk, as the judge appeared in a rear doorway. "The Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Los Angeles is now in session," so please come to order, the deputy said making his way down the center aisle, The Honorable Edward J. O’Neal presiding."

Please be seated, the judge said, with a twisted grin looking over the spectators before staring directly at the prosecution's table. In the matter of the people versus Page, are the people ready to proceed, Mr. Sawyer? O’Neal said flipping open a file folder. We are your Honor, The district attorney said, smoothing back his kinky salt-and-pepper hair rising from his seat.

Probably a gung-ho veteran, not a Marine, more like Air Force.

An energetic charmer and a fast talker during the preliminary hearings. Charlie has gone up against him on more than one occasion, and he said, He proved to be a most worthy adversary indeed.

Deputy White, the judge said turning to the Bailiff, at the rear door, and when he nods in return, O’Neal said, Okay let's bring in the jury. Once they filed into the courtroom and took their seats Sammy understood Charlie’s constant admonitions.

It's overwhelming to feel their stares and know my every expression is being examined. They have such power to determine life-and-death.

Some immediately pick up their notepads while Sawyer pushed his chair away from the table and paced in front of the jury box, resting his palms on the railing, surveying the men and women staring each one in the eye. Sammy Page is a cold-blooded killer, and the evidence, in this case, will prove he cowardly shot and killed the victim's, Ned and Sadie Udall, lying defenseless asleep in their bed. You might ask yourself, why would anyone commit such a heinous crime? He turned toward Sammy Page with a sour look of disdain. Greed, greed for blood and greed for money, he said pointing at the defendant. He wanted the object of their affection, a cabin cruiser luxury liner they scrimped and saved their entire lives. In one night the defendant destroyed them and the Island Princess, Sawyer said grabbing a remote off the table, pointing it at tri-screen monitors sitting in the Well. This is a recording from a surveillance camera outside the Udall’s home the night in question."

The screens light to the dim view of Sammy Page’ frozen image, his hand in the pocket of his jacket crouching next to a metallic royal blue luxury car sitting in front of a two-car garage. The evidence shows the defendant concealing the murder weapon he used to obliterate their skulls, delivering three, 40 caliber hollowpoint rounds to the head of each one of them.

Objection! Misstates facts, not in evidence, Charlie said staring at the judge with his palms turned up.

Overruled, O’Neal said, slowly shaking his head. I’ll allow it.

Oh we believe it is in evidence, your Honor, Sawyer said surveying the jury.

Approach the bench, O’Neal said, exhaling an exasperated breath. We're still on record, He said, and the court reporter nodded never missing a stroke on her machine, smiling at Sammy, catching him watching her pressing the keys as the judge and the attorneys argued around her.

O’Neal shifted his attention between the two lawyers before finally breaking them up. We'll get back to that, Sawyer said, pointing the remote at the recorder. When the monitors light, the frame is again frozen, depicting Sammy crouching with his hand in his pocket.

Charlie said, Yana, Mister Sawyer is purposely poisoning this jury. Sawyer snickered, rewinding the tape, while O’Neal glared at him. We've just started, and you are already on thin ice Mr. Prosecutor, he said, Now move on.

Let's approach it from a little different way, Sawyer said slowly panning the jury. Forensic evidence will show the defendant's fingerprints on the forty caliber Glock semiautomatic handgun recovered from the cab of the overturned Freightliner tractor pulling the trailer carrying the Island Princess before she laid on her side next to the freeway. Ballistics confirms that all six lead fragments removed from Ned and Sadie Udall were fired from that weapon. We have testimony from Sammy Page's own long-time partner in crime, Karl Parker, who will take the stand and testify the defendant murdered the victims because he had to back that large boat all the way down the street and he knew he might wake them. So, he saw to it that the victims would not wake up, in fact, he saw to it that Ned and Sadie Udall would never wake again.

Objection, Yana, Charlie said, the contingencies from the prosecutor are fraught with disingenuous misrepresentations and grandstanding exaggerations.

And you will get your chance to respond, Mr. Barnes. Overruled, O’Neal said, gentlemen are we going to try this case in opening statements?"

It appears Sawyer is leaving just enough time for us to get started, Charlie said whispering in Sammy’s ear. I’m going to have to shorten up our opening remarks otherwise they’ll carry over into the next day and, quite possibly, lessen the impact on the jury. Sammy said, Yeah, I think with the damage he’s already done, that would be the least of my worries.

Don’t be disheartened, Charlie said, we will have our chance to punch holes in the load of bull he’s feeding them.

They look like they’re eating up every bit of it, Sammy said, I can feel twelve sets of eyes shooting darts at me with every accusation. The one female juror is squirming in her seat, obviously uncomfortable with the subject matter. She’s going to fuckin’ shit when the pictures come out.

If, those pictures come out, Charlie said, catching him out of the corner of his eye.

Sammy said, If you could keep those photographs from coming in, it would be highly helpful because the sneer on the black male juror screams to take me out in the alley. Charlie said, I think you could take him, Sam.

Maybe, maybe not but I’m never going to get the chance if the Asian male alternate ever gets in the game to put all his study to good use and put Amelican pig in who scowl.

That might possibly be the worst Asian accent I’ve ever heard in my life, Charlie said while Sammy stared from the top of his eyes. Awe, but you knew it was Asian, he said, you’re going to get your chance to imitate an attorney.

Sawyer thundered away at the jury and Sammy began to feel the stares at his back.

Marla has to be shocked by the brutality of the murders.

The Coroner dug three forty caliber slugs out of their skulls and each one from close range, Sawyer said, forming a gun with his hand and putting it to his head.

She has to be questioning whether I am capable of carrying out such a cold-blooded crime. She has to be wondering how she could possibly be married to the likes of someone capable of such an evil doing. It has to be having an effect on her.

Marla avoided eye contact with Sawyer strolling around the courtroom playing to the spectators. Sammy didn't just want to kill Ned and Sadie Udall, he wanted to make a mess out of them. He wanted to put on a show with them, a bloody, gruesome, gut-wrenching spectacle, the prosecutor said quickly stepping back to the jury.

I’m glad Anita isn’t here today. I think it might crush her to have these horrible things brought up and seeing the prosecutor pointing his finger at me and calling me a monster while the sketch artist furiously scribbles to catch this very confrontational image so it may live on in infamy.

Oh great, wonder if I can buy one. I mean, how often do you get a chance to get a portrait of yourself being crucified for a double homicide? It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know they become more valuable if the artist dies, but how much are they worth if the prisoner dies? The odds of that happening seems to be going up by the moment.

I think we can stop here and break for lunch, O’Neal said when Sawyer took a deep breath and returned to his seat. Will you be ready to go after the break Mr. Barnes, O’Neal said, as the guards stood and bracketed Sammy. Yes Yana, we are ready," Charlie said, snapping the locks on his briefcase.

###

All Rise! Deputy White announced when the judge came into the courtroom. Are you ready to precede Mr. Barnes? O’Neal said, reclining in his seat behind the bench.

We are, Yana, Charlie said, moseying over to the jury box, his wide eyes and bright smile introducing himself. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, I trust y’all had an enjoyable lunch. Charlie said, It's really a shame to spend a beautiful day, like today, indoors hashin' over this horrible, horrible business. It really is incomprehensible what happened to Mister and Mrs. Udall. Charlie dripped honey as he smiled, schmoozed and cozied up to the jury.

My client, Mr. Page, while his intentions were not honorable on the night in question, and we have admitted as such, meant no physical harm to Ned and Sadie Udall. Ladies and gentlemen, we believe the evidence shows Mr. Page is innocent of all charges not, so stipulated, he said, surveying each member of the jury. We believe the prosecution, in their rush to judgment, has overlooked the obvious in their own evidence. It wasn't my intent to try this case in the opening statements, as the judge so accurately acknowledged even though my colleague and able opponent, Mr. Sawyer had opened a can of worms in his initial remarks concerning the tape. Nevertheless, I assure you, we will produce evidence, refuting each and every charge, using the prosecution's own evidence and their witnesses against them, highlighting their rush to judgment. They have done a dishonorable service to Ned and Sadie Udall and their family, by wrongfully indicting my client while allowing a murderer or murderers capable of this tragic and brutal crime to go free. It is a dereliction of duty and a complete and utter miscarriage of justice.

Don’t you think you were a little tough on em,’ Sammy said as soon as his attorney sat down. I’m pacing myself, Charlie said patting him on the back. It’s not how you start, my boy.

Chapter 2

A Rude Awakening

Sammy, chained and shackled while bracketed by the two guards in the back of the Sheriff’s van, pulling into the courthouse underground parking structure, Fluent on one side and Lamphere on the other, according to the nameplates on their breast pockets. Deputy White swings open the side door, and the three officers surround Sammy, taking short, choppy steps until they arrive at the holding cell, outside the courtroom. Fluent fills out the log while Lamphere keys the cuffs and the shackles dropping ten pounds of hardware to pile up on the floor. You're from Baldwin Park, where about? For some reason they don't have that information in your file, Deputy White said, leaning against the bars. Sammy rubbed his wrists, once they removed the cuffs, he said, I was born in Baldwin Park, but there’s no address. We lived behind the white gates at the corner of Stichman and Pacific, just around the corner from A&W drive-in restaurant.

I know Baldwin Park and that drive-in’ no longer there. It’s a Mexican restaurant and no more babes on roller-skates, Fluent, said folding his arms.

I lost my cherry to one of those rolling hot honeys, Sammy said bringing smiles to the deputies. Oh yeah, what was her name? Deputy White said, chuckling. It would be very ungentlemanly of me to elaborate, Sammy said, his tongue probing between his cheek and gum. Bullshit jailbird, you’re no gentlemen spill it, Fluent said with his hand resting on his gun. Alright, Wyatt Earp, you twisted my arm, Sammy said, her name was Kana, and she was my Mexican goddess."

White said, Did she have a sister named…?

Bethra and her brother’s name was Artie, Sammy said grinning, tipping his head and staring from the top of his eyes.

Oh hell no, you got some of that? Deputy White said, his mouth open and his eyes wide. You see that guys, the outlaws always get the hot women, he said, chuckling and patting Lamphere on the back. Sammy said, It’s never too late to take up a life of crime, deputy.

No I would get caught, White said, I’m too much of a Boy Scout. Nice suit, Sam.

Thanks, my wife has good taste. Even better, prison time, Sammy said, pulling on his silver-gray slacks. The babes are scorching hot for convicts, he said staring at his reflection in the polished metal mirror, wrestling with his tie while Lamphere tightened the shackles on his ankles. Sammy said, I lived in that little shack behind the big white gates across the street from Kana. White said, Interesting, the same place where the crime boss, Roberto Daniels, and his wife Adriana were incinerated when that little shack went up in flames? Yes, Sammy said, We had just moved out before…Wait, Roberto was a crime boss? Sammy said watching Deputy White's nodding reflection in the mirror. I've seen all the reports. He was the head of a Mexican crime syndicate."

Why would he and his wife live in that dump? Sammy said, turning to face the deputy. There was a capital case going against their youngest son, and they were hiding to avoid testifying, Deputy White said brushing his shoulders and straightening his tie.

It looks like the Mexican Mafia may have gotten to Clarence.

At first, Sammy didn’t recognize the polished gray-haired man in the rear hallway in a button up shirt and tie sticking his head in the back of the courtroom, holding a burning cigarette out of view.

That’s O’Neal.

I feel like a kid who has discovered there's no Santa Claus. It’s like pulling the mask off the Lone Ranger. In the courtroom under the cape of the black robe, they look experienced, but flawless and more superior then mere mortal men. From high on their perch like bench, they seem incapable of sending an innocent man to death or even a lifetime behind bars regardless of what's stacked up against him, as if the cape gives them superhero-like powers and x-ray vision to see what's real and what's just.

For the first time, it hits him as if he’s waking up from one of his nightmares, looking down to find the electrodes still connected. His adrenaline pumps through his veins in anticipation of fifty thousand volts as the prison's lights grow dim when the enormous amount of energy searing from his head to his heels robs their resources, sending a signal to the other inmates that prisoner Page has lost his last appeal.

Chapter 3

Another Day in Paradise

All Rise, Deputy White announced rising from his desk in the corner of the courtroom when he saw the judge appear at the doorway, his voice echoing off the walls, as he walked down the center aisle between the spectators. The Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Los Angeles is now in session. Please be seated and come to order, The Honorable Edward J. O'Neal presiding.

We're on record in the People versus Page, the judge said, as soon as he sat down. Anything we need to clear up before the jury comes in? When both attorneys shook their heads, he said, are you ready to go Mr. Sawyer?

The people are ready Your Honor, he said, sliding his briefcase under the table. Okay bring them in, the judge said acknowledging Deputy White, in the narrow doorway. After watching the twelve jurors and three alternates file into the courtroom, he turned to the prosecution's table. Mr. Sawyer, call your first witness.

The Prosecutor stepped to the podium flipping over a page on a legal tablet, looking around the courtroom. He said, The People call detective Mark Stevens. Marla winked and smiled at Sammy when he looked over his shoulder while an African-American man in a dark blue suit tugged at his cuffs making his way through the double doors.

After being sworn in and giving his name for the record, he took his seat on the stand.

Detective Stevens, lead us through the events on the day in question, Sawyer said standing at the podium with his pen pressed on a legal pad. Mark turned to the jury and said, I was working the Robbery Homicide desk when we were called out after Burglary Auto Theft went to inform Mr. and Mrs. Udall of the recovery of their stolen vessel and upon finding their bodies, they immediately taped it off as a second crime scene. He briefly glanced towards two men in suits being escorted out of the courtroom. He said, I met Detectives William Miner and Ronald Gorby at the scene along with the criminologist.

State his name for the record please, Sawyer said putting his pen to the tablet. The detective said, Certainly, his name’ John Chen. Sawyer looked up at Mark after scribbling on the pad, he said, Detective? Please continue.

We immediately went to the video surveillance tape and spotted a possible suspect, outside in the driveway near the Udall’s car, he said shifting in his seat.

Sawyer said, I suppose you needed to run the image through NCIC or send a still frame out over a nationwide broadcast?

Objection, leading, Yana, Charlie said his soft southern tone ringing through the courtroom. I’ll rephrase your Honor, Sawyer said, What did you do to identify the suspect, detective?

Mark said, We recognized the man in the surveillance tape.

At first sight? Sawyer said parting his suit coat with his hands on his hips. So, you recognized the defendant right away as the suspect?

Yes, sir.

The prosecutor quickly moved towards the defense table and pointed directly at Sammy. He said, So you’ve arrested him before?

No Sir, he said shaking his head.

Then how do you know him? Mark Stevens loosened his tie and said, We’ve all known each other since the third grade.

We detective? Sawyer said resting his arms on the podium. Detectives William Miner, Ronald Gorby and I all went to the same elementary school.

So is this testimony painful for you, detective? Sawyer said approaching the witness stand. Mark set up straight with a pulsating flex in his jaw. More than you could possibly fathom, he said looking Sammy directly in the eye. Because you would never lie on your best friend, would you, detective?

Objection, Charlie said as the prosecutor headed back to the podium. Sawyer said, I’ll withdraw your Honor.

No matter what happens from here on out, I know we'll never be the same.

Can you point him out, detective? Sawyer said as Mark Stevens stiffens, his eyes dropping to the floor. Detective? Sawyer said with an exasperated breath. Can you point him out? After some hesitation, Mark halfheartedly waved towards Sammy.

Let the record show detective Mark Stevens pointed out the defendant, Sammy Page, Sawyer said, on his way to the tape machine. Detective, do you recognize the location depicted on the screen? Sawyer said, freezing the frame and folding his arms. Mark said, That is the Udall’s residence.

That’s the location of their gruesome murder, is it not?

Yes, it is, the detective said slowly nodding. Sawyer said, How did you find the Udall’s, detective? Mark glanced at Sammy and the prosecutor, He said, They were unrecognizable. A bloody mess. The entire bed was saturated with their blood.

Can you identify the man next to the car, in front of the Udall’s residence? Mark said, "Yes, that’s the defendant, Sammy Page.

We were tight when it was highly unpopular for a little white boy and a little black boy to be the best of friends. We couldn’t have known when we were smoking weed for the first time on the tree branch in my backyard, we couldn’t have known at the park with Anita and Britney playing baseball. Marla and Karen couldn't have known spending hours on the phone, practices, and the girls’ softball games. None of us could have known that he would be sitting in court testifying against me in a trial for my life or to send me to prison for what’s left of it.

Any cross Mr. Barnes? The judge said, glancing at the clock on the wall while Sawyer returned to his seat. Just a few questions Yana, Charlie said pushing his chair away from the table while Mark stiffened as the counselor approached the video machine, fumbling with the remote strolling over to the jury box. He said, Mornin' ladies and gentlemen, I trust y’all had a good night sleep. Isn't it amazing what a difference that can make in your day? Some grinned as he turned his attention to the witness stand. Detective Stevens, would you mind stepping over to the monitors? I need you to help me work this thing. Modern technology always befuddles me, he said smiling while the jury remained stone-faced holding their pencils to their notepads.

The tape began to roll, and Sammy watched himself at the Cadillac Seville in front of the house in San Dimas. He had one hand in his pocket, but instead of freezing the frame, the way Sawyer had done, Charlie let it roll so the courtroom could watch him stoop down towards the front of the Cadillac. It's very dark so it's difficult to see him kneeling, taking his hands out of his pockets and several members of the jury began scribbling. Charlie froze the frame. Y'all see a gun? He said, Detective, can you see a gun? Now I know it’s a little dark, but I can see, as plain as day, both gloved hands and I don't see a gun.

Objection, leading, Sawyer said, Is there a question in our near future?

Charlie said, I’ll repeat, your honor, obviously Mr. Sawyer missed it. Do you see a gun, detective?"

No Sir, Mark said, unbuttoning his suit coat.

The state said they have Mr. Page's fingerprints on the murder weapon, Charlie said, Detective, how do you get a fingerprint on a gun that isn't there through gloved hands? Mark shrugged his shoulders, the judge said: give a verbal response detective.

I don’t know.

Nothing Further, Yana, Charlie said pulling out his chair at the defense table.

Any redirect, Mr. Sawyer? O’Neal said, flipping over a sheet of paper as Sawyer made his way to the monitor. If you will detective, he said, and Mark Stevens moved towards the tri-screens. He rolled the tape again to get Mark to admit there still could be a gun in the defendant’s waistband, before asking him to retake the stand. Detective isn't it true that sometimes suspects are so comfortable with their crimes, no matter how gruesome they appear to normal everyday thinking and feeling people, they relax, maybe take off their gloves or smoke a cigarette?

Objection, Charlie said, calls for speculation. Is the prosecution using hypotheticals as evidence?

Something told me you might, O’Neal said, Sustained!

How can the jury not hear something they've already heard? It really doesn't matter anyway because the whole point is so Sawyer could rerun the tape.

Sawyer ran the tape a couple more times when detectives Billy Miner and Ron Gorby took the stand, to corroborate Mark Steven’s testimony. They're all like Sammy’s brothers. The only brothers he’s ever known.

We looked like four idiots when we tried to do the Monkeys’ walk across the school campus. We spent after school and weekends together. I was the best man at Mark and Karen's wedding and was there when Britney was born. I was Billy’s best man when he married Eva and was there for the birth of all six of his kids. Billy was as nervous on the last as he was the first. Although, he admitted the last one may walk out on his own.

I was there for Ron, giving him a shoulder to cry on through all three of his miserable marriages. His mother's Sunday morning breakfast was as legendary as his dad’s reveille, waking us with at least two choruses of, Drop your cocks and grab your socks. I can still smell their home in the morning when she cooked breakfast and in the afternoon when she fried chicken. It smelled like a real home, the kind of place I only dreamt of being a part of. The first time I had eggs in a basket, was Ron Gorby's mom, although his dad called it, a frog in the hole. His mom was the sweetest lady, with the warmest smile and a hug for everyone. She wished Ron had more friends like Boom-Boom and me. She always wanted to meet my mother, of course, mother was never the socializing type. When you’re living in a chop shop, you're not exactly running for PTA. I wonder what his parents think of me today.’

Sawyer walked to the podium with the pages folded back on a legal pad and a pen in his hand. He said, The people call John Chen to the stand.

He looked Asian and short in stature, raising his hand to be sworn in, speaking with a hint of a Korean accent, stating his name for the record.

Sawyer stood off to the side making sure the jury had a clear view of the witness, walking him through a series of questions and answers describing his experience as a criminologist in the Los Angeles County Police Department over eighteen years. Sawyer said, Your Honor, The people feel that he is more than qualified to speak, not only as a witness in the collection of evidence at both crime scenes but an expert witness in the areas of ballistics, fingerprints, and forensics.

O’Neal cocked his head, staring at Charlie and when he didn’t respond the judge said, Without objection, the witness is so qualified.

He testified to evidence collected from the Freightliner tractor pulling the Island Princess overturned on the side of the freeway, including a 40 caliber semi-automatic Glock found in the cab. He explained in gory detail the condition of the bodies and the evidence he collected at San Dimas in the home of Ned and Sadie Udall at the second crime scene. He covered the ballistics report identifying the Glock as the murder weapon, firing all six lead fragments recovered from the victims. Three from the skull of Ned Udall and three from his wife, Sadie. The same handgun where they lifted Sammy’s fingerprint. Sawyer, shuffling through a series of pictures, said: Mr. Chen I would like you to verify what is depicted in these photographs.

OBJECTION Yana, Charlie said, shoving his chair into the short wall behind the defense table, his voice echoing throughout the courtroom. He said, These pictures serve no value in determining the guilt or innocence of my client. Their only purpose is to inflame the jury, Charlie said, while the courtroom focused on the judge. It appears Sawyer wants to ruin the lunch for the men and women with the impression of gory pictures freshly embossed in their minds. The judge took his time considering the objection as if he relished the attention, not to mention the conniption it raised up in Charlie stepping to the podium.

Yana, they've established Mr. Chen as an expert witness, but with all due respect, in fairness to my client, we still reserve the right to cross-examine that evidence and determine law enforcement's genuineness and validity in its collection. I can cite case after case where investigators, in a rush to judgment, manipulated or misrepresented evidence. We reserve the right to follow that chain of evidence to discover how many hands have possibly skewed or misplaced evidence that might exonerate my client. These pictures could unfairly create a bias from the jury to Mr. Page. I can have those briefs on your desk after lunch.

Objection sustained, O’Neal said swiveling back to Sawyer. Judge, I think the jury has a right to know, he said, parting his suit coat with his hands on his hips glancing between O’Neal, and the jury members. Judge, they are being asked to decide guilt or innocence in a capital case. I think they should know the heinousness of the crime. Noted and sustained, O’Neal said, sending Sawyer storming back to his seat. No further questions," he said, tossing the photos in his briefcase and slamming it down on the floor.

Mr. Chen, did you find any other fingerprints in the house or in the cab of the truck? Charlie said, approaching the witness while the criminologist nervously swiveled in his seat. Well sure, we had to rule out Mr. and Mrs. Udall and their driver, Chen said taking a deep breath. Charlie slowly scanning the jury said, Did you find any other fingerprints from Sammy Page, other than what you’re contending is on the handgun?

No, Chen said, adamantly shaking his head.

Not anywhere in the house?

No, he said, glancing at Sawyer.

Not anywhere in the truck? Charlie said, planting his hands on the rail in front of the stand. No, Chen said, as Charlie backed away. Let me see if I can wrap my head around this because frankly, I am confused, He said, wandering around in front of the Jury. It amazes me that throughout the entire house and the cab of that diesel truck, my client's fingerprints are nowhere to be found except a partial print on the metal casing of the pistol, Charlie said rushing back to the witness. Is that what you expect the jury to believe?

Objection, Sawyer said, Mr. Barnes is badgering the witness, Your Honor.

Overruled, O’Neal said, The witness is instructed to answer the question.

That's my testimony, Chen said, as a matter of fact. Charlie leaned in close to the witness. "Don't you find