Duffy's Trials

By Fred Keihn

The third installment of Duffy’s adventures finds him getting ready for the trial of the Torso Murderers. On top of that, it looks like his unusual association with the PPD may come under attack from the defense. That possibility brings the Keane family together to squash it before it becomes a problem.

Life with Anne continues with one difference: Duffy proposes, and Anne accepts. And the wedding is only nine months away, and getting ready may be more than Duffy thinks. He also starts work at Keane Foundation where he is the guy who says no. So Duffy, as always, rolls with the punches and soldiers on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662446122

Book preview

Monday, November 14

I woke up at my regular time of 5:00 a.m., but it was in our empty king-size bed. I was having second thoughts about leaving Anne in the Virgin Islands. Nevertheless, I got up and headed out to the kitchen to start my coffee. The weather was a mix of snow and rain, and my daily run was out of the question. I still had to buy a good treadmill to do my running indoor.

I made coffee and sat down, waiting for it to finish. I started thinking about the trial and my testimony. I had to admit, I was a little nervous about testifying. The defense lawyers could attack my position on the police force. They could attack my experience or my lack of it. I supposed they could try to attack how we found the house where the women had been kept, tortured, and raped. But other than to make it uncomfortable for me, they couldn’t get over the fact that the defendants, Goodwin and Brewer, had done the crimes. There was no technicality that would make them free. No lawyer in the land could do that. They might embarrass me, but they could not change the fact that Wojack and Duffy had solved the crime.

The coffee was ready, and I poured my first cup of the day. I missed Anne. I sat there at the counter, feeling sorry for myself, and with the first cup finished, I poured a second. I then remembered that I couldn’t sit and watch the trial until after I gave my testimony, and my regular duties might not allow me to be a spectator in the courtroom. So maybe it wouldn’t be that bad after all. I realized how hungry I was and wondered if Mary, our cook, was here to cook my breakfast or if Anne had given her time off while we were in the Islands.

I was just getting up to top off my coffee and head to the shower when Mary walked into the kitchen. She asked if I wanted my normal breakfast—pancakes, sunny-side up eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast. I gratefully said, Yes, indeed.

I took a quick shower, and because Anne wasn’t there, I chose my own selection of an outfit for work. I went with my old favorite: a tan corduroy sports coat, tan Dockers, and a white shirt with a suitable tie. When I got back to the kitchen counter, Mary had my breakfast ready. I topped off my coffee cup and dug in.

As I was eating, the phone rang, and Mary answered it. Yes, sir, he is. Wait one and I’ll get him. Mary held out the phone, covering the mouthpiece, and told me it was the DA. I reached for the phone. The DA had called to tell me I was the first witness to be called after opening remarks. Court would start at nine. He asked, Do you have any questions? I had none and told him I would see him in court.

Breakfast over, I put on my holster and gun and cuffs and picked up the all-important notebook of the case. Since it was to be a wet day, I got my raincoat and hat and made sure I had the Jeep’s keys and headed down to the garage. Once in the Jeep, I opened a new pack of Pall Malls and lit one before starting the engine. I drove to the city hall in the center of the city. I found a parking garage fairly close and only had to go up to the level before the roof. I then made the cold, wet walk to the courtroom.

I got to the outside of the courtroom, and it was only eight thirty. I figured I had over an hour’s wait before I would get called to testify. A bailiff was standing by the courtroom door. I took off my raincoat and hat and went over to him and asked if there was a place for witnesses to leave our coats. He said I could leave it in the witness room off to the side of the courtroom and wait there. But no talking about the trial with other witnesses. I nodded and went into the small room.

No one was there, and I sat down in one of the hard wooden chairs. I lit another Pall Mall since I didn’t see any No Smoking signs. In a short while, I was joined by others, but I didn’t recognize any of them, so they must have been there for another trial.

A woman came into the room carrying a tray with coffee on it and a clipboard tucked under her arm. She asked us to sign in and left the clipboard behind when she exited. I got up and signed in, and the others followed suit. I looked at my watch and wondered what Anne was doing now in the Virgin Islands. I should have brought a newspaper, and if I had to come tomorrow, I would bring one.

One of the men in the room was looking at me. Hey, aren’t you one of the detectives that caught the Torso Murderers? I nodded and hoped the guy wouldn’t want to continue the conversation. He didn’t, but the rest of the people took a close look at me. I wondered if they had to pick a jury for the trial, but they must have done that last week. I looked at my watch again, and it was nine twenty-five.

The bailiff came in the door and called for Duffy. I got up and followed him to the courtroom, hanging my badge on my breast coat pocket. As we entered the room, people turned to see me, and some flashbulbs went off. The press was here, as were a couple of guys doing sketches. I walked up to the witness stand, and my stomach did a couple of flips, but I was steady when I got up on the stand. I faced the clerk as he swore me in and then took my seat and let out a sigh.

The DA stood up and walked to a lectern and started the questioning.

Q: Detective Duffy, would you explain your situation at the police department.

A: Yes. I’m a reserve detective that is currently on active duty. I work in Homicide in the Major Crimes section.

Q: You were assigned to the case before the court?

A: Yes.

Q: Tell us in your own words how this case started.

A: Well, we first became aware of the murders when the torso of a young woman was found in a dumpster by a homeless man looking for something to eat. That was on August 22. The only identifier we had on the torso was a bluebird tattoo over her left breast. While at the scene, Detective Wojack and I directed that the other dumpsters in the area be searched for other body parts. This was done, and an arm with a hand attached was found. The arm and hand belonged to the victim.

Since most of the dumpsters had been emptied, we directed that a search of the dump be done. Other body parts were found there, but they were not matches to our torso, so we knew we were dealing with a multiple murderer. The next day, August 23, we found another torso. Then on August 24, we found a full female corpse, which had been drained of blood. The draining of the blood was done while the person was alive. Finally, we found a full male corpse in the same condition on August 26.

Q: Now you were looking for the murderers, obviously. How did you go about that?

A corkboard with a map and pins stuck in it was brought into the court. There was a murmur in the court. The ADA situated the map at an angle facing the jury.

A: Well, I started to locate all the places we had found body parts and corpses. I was working on the theory that the culprits would want to limit their exposure when they were carrying the body parts, and they would avoid choke points like bridges. If you’ll notice, the points become a rough semicircle on the city side of Delaware. I figured that if I drew lines from the semicircle, they would join together or near each other. This was based on the idea that the culprits would go for the quickest way to drop off the bodies or parts. We had a witness who saw a tan or light-brown van at one of the dumpsters, so it gave us an area to look for a van.

Q: But there was more than that to the search, wasn’t there?

A: Yes. We felt that the murderer would need a large house cut off from its neighbors on a large lot. This eliminated a duplex, for example, or a ranch house on a small lot open to its neighbors. As we searched, we came upon one house in the area that met our profile. It was the Braun house. They were very helpful and allowed us to search their home thoroughly, but they were not who we were looking for. We continued the search and waited for the identification of the male corpse.

We felt that the male corpse was someone who was involved in the killings and that he had been killed by his associates because of his age and knew from the autopsy he was dying. He had become a liability to his partners. Once the man was identified as John Friedman, we located his daughter, Heidi Friedman, and she identified him. Detective Hanasey got her permission and a signature to search the house and grounds of the property. At that time, Ms. Friedman told us that she knew she was the executor of the will and had the right to allow the search.

Defense: Objection! Your Honor, the right to allow the search has not been established.

Judge: Sustained.

Q: Did you get a search warrant for the house and grounds?

A: Yes.

Q: What was the basis for the warrant?

A: The house met our profile and was in our target area, and we suspected that Friedman was involved with the killings and that his partners in the crimes had killed him. The manner of his death—draining his blood while he was still alive—was the same as a victim of the killers, who was found just before him.

Q: Why did you suspect he was involved in the murders?

A: He was the only male to be killed, and we began to believe that the murders had been going on for years. He also had a record as an attempted rapist. This was later proved to be correct.

Q: You did have a search warrant for the house and grounds?

A: Yes, we did.

Q: In your own words, tell us about the search and what you found in the house.

A: Well, we didn’t find anything in the cellar of the house. But in the search of his study, we found a collection of diaries. In them, the writer, Friedman, wrote about the deliveries and captures and the delights they provided him. Then—

Q: Your Honor, I’d like to enter into evidence some of the diaries of Friedman with highlighted parts showing the relevant entries.

Judge: Yes. Label as Prosecution Exhibit 1.

Once entered, the dairies were passed to the jury for them to see. The questioning continued as we walked the jury though the search and discovery of the cellar in the garage. The juries were shown the pictures of the cellar, and one female juror fainted. The judge called a recess and said we would break for lunch.

I went to Scotty’s Bar and Grill for lunch. I wanted a drink but knew I couldn’t, so I had a steak sandwich and fries with iced tea. After lunch, the questioning continued, and evidence was entered on what we found in the cellar and the discovery of living victims. I was done with the testimony at the end of the day. Tomorrow, it would be the defense’s turn at me.

I wasn’t going to go to Scotty’s. I had the Jeep, and I wasn’t all that familiar with it yet, so I headed to the condo.

*****

As I put my key in the door of the condo, the door was opened, and there stood Anne. I grabbed her and held her tightly to my body, feeling her close to me. She pulled me over to the living room couch. I couldn’t stay in paradise and leave you at the mercy of the lawyers, so I chartered a couple of planes and came home. I needed to be here with you.

I looked at her. Believe me, you are a welcome sight. I’ve been on the witness stand all day and still will be in it tomorrow. The DA isn’t finished with me yet. Then it is the lawyers for the defense. I almost went to Scotty’s but decided that would be a bad idea. I’d end up drunk.

Anne asked what I would like for dinner, and I was good with anything, so Mary, our cook, thought that a spinach quiche and a salad would be the menu. I was good with that. Anne asked for a martini, so I got up to mix her a shaker and pour a Jameson for myself.

As we sat on the couch, sipping on our drinks, Anne spoke. After the trial is over, I think you should take a break from the police. If they need you, they can call you back. As it is now, you’ll just get sucked into more cases. Let’s face facts. The Major Crimes section is a catchall. I’d be willing to bet good money that Wojack will get his promotion and transfer sooner rather than later. You don’t need to be around for that trauma. I think that Wojack feels his promotion will be in Homicide. When he finds himself in Traffic, he’ll be pissed, mostly at you as you are the closest target for his anger.

I gave it some thought before answering. You bring up some stuff that I hadn’t given much thought to, and you make some good points about Wojack’s anger. But maybe he wants out of Homicide after the Torso Murders. I’m surprised he isn’t a witness for the trial, at least not so far. Let me sleep on it, and after the trial, I’ll make a decision.

Anne put on the TV to watch the local news and see what they had to say about the trial. The TV showed sketches of me on the stand, answering questions. They also said that the evidence had been shocking enough that a recess was called for a juror made physically ill. The announcer gave a breathless and brief account of my testimony.

Mary called us to dinner. After dinner, we watched TV, and Anne kept up her campaign for me leaving the police. I listened but wouldn’t commit myself. We retired to bed and didn’t talk about the police.

Tuesday, November 15

The morning started as it did every day in my current life. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and got quietly out of bed, trying not to wake Anne. When I got out to the kitchen and looked outside, there was a snow squall that presented me with an excuse not to go running, so I made coffee. I got a mug out of the cabinet and sat down to wait for the coffee maker to finish. It finished, and I took that great first sip of the day.

As I sat at the counter, I gave thought to taking time off from the police. It definitely had some positive aspects, but that was in the future. Today, there was the trial, and I was going to be on the witness stand. I knew that the DA had more questions before I was turned over to the defense.

I sat at the counter and tried to think of questions that the defense could ask me. I switched my thinking to reporter mode, trying to understand the defenses being put forward by the lawyers for the killers. I had to say, at least to myself, that the transition from finding Friedman’s body to the cellar where the women were kept was the key to finding the suspects.

We claimed that he was the leader and was only killed when he wanted to close down the whole operation. This was confirmed by the confession of Tom Smith, aka Gooney, the third culprit. Smith had committed suicide in jail, so you could say that the defendants were led astray by the older Friedman.

Therefore, the reasoning would be, the defendants were less culpable and did not deserve the death penalty. But I thought that that would not matter to the average person, and the defense was specious. Both of the defendants were in their midthirties or older, so when they started with Friedman, they weren’t children. Well, the defense would have its shot at me today.

There was no reason for me to worry about it. In what was going to happen, it would not matter what I wanted. The physical evidence and the testimony of the victims were just too strong to ignore. I felt that any jury would find them guilty.

I went to the coffee maker and filled my mug again. I started again to think about going back to the paper. Maybe I should take a nice, long vacation before I made the change. As I sat down at the counter, Anne came out of the bedroom and gave me a hug and a kiss, then started to make her coffee. She liked her coffee milder than I did and had her own coffee maker. When her coffee finished, she poured a cup as Mary, our cook/housekeeper, came out and asked what we wanted for breakfast. I declared French toast, and Anne wanted her usual fruit.

I gave Anne a kiss before I went in to shower. When I was finished, I found that Anne had laid out my black cashmere sports coat, dark-gray slacks, white button-down shirt, and a hand-painted tie I didn’t know I owned. As usual, her taste was better than mine. I was a little leery about the tie, but what the hell.

After dressing, I went to the dining room and ate my breakfast. I asked Anne what she had planned for the day; she said she had to go to her Art Foundation and check on how the recent show at her gallery in NYC had gone. She had allowed her manager in New York do it on her own instead of going to New York herself, as she had done in the past. I gave her carte blanche on the setting up and running of the show, and I’m sure nothing terrible happened, but I still want to know if it was a success. Finished with breakfast and checking I had all the accoutrements of a detective and, most importantly, the notebook I used during the crime, I was ready to leave. I gave Anne a kiss and donned my raincoat and hat and headed to the garage and the Jeep.

Getting into the Jeep Wagoneer, I had a fleeting thought that once the winter was over, I would be able to use my preferred car, a blue ’77 MGB. I started the Jeep and backed out of my slot to head to the same parking garage I used yesterday.

As I drove to city hall, I began to think about actually writing a novel rather than going back to the paper. The cabin we were building on property I inherited would be in move-in condition on the twentieth of this month. If I found I couldn’t write in my study in the condo, I could retreat to the cabin. Maybe it would be fun to be a grasshopper than an ant for a while. Between the paper and the police, I had learned a lot about crime, and there had to be some novel in me. I parked the Jeep and walked to city hall still thinking about writing, making it all the way to the witness room and signing in. I had escaped worrying about my testimony.

At nine thirty, I was called again to the witness stand. I was reminded that I was still under oath, and I sat down and waited for the DA to begin.

DA Q: Detective, in your investigation, were you able to find how the defendants and Friedman met?

A: Yes. Friedman twenty years ago pleaded a charge of attempted rape down to assault. He was given a six-month sentence and three years of probation and was sent to Camp Hill. There, he was assigned to the same cell as Brewer and through him met Goodwin. Both Brewer and Goodwin were serving five years for rape. According to Friedman’s diaries, this was when the idea of teaming up occurred.

DA Q: After Friedman’s release, what did he do?

A: It was then that he finished the cellar in the garage, dividing it into three rooms. The cellar had originally been conceived as a fallout or bomb shelter. His wife died, and after her death, he captured his first victim.

DA Q: So Friedman started the capture of victims by himself?

A: Yes. At that time, he lived by himself, as all four of his children were out of the house at college or married.

DA Q: Of the thirty-five victims, how many were attributed to Friedman alone?

A: Well, in the five years that he operated alone, he kidnapped nine or possibly ten women. He kept them for long periods of time before he killed and dumped them in the country. He owned a small property in the country outside of Allentown.

DA Q: How did he kill his victims?

A: By strangulation.

DA Q: When did the defendants become involved with this crime?

A: It was a few months after their release. It seems, according to the diaries, that Friedman ran into Brewer by chance. Friedman then invited Brewer to his house and, after drinks and conversation, introduced Brewer to his current captives and invited him to have his way with them. This is all from the diaries. After a couple of months, they invited Goodwin in.

DA Q: So then when did they invite Smith into the mix?

A: Five years ago, they were finding it hard to kidnap women and needed a van to do it. Brewer knew that Smith had a van and felt he would go along with it.

DA Q: What happened to Smith?

A: After he confessed, he hung himself in his cell.

Defense: Objection! Sidebar, Your Honor.

After much whispered conversation, the judge made his decision.

Judge: Strike the confession from the record.

DA Q: How did you find the history of this…operation?

A: Mostly through the diaries of Friedman but also from the questioning of Smith.

DA Q: Was there anything else that pointed to the defendants?

A: Yes, the physical evidence and the fingerprints of the defendants on it and in the cellar. There was also blood evidence.

DA Q: Blood evidence?

A: Yes, from the semen samples that were obtained.

Defense: Objection, Your Honor. The witness is not an expert on blood evidence.

Judge: Sustained. Strike the last answer from the record.

DA Q: There was a ledger found in the cellar. Is that correct?

A: Yes.

DA: I’d like to enter the ledger as an exhibit, Your Honor.

Judge: So be it. Mark as Prosecution Evidence Number 2.

DA Q: Where did you find this ledger?

A: On a shelf over a table in the first room of the cellar.

DA Q: What did you find in this ledger?

An easel was brought in with a large blowup of a page of the ledger.

A: Well, as you see, there are entries made in abbreviations and Julian dates. The date of arrival is the first entry, then the name of the victim and the sum of money taken from the victim. Then there are entries that indicate the rapes of the victims and how many calories and how many times they were fed. Then there is a final Julian date when they were killed. Each victim has their own page in the ledger.

DA Q: How accurate are these entries?

A: The first Julian dates coincide with diary entries of captures, and the final Julian dates coincide with the disposals noted in the diaries. The initials are the same as the captives, and R translates to rapes. The calories were a guess on my part, three entries meaning three feedings. That was later confirmed by Smith in questioning, as were the other entries.

DA Q: I point now to the symbol that looks like a lightning strike. What is the meaning of that?

A: That the cattle prod had been used on a victim.

DA: That’s all I have for this witness.

Judge: I think this is a good time to break for lunch.

I was happy to get out of the stand and was hoping that the defense didn’t have any questions for me, but the DA said that they would probably ask me questions on how long I had been a detective. With that on my mind, I decided on a sausage and pepper hoagie from my favorite street vendor. It was a walk, but I needed to get some fresh air.

When I got outside, it was raining, so I nixed the idea of a street vendor and went to get the Jeep and drove to Scotty’s. We had almost two hours for lunch. I wished Wojack was being called as a witness and the other detectives involved with the case. I felt really exposed up there on the stand.

When I got to Scotty’s, I took a seat in my booth and asked Tomi for a chicken salad sandwich and an iced tea. The chicken salad was made daily by Frank’s sister. Frank was the owner of Scotty’s, and it was a hangout for reporters and office workers from the local area. It was a great chicken salad sandwich.

I looked at my watch, and it was just twelve. Louise and Al from the paper I had worked for, and probably would again, came in and, spying me, joined me in the booth. Al ordered a Pepsi and burger. Louise ordered a vodka tonic and a burger. Louise asked how I was doing. She had been covering the trial for the paper. I hadn’t noticed her in the courtroom. Louise asked, How are you holding up?

OK so far. I just want the questioning to be over was my answer. Louise nodded that she understood. I had to go after eating and bid my companions goodbye. On the way back to the witness room, I picked up a newspaper. I settled down in the witness room and started to read my paper. I was the only one in the room, and it was strangely peaceful. I must have dozed off or spaced out because it seemed the time to go back into the courtroom came very quickly.

Entering the courtroom, I was again photographed and, once back in the witness chair, reminded that I was still under oath. The defense lawyer went to the podium and started his questioning.

Q: How long have you been a detective in Homicide?

A: Three months or a bit longer.

Q: Were you a uniformed officer before Homicide?

A: No. I was a reporter.

Q: What are your qualifications?

A: I suppose my six years covering crime and politics in the city.

Q: So really, you are sort of a Sherlock Holmes or a Nero Wolfe or a Sam Spade or even the Saint, Falcon, or some other crime fighter like the Green Hornet.

There was laughter in the court, and the judge called for silence.

DA: Objection!

Judge: Sustained. Stay on point.

His question had gotten some laughter in the courtroom but not in the jury.

Q: So really, you are a gifted amateur detective. Isn’t that so?

A: Yes, you could say that, but I always had an experienced detective with me. Detective Wojack kept me from making any mistakes.

The rest of the questioning from both defense lawyers was in the same vein. They were trying to find some mistake I had made.

Q: Would you say that Friedman was a strong influence on my clients?

A: I would say he was an enabler.

Q: Isn’t that the same thing?

A: No. Crime statistics say that both the defendants would have raped again. Friedman just made it easier for them. He gave it structure.

Q: But he was the leader. You even said that yourself, didn’t you?

A: Yes, but that doesn’t—

Q: Just yes or no! It was Friedman who built the cellar, planned the captures, and developed the system used on the victims, wasn’t it?

A: Yes.

Q: It was Friedman who invited them to take part?

A: Yes.

Q: He was the one who changed the defendants into monsters, wasn’t he?

A: Yes, but—

Q: I’m finished with the witness!

DA: Redirect, Your Honor?

Judge: Yes.

DA Q: Detective, you spent a lot of time reading the diaries, didn’t you?

A: Yes.

DA Q: Tell the jury how Friedman ran the operation.

A: Well, at first, he was in charge. He decided when to get and get rid of the victims. He also seemed to think he had some concern for the victims, although I don’t think anyone sane would say it was concern. He allowed them to be beaten, starved, or water being held back if the victims didn’t do what he said. He, at first, said there could only be one or two at a time, but it wasn’t long before Brewer started to assert control

Brewer started kidnapping victims himself and added more cages. He added the cattle prod to the mix, and it was him who wanted to add Goodwin. Friedman objected, but Brewer did it, and Friedman accepted it as a fait accompli.

They, the defendants, took over slowly, and Friedman, getting older and outnumbered, let the inevitable happen. He discussed it at length in the diaries and toyed with the idea of stopping altogether, but he admitted to himself that it had gone too long, and he wasn’t able to hold on to the tail of the tiger he had created. When he knew he was dying, he wanted to shut down the cellar, and the defendants killed him and drained his blood while he was still alive. He had made a pact with the devil and lost.

DA Q: Even when Friedman lost control, he still took part in the crimes committed, didn’t he?

A: Yes, up until the last few months.

DA Q: You were also instrumental in the capture of two other serial killers, were you not?

A: Yes.

DA Q: You were also involved in a number of other murder investigations, which ended successfully.

A: Yes.

DA Q: You have also been awarded the highest award for bravery, were you not?

A: Yes.

DA Q: For a gifted amateur, you do some great work.

Defense: Objection, Your Honor. The DA is testifying.

Judge: Sustained.

DA: I have no further questions for the witness. Please take a seat at the prosecution table. I call Ms. Hooper to the stand.

The rest of the day was taken up by testimony from the four victims. Each one took the courtroom through the hell they had suffered. They were very effective. They brought the jurors to tears. The pictures of the cages, the rape bed, and the tools on the table in the cellar were passed around the jurors. The day ended with some of the jurors looking a little green around the gills.

When the day was over, the DA told me he wanted me to attend the trial every day and sit at the table with him. I didn’t go to Scotty’s but went straight to the condo.

Wednesday, November 16

It wasn’t raining when I woke up, so I went for a run. There was still plenty of slush around, but I was able to avoid most of it. When I got back to the condo, I continued with my morning routine; and when the coffee was ready, I poured my first cup.

When Anne came out, she asked, Are you still tied up with the trial today?

I nodded and added, Today, we have the experts’ testimony and the introduction of the physical evidence. I may be called to the stand again. I believe the plan is for the ME to go first, then the tech team’s supervisor. How long it takes will depend on the defense attorneys.

Mary came out to make breakfast, and I asked for pancakes and bacon. Then I kissed Anne and went in to take a shower. When I got out of the shower, Anne had laid out my dark-blue pin-striped suit, a white shirt, and a tie that made a bold statement. I was having a hard time with the cuff links, and I called to Anne for help. It seemed a shame to break the lines of the suit with the shoulder holster.

After breakfast, looking out the windows, I could see snowflakes and figured the camel hair overcoat would be needed. Anne handed me the hat she had bought me. I felt a little self-conscious. I was dressed more like a lawyer than a detective.

Driving to the city hall, it snowed off and on, heavy sometimes. The paper hadn’t mentioned snow, and we didn’t watch any morning news shows, so we weren’t up-to-date on the weather. But I would rather talk to Anne than be engrossed in a TV.

Parking was getting crowded as the trial was getting national coverage. There were no TV cameras allowed in the courtroom, but they ambushed the players in this drama when they adjourned at lunch and at the end of the day. Everybody, it seemed, had something to say. The DA wasn’t saying much, but there was a rumor circulating around the courthouse that the DA was going to run for attorney general. I hoped this was the case, as then Hannah Keane, Anne’s sister, would have a good shot at the DA job in the upcoming elections.

There was a snow squall during the walk to the city hall, and I had to hold on to my hat. It stopped abruptly as I reached the entrance. When I got to the floor the courtroom was on, the hallways were full of a sea of humanity. Many of them waiting to get into the other courtrooms, the noise level was high, but along one wall was a line of people waiting quietly to get into the torso trial courtroom.

I entered the witness room to hang up my coat, and the ME and the head of the crime scene technicians were there. I said hello and turned to go into the courtroom and the prosecution’s table. The DA and an ADA were already there. I sat down. Other than Good morning, nothing was said. The seats in the courtroom filled up quickly and in surprisingly orderly fashion.

The bailiff came in and called us to order, and the judge and jury entered, and we were allowed to sit. The judge said, Call your first witness, and the DA called the ME. The ME explained what he had found on the torsos, which indicated the extreme conditions that the women had been put through. The evidence of extreme rape, pictures were passed around that showed the bodies. Then he described the finding of the mass grave site on Friedman’s property near Allentown. Enlarged pictures were shown on an easel of the remains and the evidence given on how they had died.

The ME showed the blunt force trauma on the remains, the evidence of stabbing and strangulation. At the end, a large blown-up list of the victims’ names was brought in and shown to the jury. The impact on all in the courtroom was evident. The defense had no questions for the ME.

We broke for lunch. I turned around and saw for the first time that the four living victims were in the audience. They were holding hands. The courtroom was silent. I went to Scotty’s for lunch.

I couldn’t have a drink, so I was stuck with a soda and a burger with fries. I only ate half of the meal, after which I walked back to the courtroom. It was snowing off and on, but it didn’t matter. When I got back, I stopped by the witness room and removed my coat and talked to the crime scene supervisor. He was to be the last witness to be called by the DA.

I returned to the prosecutions’ table and took my seat. One of the defense lawyers came in. He asked me if I thought that the DA would take a plea. I just shook my head. You’re asking the wrong guy. He went back to his own table.

It didn’t take long to get the trial back on track. The crime scene supervisor was called to testify. The DA asked the first question, and from then on, it was a monologue with the physical evidence entry the only interruption. The witness explained what fingerprints were found and where. Pictures were entered into evidence of the body parts that were found and were later identified. The witness told the jury about the smell of decomposition and human waste that was so strong and overwhelming that it made his team members actually sick. The looks from the jury at the defendants showed anger. The defense had no questions, and the DA said he rested his case. Court was adjourned until tomorrow when the defense would begin. I would be back again.

When I got home, I was surprised to find guests. The Keanes were there. Thomas, the head of the family, with his wife, Kitty, and Anne’s sisters and their husbands were all sitting around with cocktails. The TV was on but without sound. Mary was serving snacks. Anne came over and gave me a kiss as I got out of my overcoat. Well, hello, everybody. What’s the occasion?

Thomas, of course, was the first to speak. We thought we’d come over and lend some moral support. I had a stenographer in the courtroom taking down the trial for the family records. This is the first time in maybe a hundred years that a member of the family has been involved in a criminal trial, and I wanted to stop and see how you’re doing. Plus, Kitty wanted to see the girls.

Kitty smiled. I need to get out of the house once in a while.

Kenneth, Hannah’s husband, asked, Tell me, how, in your opinion, is the trial going?

I ran my hand through my hair as I walked to the bar to fix a Jameson. I made my drink and, after a pause, answered, Well, I’m sure it’s a win for the good guys, unless for some reason the defense lawyers pull a rabbit out of a hat. I think it now boils down to keeping the defendants off death row.

Kenneth nodded his head. Do you know who the defense is going to call as witnesses?

I took another sip. The witness list I saw is all but useless. They have put everybody they could think of on it to include Wojack, Hanasey, and me. I know they have a forensic pathologist and a forensic crime scene expert and a number of psychologists and, believe it or not, some character witnesses and even some relatives. I think they may even try some character assassination of yours truly.

Yes! Kenneth, turning to Thomas, smiled. That’s what I told you, Thomas. I’m not a criminal lawyer, but that is the logical approach to a good defense. It won’t hurt their lawyers’ reputation if they have a spirited defense.

Hannah spoke. There’s also the political implications for the group, Thomas, not just for me.

Looking at them, I said, Wait one! There is a strong rumor around the courthouse that the DA is going to run for attorney general in the next election and looks good to the Republicans.

The intercom buzzed, and Anne answered it. She said, The commissioner is coming up and the chief. Thomas nodded an okay. I loosened my tie. It suddenly felt very tight. When the new guests arrived, the publisher of my paper was with them.

When the new guests got their coats off and drinks, the commissioner was the first to speak. As I mentioned earlier, the mayor is at a conference in Colorado Springs, but he will join us by phone in—he looked at his watch—forty minutes.

Thomas turned to the Publisher. What have you heard about the DA running for AG?

The Publisher replied, It’s true. The editorial board is going to back him in his run. Unless, of course, there are objections from the group, we will do so.

Thomas smiled. We have no objections, and no one in the Keane clan is going to be running against him. We had a man, but he’ll run for a state judgeship instead.

The commissioner had a pained expression. The problem is really how it will look for the department and, of course, Duffy and how he became a detective.

Thomas turned to the chief and asked, What’s your handle on all this?

The chief sighed. Look, as his supervisor, all I can say is, he has done some great work, and I seriously believe he has been asset to the department. His work on the cases of unusual crimes has been excellent. He was forced down my throat, but I’ll stand behind him. I don’t want to throw myself on my sword for him, though.

No one has to throw themselves on their sword, Thomas said. Look, let’s calm down. My only concern is that our enemies will attack Duffy as a tool of a vigilante committee of the rich and powerful and that we pay him, even if that is the case. As far as where his income comes from, I’ve talked to Aunt Allison and Susan, and he will become a board member of the Keane Foundation. It will be backdated a month, so that should take care of the money part. He’s still on a sabbatical from the paper, correct? He looked at the Publisher, who said yes.

I had to say something. Look, let’s take a break, freshen our drinks. And, Mary, can you make sandwiches?

Thomas said, That’s a good idea, and everyone else looked a little relieved. I went to the bar to fix drinks, and Mary went to the kitchen to make sandwiches with Anne.

I was mixing martinis when I heard the commissioner say to Thomas, If this trial weren’t so big and national news, it wouldn’t have even been a thought or a problem. But this could all blow up on me. It will make me look like I’m under the thumb of the rich of the city. The fact that every commissioner in every city is won’t mean shit. I don’t know if my PR people can handle this. He didn’t sound scared, just matter-of-fact.

Thomas called over the Publisher. Can we get some positive press started on the commissioner?

The Publisher answered right away. Yes. We need to get the city editor over here to get the reporting positive, and I’ll have a positive editorial out on him, Duffy, and the trial in tomorrow’s paper.

Thomas sipped on his martini and said to the commissioner, I’ll have my PR people get with your office tomorrow. I pay them enough, so they are the best. Turning to look at me, he continued. Duffy has his own money in a large enough quantity to be able to afford to take a sabbatical without having money problems, so that should leak out, maybe to another paper. Oh, and have the society editor let the engagement to Anne get out. Have the society editor call Anne tomorrow. How’s that sound to you all? Heads nodded in agreement.

I was finished making drinks, so