The Best American Mystery Stories 2005
- Автор: Хиггинс Джордж, Камински Стюарт Мелвин
- Год: 2005
- Язык: английский
- Год: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- ISBN: 978-0-618-51744-2
- Жанр: Другие детективы
Электронная книга - «The Best American Mystery Stories 2005». Краткое содержание книги:
“The Commonwealth,” Judge Shanahan said, “will furnish all statements of the defendant, all material which may be exculpatory in nature, all transcripts of wiretaps, a list of all laboratory tests or other scientific tests which the Commonwealth has conducted and intends to introduce at trial, a list of all witnesses whom the Commonwealth may call at trial, all photographs and other physical evidence, to be inspected at the convenience of defense counsel. So ordered.”
“Your Honor,” Edie said, getting up, “I scarcely know what the case is about myself. And I also have the Ellis case. I don’t know whether there’s any of the evidence that you describe. I haven’t even seen the file. As the court is aware, I too am, currently on trial.”
“Work nights,” Shanahan said, “same as him. Bail?”
“May I be heard, Your Honor?” Edie said.
“Most likely,” Shanahan said.
“This is one of several cases of rape in the same neighborhood,” she said.
“Right,” Shanahan said. “This is one case. This man is charged with one rape. Go ahead.”
“The women in the neighborhood are extremely fearful for their safety,” she said.
“Can’t help that,” Shanahan said. “This man hasn’t been convicted of harming a single one of them.”
“This is a serious charge,” she said.
“Certainly is,” Shanahan said. “I’d imagine the defendant would wholeheartedly agree with you on that point. The Constitution of the United States is a serious document. It says the purpose of bail is to ensure that the defendant shall appear for trial. Doesn’t say anything at all about making nervous ladies feel better, no matter where they live. What are you asking for bail?”
“One hundred thousand dollars, with surety,” she said.
“Ten grand for the bondsman,” Shanahan said. “Counselor Duggan, what have you got to say about this?”
“Your Honor,” Duggan said, “the defendant has a steady job. He has roots in the community. He’s never been charged with anything before. There’s no reason whatsoever to believe that he will not show up as ordered by this court.”
“Lemme see that file, Don,” Shanahan said to Sherman. He put on pince-nez glasses and leafed through it. He looked up over the glasses. “Morse,” he said, “Mr. Morse, are you really broke, like you told the clerk?”
“Yessah,” Morse said.
“Never mind that plantation talk,” Shanahan said. “You broke or not?”
“I can ‘t afford a lawyer, Your Honor, ‘ Morse said.
“Mr. Morse,” Shanahan said, removing the glasses, “nobody can afford a lawyer. The question is whether you’re broke. If you’re not broke, Mr. Duggan doesn’t have to represent you at huge expense to the taxpayers. If you are broke, he does. You broke or not?”
“I only make a small amount of money, Your Honor,” Morse said. “I make two hundred and ten dollars a week, take-home. My rent’s sixty a week. I pay maybe forty a week for food and stuff. I haven’t got any money or anything.”
“You own any real estate?” Shanahan said.
“No, sir,” Morse said.
“You got a car?” Shanahan said.
“Yes, sir,” Morse said.
“What is it?” Shanahan said.
“It’s just a car,” Morse said.
“One of those rectangular things with a wheel on each corner, right?” Shanahan said. This drew a laugh from the regular spectators. “Is there a brand name on it?”
“Yes, sir,” Morse said.
“What does the brand name say?” Shanahan said.
“Pontiac,” Morse said.
“Good,” Shanahan said. “Now we are making progress. You own a Pontiac. What model is it?”
“It’s a two-door,” Morse said.
“That isn’t what I asked you,” Shanahan said. “Let me try again. What model is it?”
“It’s a Firebird,” Morse said.
“See?” Shanahan said. “We’re making progress left and right here. Let me see if I can speed things up a little more. Is it by any chance a Firebird Trans Am?”
“Yes, sir,” Morse said.
“Time passes so quickly when you’re having fun,” Shanahan said. “What is the year of its manufacture? When was it made, in other words?”
“Last year, Your Honor,” Morse said.
“Did you buy it new?” Shanahan said.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Morse said.
“How much did you pay for it?” Shanahan said.
Morse sighed: “Eleven thousand, three hundred and change.”
“Where did you get the money?” Shanahan said.
“From the bank,” Morse said.
“Did you borrow it?” Shanahan said.
“No, sir,” Morse said, “I took it out of my account, I saved up for that car.”
“You don’t owe anything on it, then,” Shanahan said.
“No, sir,” Morse said.
“How much is it worth, do you figure?” Shanahan said.
“I dunno,” Morse said.
“Eight thousand?” Shanahan said.
“I doubt it,” Morse said.
“How about seven thousand?” Shanahan said.
“Maybe,” Morse said.
“And that’s the only thing you own,” Shanahan said.
“Well,” Morse said, “I got my furniture and stuff.”
“What does the stuff consist of?” Shanahan said.
“My bike and stuff,” Morse said.
“Let’s deal with the bike,” Shanahan said. “We’ll get to the stuff as need be. It is a ten-speed bike?”
“Ten-speed?” Morse said.
“Yeah,” Shanahan said. “What kind of bike is it?”
“It’s a Kawasaki,” Morse said.
“Oh,” Shanahan said, “when you say bike, you mean it’s a motorcycle.”
“Yeah,” Morse said.
“Yeah,” Shanahan said. “When’d you get that and how much did it cost you?”
“Last year,” Morse said. “Thirty-eight hundred dollars.”
“Borrow the money?” Shanahan said.
“No, Your Honor,” Morse said.
“Get it out of that bank account?” Shanahan said.
“Yeah,” Morse said.
“What?” Shanahan said.
“Yeah,” Morse said, louder.
“I can’t hear you, Mr. Defendant,” Shanahan said. “You get that money out of your savings account?”
“Say “Yes, Your Honor,”‘ Duggan whispered to Morse.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Morse said.
“That makes over fifteen thousand dollars you took out of that bank account to buy wheels last year,” Shanahan said. “That’s a pretty nice bank account. I wish I had one like it. Where is it?”
“I got the book home in my apartment,” Morse said.
‘Which bank?” Shanahan said.
“Oh,” Morse said. “River Trust.”
“How much you got in that account now?” Shanahan said.
“Your Honor,” Morse said, “I worked hard for that money and I saved it up.”
Shanahan held up his right hand. “Spare me, Mr. Morse,” he said. “I’m sure you denied yourself many of life’s pleasures in order to prepare for your future. You are asking me to confirm Mr. Duggan’s worst fears that he will be forced to represent you for small change paid late by the Commonwealth. This will require Mr. Duggan to deny himself many of life’s pleasures in order to represent you. How much money is left in that bank account?”
“I’m not sure,” Morse said.
“Take a guess,” Shanahan said.
“About nine thousand dollars,” Morse said.
“OK,” Shanahan said, “that saves us from going into the value of the furniture and stuff. Mr. Sherman: The court finds that the defendant, Maurice Morse, is not without resources with which to retain counsel, that he is not indigent. The case is continued for one week so that Mr. Morse may secure counsel. Bail is set at twenty-five thousand dollars, with surety. Case on trial.”