Though this was true, Sarah found it more dispiriting than hopeful. "You know what sucks, Bob? Unless the President can kill gun immunity, none of it will matter."
* * *
Before continuing, Lenihan hung his suit coat loosely over a chair. Reiner's tie remained loosened, and he had rolled up his sleeves. Even Harry Fancher was in shirtsleeves; only Nolan remained buttoned up.
Again, Lenihan leaned forward. "Are you aware," he asked the witness, "of any states besides California which ban the P-2?"
"No."
"But you are aware that the P-2 is commonly used in crimes in California?"
"Commonly? How would I know?"
"But you were aware—even before the Costello shootings—of at least one crime where a P-2 was used in California."
Reiner frowned. "Yeah—the day-care center in Oakland. The media called us for comment."
"How many kids died in that particular incident?"
"Four."
"Where did the shooter get that gun?"
"I don't remember knowing. We didn't sell it to him."
Lenihan stared at him. "Aren't you at least curious? After all, don't you commonly receive tracing requests concerning guns used in crimes?"
"We get some."
"Specifically, don't the legal authorities involved provide the make and serial number of the gun, and ask you to identify the dealer or distributor you shipped it to."
Reiner emitted a sigh of boredom and weariness. "Yes. But I'm not involved. There's no legal requirement that we retain trace requests."
"No? Didn't the ATF specifically, in writing, ask you to retain them?"
If Reiner was unaware of Conn's betrayal, Sarah knew, this was his first hint that something had gone badly wrong. Nolan glanced at his client with new keenness, his expression suggesting that he sensed, rather than knew, that there was trouble. "It's our policy," Reiner answered in a monotone, "to discard nonessential records. But I have no specific memory of that kind of letter."
"Or ordering it destroyed?"
Once more, Reiner squeezed his wrist. "No."
"What about tracing requests from California? Did you order them destroyed?"
"I have no specific memory," Reiner repeated, "of ordering documents destroyed."
Lenihan regarded him with a skeptical smile. "Do you have a more specific memory of learning that the ATF lists the P-2 as the leading semiautomatic handgun used in crimes?"
Almost imperceptibly, Reiner seemed to relax. At least, Sarah sensed him thinking, this question was based on public information. "I pay no attention," he answered. "We sell a lot of P-2s, so some of them show up in crimes. Not our fault."
"Even if those same figures show that many of those crimes occur in California?"
The witness hunched his shoulders. "Not our fault."
"Even if you suggested to the promoter of the Las Vegas gun show— the show where Bowden bought his gun—that he place his ad next to yours?"
"If I did that, I don't remember it."
Lenihan considered him. "When," he inquired, "did you first become aware that the gun John Bowden used to kill six innocent people was part of a shipment stolen by a paramilitary group called the Liberty Force?"
Reiner's eyes widened slightly, and then Nolan touched his client's arm. "We've been going for an hour," he told Lenihan. "Before the witness answers, I'd like a ten-minute break."
As they left the room, Sarah whispered to Lenihan, "Nolan doesn't know."
* * *
After their return, Reiner seemed to lean away from Nolan. "Before this lawsuit," he answered the pending question, "I have no memory of connecting the stolen guns to any group or person."
Lenihan gave him a smile of incredulity. "No memory," he repeated. "Not even in connection with the slaughter of Ms. Kilcannon's family."
"That's right."
Lenihan's smile vanished. "Did you," he asked softly, "destroy the record of a communication suggesting that the Liberty Force was reselling those guns at gun shows?"
The witness gave an elaborate shrug. "Why would I?"
"The why is obvious," Lenihan snapped. "Did you destroy such a record, or order it destroyed?"
Reiner stared at the table. "I have no specific recollection of this thing you're asking about."
"Then let's get back to the Eagle's Claw. During its development, did Lexington run tests of its effectiveness?"
"I believe so."
"Were those tests documented?"
"Again, I believe so."
"Did you order those documents destroyed?"
The witness reached for the pitcher of water with exaggerated care. It was as though, Sarah thought, he feared that his hand would tremble. "No," he answered.
Touching Lenihan on the shoulder, Sarah bent her head to him. "Callister," she whispered. "It's time."
Abruptly, Lenihan pointed to the SSA magazine. "Did you review this ad with Mr. Callister?"
"No." Though Reiner's tone remained gruff, he sounded spent. "The ads are my department. Mr. Callister had only been there for six months."
"Did Callister see the ad before the murders?"
"I don't know."
"Did he discuss with you his meeting with President Kilcannon?"
"No."
"Or his opinion regarding the President's request for background checks at gun shows?"
"No."
"Or whether the SSA threatened him with reprisals if he entered such an agreement?"
Watching, Harrison Fancher scowled. "I have no knowledge of that," the witness answered.
"Nor even of what you did, it seems." Lenihan turned to Nolan. "These questions are critical to our case. It's now utterly apparent that Mr. Callister alone can answer them. Either you produce him for deposition, or we'll renew our motion before Judge Bond."
"Based on what?" Nolan's tone was scornful. "The witness's failure to read George Callister's mind, and come up with thoughts which fit your theory? But then abusing the legal process is what this lawsuit's for."
"What it's for," Lenihan rejoined, "is obtaining the occasional truthful answer. However difficult." Turning to Reiner, he asked, "Did you inform Mr. Callister about the documents you destroyed? Or did he ask you to destroy them?"
Reiner stood. "I'm not answering that kind of bullshit question."
Turning to Nolan, Lenihan inclined his head toward Reiner. "Charming guy. He'll do well for you at trial." Smiling, he added mildly, "I don't know about you, John. But were I Mr. Callister, I'd want to clear that up."