"The lieutenant is correct, captain. We need to maintain correct trial procedure as much as humanly possible. You will have a second opportunity under redirect. Now step back, and let the lieutenant continue, although, Mr. Hart, I'd like to see those drawings myself."
Tommy nodded, handing them up to MacNamara, who also took his time to inspect them.
"They fit with my recollection," he said.
"Now, Major Clark, answer the question."
Clark shrugged.
"I would concur, colonel. They seem accurate enough."
"Take your time," Tommy said.
"I wouldn't want there to be some obvious error."
Clark glanced at the drawings again.
"They appear quite skillfully drawn," he said.
"My compliments to the artist."
Tommy took the three drawings, then held them up above his head, so that the audience could see what he was speaking about.
"That won't be necessary," MacNamara growled, speaking before Walker Townsend had a moment to object.
Tommy smiled.
"Of course," he said to the colonel. Then he turned back to Major
Clark.
"Major, based on your examination of the crime scene in the Abort, based on your inspection of Trader Vic's body, and based on your collection of the evidence in this case, would you please tell the court precisely how you contend this particular murder took place?"
Tommy pivoted, leaning back against the defense table, half-sitting, crossing his arms and waiting for the major to tell his tale, trying to impose an attitude of disbelief in his stance. Internally, he was nervous about the question. Phillip Pryce had long before burned into him the credo that no one ever asks a question in a trial that they do not know the response to, and here, he was asking Scott's main accuser to take free rein and describe Trader Vic's death. This, he knew, was something of a gamble. But he counted on Major Clark's ego and pugnacity, and knew that the rooster like officer would walk into the trap he'd set. He suspected the major didn't see the danger in the crime scene sketches. And, Tommy presumed, the major had no idea that waiting in the wings was Nicholas Fenelli, the mortuary man and doctor-in-training, who would contradict everything Clark was about to say when Tommy called him to the stand and showed him the same pictures just as he had already done in Fenelli's bare-bones infirmary. And in this conflict, Tommy thought, Scott's insistent denials would take force and suddenly gain the wind of truth Clark paused, then said, "You want me to describe the killing?"
"Exactly. Just tell us how it happened. Based on your investigation, of course."
Walker Townsend started to rise, then sat back down. He wore a small grin on his face.
"Very well," Major Clark responded.
"This is what I believe took place-" Tommy interrupted.
"A belief based on your interpretation of the evidence, correct?"
Major Clark snorted.
"Yes. Exactly. May I continue?"
"Of course."
"Well, Captain Bedford was, as everyone knows, a businessman.
I contend that Lieutenant Scott saw Bedford arise from his bunk in the middle of the night in question. Bedford was clearly taking a risk going out after lights out, but he was a brave and determined man, especially when he saw a substantial reward. Moments later, using the light of a candle, Scott trailed after him, stalking him, his knife concealed beneath his coat, not knowing that he'd been spotted by others. I suppose if he'd known that, he might have changed his mind-" "Well," Tommy interjected, "that would be a guess on your part.
Right? Not part of what the evidence tells you?"
Major Clark nodded.
"Of course. You are correct, lieutenant.
I shall try to restrict myself from further suppositions."
"That would be helpful. Now," Tommy said, "he trails him outside…"
"Precisely, lieutenant. Scott trailed Bedford into the Abort, where they confronted each other. Because they were inside that building, no sound they made when they fought penetrated into the rooms in Huts 101 or 102."
"That would be a wonderfully convenient absence of noise," Tommy interjected again. He couldn't help himself.
The major's pompous know-it-all tone of voice was too irritating to let pass. Major Clark scowled back at him.
"Lieutenant, whether it was convenient or not, I wouldn't know. I do know that questioning of men in the adjacent huts revealed no one who heard the noise from the fight. It was late. People were asleep."
"Yes," Tommy said. He wanted to say "thank you."
"Please continue."
"Using the blade he'd fashioned, Scott stabbed Captain Bedford in the throat. Then he thrust the murdered man back into the sixth stall, where the body was subsequently discovered.
Then, unaware his clothes were stained with blood, he made his way back to the bunk room. End of story, lieutenant.
Cut and dried, like I said."
Major Clark smiled.
"Next question," he added.
Tommy straightened up.
"Show me," he said.
"Show you?"
"Show all of us how this fight happened, major. Take the knife. You be Scott. I'll be Bedford."
Major Clark rose eagerly. Captain Townsend thrust the knife toward him.
The major gestured at Tommy.
"Stand here," he said. Then he took a position a few feet away, holding the knife in his hand as one would hold a sword. Then, in slow motion, he made a fake slash at Tommy's throat.
"Of course," the major said, "you are considerably taller than Captain
Bedford, and I'm not as tall as Lieutenant Scott, so…"
"Maybe we should reverse positions?" Tommy said.
"Fine," Major Clark responded. He handed Tommy the knife.
"Like so?" Tommy asked, mimicking the mannerisms that the major had just displayed.
"Yes. That would be accurate," the major said. He wore a smile as he portrayed the victim. Tommy turned toward Captain Townsend.
"Okay by you, Mr. Prosecutor?"
"Looks fine," the Virginian said.
Tommy Hart gestured back toward the witness chair.
"Okay," he said, as Major Clark resumed his seat.
"And after slashing Trader Vic's throat, Scott pushed him back into the stall, correct? And then he departed the Abort Is that how you see it?"
"Yes," the major said loudly.
"Precisely."
"Then tell me, how does he get blood on the back of the left-hand side of his jacket?"
"I beg your pardon?"