Tribes of Time, page 18
“You keep spoiling me like this I might not let you leave here.” Ella said playfully.
“Okay fish wrangler, other than the fish did you get anything
“I did get some good photos, but nothing out of the ordinary I suppose.”
“Damn, I was hoping we’d get something helpful. I’ll send the photos over to the Department of Defense anyway to have them analyzed; they have the nation’s best topographers.”
“We can’t really do anything more, let’s go clean those fish.” Haines said. He was really looking forward to another fish fry and cold beer around a fire pit. All of the men went to the back yard and began scaling and cleaning the fish. Miss Ella was inside concocting her secret batter for the fish. Cyrus was already out back heating up the oil in the huge wok he used to fry the fish. He hated the smell of fish cooking in the house, because it permeated the walls and clothing for a few days afterwards. The fire pit was illuminating the night’s sky; and everyone enjoyed fish sandwiches, southern style, which consisted of one slice of bread with mustard and the fried fish; and Tabasco if that was your choice. When the fire died down everyone knew it was time to turn in for the night. Over the next couple of weeks nothing really happened; other than the preparation of the case, until Roderick’s memo alarm went off. He read the memo and it said “Call Dr. Hearne to set up meeting.” Roderick called Dr. Hearne’s number and reminded her of their previous conversation.
“I was waiting for your call Mr. Sprewell, when can you travel to Knoxville?” She asked.
“I can be there in two hours if you like, I’m very curious about this report.” Roderick replied. Dr. Hearne said she’d be waiting for him and they each said their goodbyes. Roderick informed Nilsson he was heading over to the body farm and if he was still interested in going.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” He excitedly quipped. Haines and Michaelson said they’d take a pass on this one. Both men loaded up in the rental vehicle and proceeded down the highway to Knoxville. By now Nilsson knew every mile marker and exactly how far they had to drive with his eyes closed. He was beginning to like Tennessee; it reminded him a lot of his own country. He engaged Roderick in conversation about how the Uppsala region in Sweden was just like Tennessee and during the winter months hunting with his father and brothers for Caribou. Before they knew it Roderick was pulling into a stall behind the football stadium. They exited the car and walked across a small footbridge leading to the body farm.
“How do think they keep the college kids out during Halloween?” Nilsson inquired.
“I’m sure they post security guards around during that time; then again not everyone has morbid thoughts like you.” Roderick cracked on his associate. They entered the front gate of the facility and proceeded down a pathway towards an office building; which they entered and asked the attendant where Dr. Hearne could be found.
“She’s in her office, may I say who’s here to meet with her?” the attendant asked.
“Tell her Roderick Sprewell has arrived, she’s expecting me.” The attendant excused herself and walked down a hallway to the third door. She didn’t enter the office, but stood in the hallway where she could keep a visual on Roderick and Nilsson; yet communicate with Dr. Hearne. She knocked on the door sill to announce her presence.
“Sorry to bother you Doc, but two gentlemen are out front and said they have an appointment with you. One of their names is Roderick Sprewell.” Dr. Hearne put down her forceps and removed the headgear with the magnifying glasses attached.
“Thank you Livy, I am expecting them.” She walked to the doorway and after catching Roderick’s attention waved them down. Roderick was caught off guard, he didn’t expect her to be Asian; and gorgeous to boot. She partially walked down the hallway to greet them.
“Thanks for coming all the way out here; I hope it wasn’t too long of a drive.”
“We’ve been up and down that interstate so much the last few weeks it’s ridiculous.” Roderick answered.
“When you called a few weeks back, you said you received my report. Have you figured out how it was given to you?
“As I said earlier, I’m an attorney representing the alleged responsible; and I’m guessing someone gave it to me as part of discovery.” Dr. Hearne felt a little uneasy speaking with him now that she knew his connection to the case.
“I have to honest with you Mr. Sprewell; I’m a little apprehensive speaking with you since that report was prepared for the prosecution not defense.” Roderick needed to assuage her concerns before she totally shut the door on any communication.
“I can see why you’d be concerned, I would be too. But you must know that my client is innocent of murder; I assure you of that.”
“Hmm, interesting comment coming from someone paid to defend a murderer. Let me ask you this. Do you truly believe your client to be innocent?” Roderick didn’t hesitate to answer her question.
“I emphatically believe and know he’s not a murderer. He was thrust into a situation that shouldn’t have happened and it was the action of those dead men that caused their own demise. I’ve known my client for almost thirty years as a personal friend and brother; and he’s no murderer.”
Listening to Roderick Dr. Hearne could see that he was being forthright.
“I can see that you’re passionate about this case. How can I help you?” Dr. Hearne asked. Roderick dug through his attaché case and pulled out the report she had written for Sheriff Hutchison, and then handed it to her.
“Basically I need you to decipher it for me.” Dr. Hearne took the pages from Roderick and leafed through them.
“This isn’t a complete report, there’s five pages missing. But I’ll try to answer all of your questions if I can.”
“How exactly did you get involved with this case Doc?”
“I was contacted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office asking for my assistance in excavating a possible murder scene. I’ve worked with them before on similar cases.”
“Why would they call you to assist, no offense but isn’t your field of study about insects.”
“None taken, I get that response every time. But to answer your question; I’m also an Anthropologist with a specialty in Entomology. The two fields truly are integrated. Anyway, we go in and excavate the suspected crime scene and while doing that we’re documenting the colonization of insects. It’s basically recalling nature’s clock for the time of death.”
“Very interesting Doc, I mean that seriously. You also said some pages were missing, do you know what were on those missing pages?” He asked. She said to give her a minute while she put in her flash drive and pulled up the report. Once she found what pages were missing she quickly read through them.
“Peculiar” she said while still reading.
“What’s peculiar Doc?” Roderick asked while he scooted closer to her desk.
“Some of the most important information contained in the report is missing. It’s the DNA portion; well other than the DNA information you have in the reports given to you.”
“Other DNA?” Roderick quizzed.
“Yes, we extracted fifteen other human DNA samples from the insects surrounding the burial site. We were cut short before we could conduct secondary extractions.”
“Secondary extractions?”
“There were so many Deputies out there contaminating the scene, I needed to get each of their DNA to rule out or match them to the samples recovered; but Sheriff Hutchison shut down the investigation.”
Roderick and Nilsson were speechless after hearing this information, it gave them numerous options now to pursue or assist in their defense.
“Would you mind giving me the missing pages? What harm could it do; I already have the majority of the report.”
“I don’t see why not, it’s going to be used in the trial anyway.” She printed out the missing pages for Roderick and asked if he had any further questions. He certainly did, but if he asked them all now he wouldn’t have a reason to call her again.
“No further questions now, but can I reserve the right to call you if I do?” He inquired with a slight smile; which she caught.
“Absolutely Mr. Sprewell, my door is always open.” He stood up to shake her hand making every effort to look at her ring finger; which was void of a ring.
“I’m sure you get this all the time, but how did you get the name Hearne?”
“It was my married name. I kept it after the divorce; it’s easier with a name like that in my field.”
“I can totally feel you on that Doc, no need to explain further.” She knew why he was asking, she was feeling him too. She walked them to the front of the building and said it had been a pleasure and if they needed anything else, feel free to call. Once they got back in the car Roderick asked Nilsson how come he didn’t ask any questions.
“I didn’t want to get in your batter.” Nilsson replied. Roderick laughed a good belly laugh and then answered him.
“It’s, I didn’t want to get up in your Kool-Aid” Nilsson still didn’t get it.
“Okay it’s like this, when you’re in someone’s else’s business; we call it Kool-Aid. So you didn’t want to get up in my Kool-Aid; not batter.”
“Oh I get it now!” both men laughed together as they drove back to Ocelia. Roderick was glad he had asked Nilsson to assist with this case. Prior to the trip, he only knew of Nilsson as a competent litigator that worked for his firm. Now he had a new found affinity for him as an individual. He came with no preconceived ideas about race or stereotypes. When they got back to the farm, Roderick disseminated the information he had gathered from Dr. Hearne and they brainstormed on how they could use it in their defense. More questions arose that he wanted to ask Dr. Hearne, but he thought it would too soon to call her. His main question was how he could correlate the human DNA samples with possible donors; it could be a major facet in his defense.
CHAPTER 25
EXTEMPORANEOUS
M
ilford hadn’t been just sitting on his laurels during the interlude. He’d been amassing numerous witness statements and prepping his expert witnesses. He was in Wilmington already and needed Terrance to come there as soon as possible. He called Terrance and informed him that his presence was needed.
“Hello Terrance, its Winston.”
“Hey Winston, how have you been?” Terrance replied.
“About the same as you I supposes, tasked with this damn case.” Milford was exasperated from putting in long hours at his office in prep work.
“I totally sympathize with you on that, but you have one thing I don’t”
“What’s that Terrance?” Milford was a little peeved; he thought Terrance was implying someone on his staff was doing the prep work for him.
“I was just saying you’re in Knoxville and don’t have the constant questioning and dirty looks from the people you’ve known all of your life. You’d be amazed at some of the shit that’s being said about me. You have a sense of autonomy there.”
“True to some aspect, but I have colleagues in Knoxville saying I’d better win or it would give the citizen’s from our great state of Tennessee the impression I’m incompetent. I don’t have to tell you the long memory constituents have during election season.” Terrance conceded they both had their own little demons to contend with. Milford then asked Terrance when he was going to make his presence known since the trial was only two days away.
“I was planning on leaving later this evening on the commuter flight. I’ll be staying at the Harrington Hotel downtown.”
“You don’t have to stay there; we can put you up here at my wife’s aunt with us.” Terrance said. “
“Thanks for the offer, but I like to have alone time during big trials. I don’t even stay at home when I have big cases in Ocelia; I get single-minded”
“Suit yourself, but the offer still stands if you change your mind.” Terrance thanked him and continued packing and spending what little time he had left with his wife. Haines and his legal team were also making final preparations for the trip to Wilmington, North Carolina.
“Miss Ella have you ever been on a plane?” Roderick asked.
“Once when I went to my sisters funeral down in Atlanta, that must’ve been eight years ago.” Roderick normally would have driven the distance of five hundred and ten miles. He would have used that time to mentally try the case in his head; but he wanted to treat Miss Ella to a plane ride. Roderick had previously instructed his pilot to make a flight plan, not just to Wilmington; but a scenic flight over the entire Appalachian Mountain region before landing in Wilmington.
“Miss Ella we have a treat for you today, we’re going to take a plane ride just in your honor.”
“You don’t have to do that, we can drive to Wilmington. I’ve survived this long without riding on a plane.”
“Nonsense Miss Ella, you’re the glue that kept us all together. Besides, I want to show you the beautiful mountains you live in from a bird’s point of view.”
“Y’all city folks crazy.” She said with her eyes welling up with tears. Roderick had also taken the time to call over to the next town to have a limousine service pick them up for the ride to the airport. After everyone had packed their bags, they waited on the front porch for their transportation. Once the limousine arrived they all loaded up and headed straight for the airport. Miss Ella was feeling like a queen riding in the limo, her first ride ever in one. Once the plane landed in Wilmington, it was all business for the legal team. They booked Cyrus and Ella under a pseudonym three floors above them. The entire group went out for dinner at a five star restaurant, the last as a group for the duration of the trial. Early the next morning the legal team drove over to the Alton Lennon Federal Building & Courthouse in downtown Wilmington. Roderick as a rule of thumb liked to reconnoiter the venue he was going to do battle in. He made it a point to get to know the important people of the building i.e. security, custodians and of course the clerk’s by first name. He learned as a young man to acknowledge the invisible people, those that were deemed insignificant; many a times it reaped great benefits because they’re the pulse of the building and knew the inner workings of an organization. When he finished his walk through, he called Dr. Hearne to let her know he would be calling her as a material witness.
“Dr. Hearne, its Roderick Sprewell. I called out of courtesy to inform you that I will be calling you as a witness.”
“The prosecution already sent me a subpoena Mr. Sprewell.” Roderick knew as much since they used her findings in their investigation.
“I’m aware of that, but I’m also going to use you as a witness for the defense. I’m going to be up front with you now, I may be direct so don’t to take my cross as a personal attack; and I won’t do or say anything to undermine your profession or integrity; however, I’m going to question some of your findings.” Dr. Hearne felt she had done nothing improper to have her finding impugned.
“How do you mean Mr. Sprewell?” she asked.
“Maybe that came out wrong. What I meant to say was your investigation was cut short and you possibly could have discovered or identified additional information. I’m going to focus on that aspect; not you per se.” Roderick explained.
“I see what you mean now; I have no problem with that at all.” She thanked Roderick for the courtesy call and said she’d see him in Wilmington when they called for her.
“Do you know where they’ll be accommodating you?” he asked.
“Yeah, at the Harrington Hotel downtown.”
“Then I’m sure we’ll see each other again outside of the courtroom, I’m staying at the Harrington as well.” She smiled on the other end of the receiver after hearing she would be in the same hotel as he; giving her more of an opportunity to meet on a social basis.
“Okay Doc, it’s always a pleasure talking to you; I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Same here Mr. Sprewell.” She responded.
“It’s Roderick, when I’m called Mr. Sprewell I think of my father.” She chuckled at his response.
“Okay its Roderick then.” She said. Both waited a few seconds before hanging up the receivers, each not wanting to be the first to hang up. But one of Dr. Hearne’s students needed her attention so she had no choice. Roderick sat at the table in his suite going over his opening statements, but thoughts of her pearly white smile kept intruding on his mind. He figured if he wasn’t prepared by now, he never would be. He rested back thinking of her. The next morning felt like it came rather quickly and Roderick had butterflies in his abdomen. This was more than just another litigation; it was a criminal proceeding involving his good friend. He called the other rooms to have everyone meet in the lobby so they could walk over together. Once everyone had assembled, team Sprewell began its march to the courthouse. From a block away Haines could see the ominous structure lurking above the other buildings surrounding it. They entered the courthouse and took their places. Shortly thereafter, the Judge was announced and he too took his position. Roderick had opted for a jury trial, and once the Judge was benched; the jury was brought in and seated. The Judge assigned to preside over this case was none other than the Honorable Judge Brian Ka’ahui Iwamoto; a no nonsense type of guy. Roderick felt good about the appointment of Iwamoto, he knew the old boy network of the south wouldn’t be at play and it would be an even battlefield. The Judge smacked his gavel and spoke.
“We’re here under docket number A94567, are all Counsel present and ready to proceed?” Both Roderick and Milford stood and said they were.
“Prosecution you may precede.” Judge Iwamoto said as he gestured in Milford’s direction. “Thank you your Honor.” Milford then took a drink of water before getting up to speak. He made an effort to look into the faces of the entire jury seated before him. He slowly rose from his seat and walked over to the Jury gallery. He then began his opening statement.
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury I’m Winston Milford, the Assistant State’s Attorney for the state of Tennessee. We are here today because the killer sitting to my left ripped a small community apart in my state by a senseless and heinous act of murder. That killer’s name is Haines Johnson, a passerby through that tranquil community. You must be asking yourself how we’ve come to this conclusion. Evidence reveals on September 15, 2005; a lazy Tennessee morning, much like those you have here in North Carolina. Six of our god fearing and well respected citizen named Delbert Cutts, Cecil Miller, Paul Bailey, Kenton Moore and the Billingsly brothers; Frank and Jesse were brutally cut down like ravenous dogs, and then discarded like yesterday’s trash in an unceremonious manner. They were buried in a mass grave teaming with every creature imaginable feasting on their flesh. You’re going to hear testimony that the defendant acted in self defense, but how can you justify shooting six unarmed men.” Milford then took out a flat piece of wood and slammed it down six loud times on the gallery railing to simulate gun shots; which caused the jurors to lurch in their seats after each bang. He then resumed his opening statement.
