Otis by Scott Hildreth Page B

offence. I was advised it did not exist in legible format. Are you aware of the lack of availability of said recording?” Kurt asked.
    “Yes Sir, I am. Unfortunately, the recording device did not work properly on that evening, and background noise made the recording worthless,” Blackburn responded.
    “I was provided recorded conversations before and after the date in question. In fact, I have a few hundred hours of recorded conversations. Almost four hundred hours if memory serves me correctly. Now, my question to you is as follows…” Kurt paused and turned to face the jury.
    “Agent Blackburn, how many conversations through the course of the investigation were unintelligible, to the best of your knowledge, that is?” Kurt asked as he continued to face the jury.
    “One,” Blackburn breathed.
    Kurt turned toward the witness stand, “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear your response. Can you speak into the microphone?”
    Blackburn leaned forward and breathed into the microphone, “One.”
    Kurt nodded his head and chuckled lightly.
    “I’m curious. During your infiltration of the group of outlaw bikers, did you give them your actual name?” he asked.
    “No,” Blackburn chuckled.
    “Did you make one up?” Kurt asked.
    “Yes, I did,” Blackburn responded.
    “Did you give them an accurate history of who you were?” Kurt asked.
    “No Sir, I provided fictitious information. Information believed to be more acceptable to the type of people I was investigating,” Blackburn said.
    “So you lied. You told lies to the bikers to get them to either like you or accept you, is that correct?” Kurt asked.
    “I object!” the prosecutor bellowed as he stood from his seat.
    “Your honor,” Kurt sighed, “The witness stated he provided inaccurate information to the group during his investigation. I’m simply…”
    “I’ll rephrase the question,” Kurt said as he gripped the edges of the lectern in his massive hands.
    “Was the information you provided the bikers regarding your background and or name the truth?” Kurt asked.
    “No,” Blackburn sighed.
    “Was it a lie?” Kurt asked.
    “Objection, your honor,” the prosecutor said as he stood.
    “I’ll allow it, but you shall make your point in a timely manner, counsel,” the judge said.
    “Yes,” Blackburn said as he leaned into the back of his seat.
    “Explain your thought process to me on lying to these men during the investigation. Why would you feel compelled to tell them lies?” Kurt said as he stepped to the side of the lectern and raised his hand to his chin.
    Blackburn turned to face the judge. The judge in turn nodded his head. Blackburn then turned toward Kurt, who was now studying the jury.
    “To preserve the investigation, we are taught to give either limited information, or false information. It provides protection to the bureau and to the agent,” Blackburn responded.
    “You’re taught to lie during your investigations?” Kurt asked.
    Blackburn glanced toward the judge. The judge nodded his head.
    “Yes,” Blackburn grunted.
    “So, through the course of your work, you may tell a lie, but it’s not necessarily a lie in a conventional sense, because you’re working , correct?” Kurt asked.
    “Objection, your honor, asked and answered,” the prosecutor hollered.
    “I’ll allow it,” the judge said.
    Kurt turned toward the jury and spoke as he continued to stare at the jury.
    “I’ll ask the question again. Through the course of your work, you may tell a lie, but it’s not necessarily a lie in a conventional sense, because you’re working , correct?” he asked without turning away from the jury.
    “Correct, we’re often required to lie, as you say, to preserve the investigation,” Blackburn responded.
    “Are you being paid for your testimony today, agent Blackburn?” Kurt asked.
    Blackburn sat stone faced and didn’t answer.
    “You must not have heard me,” Kurt said as he turned from facing the jury to facing