Sandrine's Case (9780802193520) by Thomas H. Cook Page B

the state of the bedroom in which you found the body of Mrs. Madison, is it?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œHow did Janice LePlane die, Officer Hill?”
    â€œShe killed herself. That was the coroner’s verdict.”
    â€œHow did she kill herself?”
    â€œShe took pills.”
    Morty retrieved the photograph from Officer Hill, gave it to the foreman of the jury, then walked back and handed the witness a second photograph.
    â€œDo you recall this room, Officer Hill?” he asked
    â€œYes,” the witness answered. “I don’t remember the woman’s name, though.”
    â€œHer name was Martha Gillespie.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œHow would you describe Mrs. Gillespie’s room, Officer Hill? Would you say that it’s cluttered?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd there are dirty plates and papers all over the room, isn’t that true?”
    â€œYes, there are.”
    â€œHow did Martha Gillespie die, Office Hill?”
    â€œI don’t recall.”
    â€œWas it suicide?”
    â€œI don’t think so, but I’m not sure.”
    â€œWas it murder?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œIn fact, Martha Gillespie died of natural causes, didn’t she?”
    â€œYes, she did.”
    Morty took the photographs Officer Hill had just identified and gave them to the jury foreman, who stared at them briefly, then passed them to the juror to his left.
    Morty was now back at the podium. “Officer Hill, did you return from either of these rooms, the dead bodies you observed in cluttered rooms, and speak to anyone at police headquarters with regard to any suspicions you had regarding the manner of those deaths?”
    â€œNo, I did not.”
    â€œThen why did you have any doubts as to the nature of Mrs. Madison’s death?”
    Officer Hill shifted uneasily in her seat. “It was just a feeling, I guess.”
    â€œJust a feeling,” Morty repeated with a pointed glance toward the jury.
    â€œYes, sir,” Officer Hill admitted a little hesitantly.
    Morty paused, pretended to study his notes. Then he produced another photograph and handed it to the witness.
    â€œHave you seen this picture, Officer Hill?” he asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIt’s Mrs. Madison, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes, it is.”
    â€œTaken by the coroner,” Morty added.
    â€œI don’t know who took it.”
    â€œOkay, but you made mention that Mrs. Madison had put on makeup, isn’t that right?”
    â€œYes.”
    Morty smiled. “I notice that you’re wearing lipstick, Officer Hill. And today, right now, you’re wearing other makeup, as well?”
    â€œA little,” Officer Hill responded warily.
    â€œBlush?”
    â€œA little, yes.”
    â€œAnd like a great many women you apply a little makeup to enhance your looks, isn’t that correct?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you married, Officer Hill?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you sometimes put on makeup in order to please your husband?”
    â€œI guess I do.”
    â€œBecause you want to look beautiful to him, correct?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBecause you love him?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWould you say that Sandrine Madison might have felt the same about her husband?”
    Mr. Singleton rose immediately. “Asking for a conclusion, Your Honor.”
    His objection was sustained, but Morty had made his point and he knew it.
    He nodded softly. “Thank you, Officer Hill. No further questions.”
    He was back in his chair at the defense table seconds later, looking quite satisfied with his cross-examination of Officer Hill.
    â€œShe despised me from the beginning,” I said after Morty returned to his seat beside me.
    Morty’s eyes shot over to me. “From the beginning?”
    â€œWhen she first laid eyes on me.”
    â€œWhen you met her at the door, you mean?”
    â€œYes.”
    Suddenly I realized that