Vanishing Acts by Phillip Margolin, Ami Margolin Rome Page A

oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Madison found herself thinking that Miss Bauer was relishing every second in the spotlight.
    â€œWhy don’t you tell us what happened on the morning in question, Miss Bauer?” Dennis Payne asked.
    Miss Bauer sat up straight. She looked very serious. “My neighbors fight all the time, but this time their screams woke me up at five o’clock in the morning. My bedroom is on the side of the house across from their kitchen, and there’s only a thin strip of lawn to separate us. I had slept with my window open, which was unlucky for Mr. Shelby.”
    â€œCould you see what was happening?”
    â€œNo, I couldn’t see much, but I could definitely hear those two shouting at each other.”
    â€œWhat were they saying?” the DA asked.
    â€œI’m not sure. Their kitchen window was closed. I heard glass shatter, and I heard Ruth Shelby scream like she was being murdered.”
    Madison’s dad leaped to his feet. “Objection, Your Honor.”
    â€œObjection sustained,” Judge Young said. “Miss Bauer, it’s my job to decide if there is a good reason to think Mrs. Shelby was murdered. Just tell me what you saw and heard.”
    Miss Bauer reddened. She obviously didn’t appreciate not being able to say anything she wanted. Madison smiled, proud of her dad.
    â€œI heard their front door slam,” she continued. “I can’t see the front door from my bedroom, so I ran to the front of my house and looked out. I have a very clear view of their driveway.”
    â€œAnd what did you see?”
    â€œMr. Shelby’s station wagon was parked facing out from the garage with the trunk open. That man had his back to me and he was carrying something in his arms. Something big.” She paused for effect. “Something the size of a body. Then he put his poor wife in the trunk.”
    Leaning forward on her bench, Madison waited for another objection, but Hamilton’s only reaction was a small smile.
    â€œAfter that he slammed the trunk shut and sped away. That’s when I called 911.”
    â€œDid you check to see if Mrs. Shelby was home before you called 911?”
    â€œOf course. I was afraid to go over there in case he came back, but I called their house.” Thelma paused dramatically. “I’d heard Ruth scream just minutes before, but she didn’t answer. All I got was the answering machine.”
    Madison thought that Miss Bauer looked disappointed when Dennis Payne said that he had no further questions. When the prosecutor sat down, Hamilton Kincaid rose.
    â€œHello, Miss Bauer,” Hamilton Kincaid said, flashing a friendly smile at the witness.
    â€œWell, hello.” Thelma answered with her own smile.
    â€œWe appreciate your taking time to come here and help the judge decide this matter.”
    â€œIt’s my civic duty to help the police.”
    â€œI’m sure they appreciate your help,” Hamilton said. “In fact, you try to help the police a lot, don’t you? How many times would you say you’ve called 911 to report a crime in the past year?”
    â€œOh, my, I can’t remember the exact number.”
    Hamilton stood and held out a document for the judge’s clerk. “Perhaps this exhibit will help you. It lists five calls to 911 in the past year. Does that sound right?”
    â€œI guess so.”
    â€œYou live in a nice part of town, don’t you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œMost of the houses sell for three hundred thousand or more?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œNot exactly a crime-ridden slum, is it?”
    â€œOh, no, I have very nice neighbors. Or I did before Mr. Shelby moved next door.”
    â€œWe’ll get to Mr. Shelby in a minute. But first, I’d like you to tell the judge how many of those 911 calls led to an arrest.”
    The witness looked uncertain and embarrassed for the