David was on his feet again. “Objection.”
“Sustained. I’ve already warned you, Mr. Brennan.”
“Sorry, Your Honor.”
Brennan went on. “I’m sure that the jury would like to meet the characters you’re talking about. You are Ashley Patterson, correct?”
“Yes…”
“Fine. I would like to talk to Toni Prescott.”
“I…I can’t bring her out.”
Brennan looked at her in surprise. “You can’t? Really? Well, then, how about Alette Peters?”
Ashley shook her head despairingly. “I…I don’t control them.”
“Miss Patterson, I’m trying to help you,” Brennan said. “I want to show the jury your alters who killed and mutilated three innocent men. Bring them out!”
“I…I can’t.” She was sobbing.
“You can’t because they don’t exist! You’re hiding behind phantoms. You’re the only one sitting in that box, and you’re the only one who’s guilty. They don’t exist, but you do, and I’ll tell you what else exists—irrefutable, undeniable proof that you murdered three men and cold-bloodedly emasculated them.” He turned to Judge Williams. “Your Honor, the state rests.”
David turned to look at the jury. They were all staring at Ashley and their faces were filled with repulsion.
Judge Williams turned to David. “Mr. Singer?”
David rose. “Your Honor, I would like permission to have the defendant hypnotized so that—”
Judge Williams said curtly, “Mr. Singer, I warned you before that I will not have this trial turned into a sideshow. You can’t hypnotize her in my courtroom. The answer is no.”
David said fiercely, “You have to let me do this. You don’t know how important—”
“That’s enough, Mr. Singer.” Her voice was ice. “I’m citing you a second time for contempt. Do you want to reexamine the witness or don’t you?”
David stood there, frustrated. “Yes, Your Honor.” He walked over to the witness box. “Ashley, you know you’re under oath?”
“Yes.” She was taking deep breaths, fighting to control herself.
“And everything you’ve said is the truth as you know it?”
“Yes.”
“You know that there are two alters in your mind and body and soul who you have no control over?”
“Yes.”
“Toni and Alette?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t commit any of those terrible murders?”
“No.”
“One of them did, and you’re not responsible.”
Eleanor looked at Brennan questioningly, but he smiled and shook his head. “Let him hang himself,” he whispered.
“Helen—” David stopped, white-faced at his slip. “I mean, Ashley…I want you to have Toni come out.”
Ashley looked at David and shook her head helplessly. “I—I can’t,” she whispered.
David said, “Yes, you can. Toni is listening to us right now. She’s enjoying herself, and why shouldn’t she? She got away with three murders.” He raised his voice. “You’re very clever, Toni. Come on out and take a bow. No one can touch you. They can’t punish you because Ashley is innocent, and they’d have to punish her to get at you.”
Everyone in the courtroom was staring at David. Ashley sat there, frozen.
David moved closer to her. “Toni! Toni, can you hear me? I want you to come out. Now!”
He waited a moment. Nothing happened. He raised his voice. “Toni! Alette! Come out! Come on out. We all know you’re in there!”
There was not a sound in the courtroom.
David lost control. He was yelling, “Come out. Show your faces.. .. Damn it! Now! Now!”
Ashley dissolved in tears.
Judge Williams said furiously, “Approach the bench, Mr. Singer.”
Slowly, David walked over to the bench.
“Are you through badgering your client, Mr. Singer? I’m going to send a report of your behavior to the state bar association. You’re a disgrace to your profession, and I’m going to recommend that you’re disbarred.”
David had no answer.
“Do you have any more witnesses to call?”
David shook his head defeated. “No, Your Honor.”
It was over. He had lost. Ashley was going to die.
“The defense rests.”
Joseph Kincaid was seated in the last row of the courtroom, watching, his face grim. He turned to Harvey Udell. “Get rid of him.” Kincaid got up and left.
Udell stopped David as he was leaving the courtroom.
“David…”
“Hello, Harvey.”
“Sorry about the way this turned out.”
“It’s not—”
“Mr. Kincaid hates to do this, but, well, he thinks it would be better if you didn’t come back to the firm. Good luck.”