“Yes, we do. We don’t have any real antique screens, but—”
“Let’s see what you have.”
“Certainly.” He led David over to the section where there were several Chinese folding screens. The clerk pointed to the first one. “Now, this one—”
“That’s fine,” David said.
“Yes, sir. Where shall I send it?”
“I’ll take it with me.”
David’s next stop was at a hardware store, where he bought a Swiss Army knife. Fifteen minutes later, he was walking into the lobby of the courthouse carrying the screen. He said to the guard at the desk, “I made arrangements to interview Ashley Patterson. I have permission to use Judge Goldberg’s chambers. He’s not here today.”
The guard said, “Yes, sir. It’s all set. I’ll have the defendant brought up. Dr. Salem and another man are already up there, waiting.”
“Thank you.”
The guard watched David carry the Chinese screen into the elevator. Crazy as a loon, he thought.
Judge Goldberg’s chamber was a comfortable-looking room with a desk facing the window, a swivel chair, and near one wall a couch and several chairs. Dr. Salem and another man were standing in the room when David entered.
“Sorry I’m late,” David said.
Dr. Salem said, “This is Hugh Iverson. He’s the expert you asked for.”
The two men shook hands. “Let’s get set up fast,” David said. “Ashley’s on her way here.”
He turned to Hugh Iverson and pointed to a corner of the room. “How’s that for you?”
“Fine.”
He watched Iverson go to work. A few minutes later, the door opened and Ashley entered with a guard.
“I’ll have to stay in the room,” the guard said.
David nodded. “That’s all right.” He turned to Ashley. “Sit down, please.”
He watched her take a seat. “First of all, I want to tell you how terribly sorry I am about the way things went.”
She nodded, almost dazed.
“But it’s not over yet. We still have a chance.”
She looked at him with disbelieving eyes.
“Ashley, I would like Dr. Salem to hypnotize you again.”
“No. What’s the point in—”
“Do it for me. Will you?”
She shrugged.
David nodded to Dr. Salem.
Dr. Salem said to Ashley, “We’ve done this before, so you know that all you have to do is close your eyes and relax. Just relax. Feel all the muscles in your body letting go of all the tension. All you want to do is sleep. You’re getting very drowsy…”
Ten minutes later, Dr. Salem looked at David and said, “She’s completely under.”
David moved toward Ashley, and his heart was pounding.
“I want to talk to Toni.”
There was no reaction.
David raised his voice. “Toni. I want you to come out. Do you hear me? Alette…I want you both to talk to me.”
Silence.
David was yelling now. “What’s the matter with you? Are you too frightened? That’s what happened in the courtroom, isn’t it? Did you hear what the jury said? Ashley’s guilty. You were afraid to come out. You’re a coward, Toni!”
They looked at Ashley. There was no reaction. David looked at Dr. Salem in despair. It was not going to work.
“Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Tessa Williams presiding.”
Ashley was seated at the defendant’s table next to David. David’s hand was wrapped in a large bandage.
David rose. “May I approach the bench, Your Honor?”
“You may.”
David walked toward the bench. Brennan followed him.
David said, “I would like to present new evidence to this case.”
“Absolutely not,” Brennan objected.
Judge Williams turned to him and said, “Let me make that decision, Mr. Brennan.” She turned back to David. “The trial is over. Your client has been convicted and—”
“This concerns the insanity plea,” David said. “All I’m asking for is ten minutes of your time.”
Judge Williams said angrily, “Time doesn’t mean much to you, does it, Mr. Singer? You have already wasted a great deal of everyone’s time.” She made her decision. “All right. I hope this is the last request you’ll ever be able to make in a court of law. The court is recessed for ten minutes.”
David and Brennan followed the judge to her chambers.