The Silent Places Read Free Page B

Hastings. Hastings nodded and then Rhodes told them about it.
    Rhodes said, “I got into the courtroom and took the stand. They swore me in and the prosecutor, Ms. Delaney, conducted her direct examination. She went through the intro—my rank, how many years I’ve been a detective, and all that. Then she asked me about the night of the Ochoa murder. We went through it slowly and then at one point she asked me about the search of the Medeiros residence—”
    “Medeiros?” Murray said.
    “Yes, sir. Eloise Medeiros. That’s the name of Cavazos’s girlfriend.”
    “Okay. Continue.”
    “And I said, at some point, I testified that we knew she had been associated with the Furia gang. La Furia. And then I told her how we knew about Cavazos’s role in that. And that was when the defense attorney objected.”
    Murray said, “Why?”
    “Well,” Rhodes said, “at first I thought it was a hearsay objection. I had been told about Cavazos’s prior threat from a friend of mine at narcotics. In fact, I was sort of ready for that. But that wasn’t what it was. It wasn’t a hearsay objection. The defense attorney objected and approached the bench.”
    “Where were you when this happened?”
    “I was still on the stand. They didn’t excuse me.”
    “So you could hear what they were saying?”
    “Yes, sir. They were whispering so the jury wouldn’t hear them. But I could hear.”
    “And what did you hear?”
    Hastings said to the deputy chief, “You know what he heard.”
    Murray raised a hand to Hastings, shushing him and keeping his attention focused on Rhodes. “What did you hear?”
    Rhodes said, “I heard the defense lawyer say we had violated the order in limine, you know, the pretrial order, that the judge had previously granted. We weren’t supposed to bring up Cavazos’s gang association or his previous threat to Ochoa—he was the murder victim—over dealer’s territory.”
    Captain Brady said, “Then why did you?”
    Rhodes said, “I didn’t know about the judge’s order.”
    Murray said, “The prosecutor didn’t tell you?”
    “No, sir. No one told me.”
    Murray shook his head, and that gesture alone almost made Hastings lose his temper. It was unspoken, but it was a clear sign that he did not believe what Rhodes had said. Murray said, “That’s not what she says.”
    Then Hastings spoke.
    He said, “How do you know? Did you speak to her about it?”
    Deputy Chief Murray finally acknowledged Hastings. His expression was angry. Murray said, “I spoke with someone about it.”
    “Who?”
    Murray gave him a look that told him he’d better watch his step.
    Hastings said, “Was it Jaffe?”
    Herb Jaffe was the district attorney.
    Hastings said, “Or was it the chief?”
    Murray said, “That’s not important.”
    “Well, it certainly is,” Hastings said. “The issue here is whether or not Detective Rhodes was advised about the order in limine before testifying. He says he wasn’t. You tell me the prosecutor says he was. Well, I’ve discussed this with Detective Rhodes and he’s told me he was not advised.”
    “And you believe him.”
    “I do.”
    “Lieutenant, I can appreciate your loyalty to your man,” Murray said, “but what I’m dealing with—”
    “I know what you’re dealing with. A district attorney who’s angry and embarrassed and looking for a scapegoat. If there’s a question about who’s telling the truth here and who’s trying to cover up their own mistake, I think it’s just as likely it was Ms. Delaney as it was Rhodes.”
    “So what, then?” Murray said. “Marla Delaney’s lying?”
    Hastings said, “I’m not trying to call anybody a liar. I’m just suggesting that—”
    “That Marla Delaney is lying about this. There’s no way around it, Lieutenant. Say it or don’t.”
    “It’s possible she’s mistaken,” Hastings said. “Why don’t we put it that way, if it’ll make Mr. Jaffe happy? All I know is, Howard is not lying.”
    Captain