YUKI HAD A THOUGHT. It was stark, simple, irrefutable.
When Junie took the stand in her own defense, she had come across so frail and so helpless, it would be best for Yuki to say, “I have no questions,” get the woman off the stand. Then tear her apart in summation.
Nicky Gaines passed Yuki a note from Red Dog. She read it as Judge Bendinger snapped the rubber band on his wrist impatiently, then said, “Ms. Castellano? Are you planning to cross
Parisi’s note was short. Three words. “Go get her.
Yuki shook her head no, whispered across Gaines to Parisi, “We should take a pass.
Parisi scowled, said, “Want me to do it
So much for irrefutable. Red Dog had spoken. Yuki stood, picked up the photocopy of the acknowledgment of rights form, and walked toward the witness stand.
Ms. Moon,” Yuki said without preamble, “this is an acknowledgment of rights form. Do you remember it
Yes, I think so.
And you can read and write, can’t you
Yes, I can.
Okay, then. This form was presented to you by Sergeant Lindsay Boxer and Inspector Richard Conklin when you were interviewed at the police station on April nineteenth.
It says here, ‘Before we ask you any questions you must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.’ And here’s a set of initials. Are they yours
Junie peered at the document, said, “Yes.
Yuki read the entire form, stopping at each point to fire the question at Junie: “Did you understand this? Are these your initials?” Bang, bang, bang.
And after each question, Junie scrutinized the paper and said, “Yes.
And here at the bottom is a waiver of rights. It says that you understand your rights, that you don’t want a lawyer, that no threats have been made against you, that you weren’t coerced. Did you sign this
Yes, ma’am, I did.
And did you tell the police that Michael Campion died in your house and that you disposed of his body
Yes.
Did you feel tricked or intimidated by the police
No.
Yuki walked to the prosecution table, put down the form, collected a nod from Parisi, and turned back to the defendant.
Why did you make this confession
I wanted to help the police.
I’m confused, Ms. Moon. You wanted to help them. So first you said you never met Mr. Campion. Then you said he died in your arms. Then you said you left his body parts in a Dumpster. Then you said you made up the story to please the police - because that’s the kind of person you are.
Ms. Moon. Which lie do you want us to believe
Junie shot a startled look to her attorney, then stared at Yuki, stuttered incoherently, her lips quivering, tears sliding down her pale face, before choking out, “I’m sorry. I don’t know . . . I don’t know what to say.
A woman’s voice sounded out from the gallery, directly behind the defense table. “STOP
Yuki turned toward the voice, as did every other person in the courtroom. The speaker was Valentina Campion, wife of the former governor, mother of the dead boy. She was standing, resting a hand on her husband’s shoulder for support.
Yuki felt her blood drain to her feet.
I can’t stand what she’s doing to that poor child,” Valentina Campion said to her husband. Then she edged past him to the aisle, and as two hundred people swiveled in their seats to watch her, Mrs. Campion exited the courtroom.
