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riding around in his pickup truck,” Gregory said. “He took me home about five-thirty that afternoon. Then I saw him again later that night at work.”
    The partial alibi that Gregory was providing for Laughlin infuriated Barry Macha. The tall, handsome district attorney was on his feet ready to attack the witness and her relationship to the defendant on cross-examination.
    â€œYou spent quite a bit of time together,” Macha said smartly. “In fact, you spent so much time together it caused you and your boyfriend to break up, didn’t it?”
    â€œThat’s true,” Gregory said, “but we were just close friends.”
    â€œDidn’t you previously tell the grand jury that Laughlin took you home at three or four? Is your memory better today or better then?” Macha demanded angrily.
    â€œIt’s better today,” Gregory said matter-of-factly.
    â€œIt’s better with age? Like fine wine?” Macha asked sarcastically.
    Macha’s tone of voice had Williams before the judge objecting to Macha’s badgering of the witness.
    District Judge Frank Douthitt warned Macha; then Gregory was dismissed.
    Lisa Jones, another former Stardust employee, reiterated Gregory’s testimony that Laughlin, as part of his job, did not have contact with bar patrons. She also testified Laughlin arrived at work at six-thirty P.M. on January 19.
    Laughlin allowed himself a slight smile of satisfaction and his body took on a posture of increased comfort. Things were beginning to go his way.
    Bill Blanton, a supervisor for CertainTeed Corporation, slowly walked to the witness chair. Blanton refuted Nikkie Standifer’s testimony. The key prosecution witness had testified that she saw Laughlin in the Archer County field where Miss Gibbs’s body was before it was discovered by authorities, and that the sighting had taken place on February 9 or 10. Standifer added that she was sure of the dates because she didn’t think she had worked either day of that weekend. Blanton disagreed, telling the jury that Standifer had been at work on both days.
    Blanton’s testimony cast doubt on Standifer’s credibility as to when, or even if, she had seen Danny Laughlin in the Archer County field.
    Williams, Estrada, and Laughlin were confident as court recessed. Williams hoped to wind up his case the following day. Laughlin left the courthouse in the same talkative mood he had entered with on the first day of the trial. He was scheduled to take the stand the following day. Laughlin looked forward to telling his side of the story. Telling the truth.
    The next day, Danny Laughlin sauntered to the witness stand with self-assurance. His shoulders back and head erect, he was the picture of confidence. Laughlin’s dark eyes met his mother’s and they exchanged smiles.
    Laughlin’s attorney asked him to explain to the jury what he was doing on the morning of January 19, 1985.
    â€œJoyce Gregory and I did laundry; then we went back to my new apartment on Fillmore Street,” Laughlin said.
    â€œWhat did Joyce do?” Williams asked.
    â€œShe was hanging pictures for me,” Laughlin answered.
    The defendant then explained that he and Gregory later went to a flea market on Holliday Street, then up Midwestern Parkway.
    â€œWe drove through the Burger King and I got a root beer and Joyce got a Coke,” Laughlin said. “We cruised Kemp Boulevard and then I took Joyce home. I got home by five-thirty P.M. to get ready to go to work.”
    â€œWhat were you doing on February tenth, Mr. Laughlin?” Williams asked.
    Laughlin shifted uneasily in his chair. He would have to tell the jury about breaking into the telephone office and stealing the money box. But being convicted of theft was better than being found guilty of murder.
    â€œI entered a Southwestern Bell office in Wichita Falls and stole a money-changer box. I got the code to open the door to the building