Read Online Expert Witness by Rebecca Forster - Free Book Online Page A

way of telling if the photos at celeb events were dated, but one thing was for sure: Young liked beautiful women and the beautiful women in the photos looked adoringly at him. Archer stepped closer. This kind of PR was usually reserved for Beverly Hills types, not a doctor in Manhattan Beach. His eyes went to a picture because it was the only one where the woman with Young wasn’t as impressed as –
    “I do remember Josie Bates.  I haven’t seen her in years, but I assume you think I have,” Daniel Young began conversationally.
    Archer turned just in time to see Daniel ease himself into a burgundy leather chair replete with manly hobnails.
    “I don’t know what I think, but I’ll show you what I’ve got.”
    Archer dug in his pocket for the plastic bag, walked across the room and put it on the table. Young positioned it exactly in front of him, leaned over it dutifully, and took it in. When he was done, Daniel Young pushed the envelope over the table and sat back.
    “Someone has very nice printing, but I can’t say the artwork is too impressive.”
    Archer glanced at the paper. Names were neatly printed in two columns. Beside each were tiny avatars. Next to Daniel Young’s name someone had drawn something that looked like a donkey.
    “Do you recognize any other names on that list?” Archer took back the evidence bag.
    “Almost everyone,” Daniel answered. “It’s a list of the people who were involved in the Xavier Hernandez trial.”
    “I found this under the mat in Josie’s car.”
    “I dread to think what’s under the mat in my car,” Daniel countered.
    “Her car was abandoned in a parking lot in Redondo Beach, and she hasn’t been seen since yesterday afternoon.”
    “Then shouldn’t you be talking to the police?”
    “I already did.  Missing adults aren’t a priority,” Archer said.
    “Well, then, I don’t know how I can help.”
    “I don’t either.” Archer grabbed the back of the chair, hung his head. He didn’t know what he expected when he headed here.
     “She was a very attractive woman; a very aggressive lawyer,” Daniel said. Archer looked up. The other man smiled sympathetically. “I can understand why you’re upset if you have a relationship with her. I never did understand, though, how she could defend Hernandez. Then again, I don’t understand how many defense attorneys can do what they do when guilt is so obvious.”
    Archer walked around the chair and stopped to lean against the cushioned arm.
    “What did you have to do with it?” he asked.
    “I examined Hernandez.”
    “A for-hire witness, huh?”
    “An expert, yes,” Daniel Young responded. “I assume you don’t think much of that kind of testimony.”  
    “I think the work is easy, the pay is good and if you’re not talking hard science you can pretty much tailor your testimony for whichever side pays the bill,” Archer noted.
    “True,” Daniel admitted. “That’s why the jury has to be completely convinced of an expert’s ethical and intellectual value. My analysis of Hernandez was impeccable, but the day was won by Ms. Bates.”
    “Then I guess you weren’t expert enough if Josie got the guy off,” Archer suggested.
    “One clear and rational voice does not a defense make,” Daniel pointed out. “I would never be so arrogant as to think that. And, to the point, she didn’t get him off. There was no doubt he was guilty. Josie Bates’ brilliance lay in maneuvering to argue the best-case scenario. Xavier Hernandez was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The prosecutor wanted to add special circumstances. Ms. Bates got the first charge dropped completely during the preliminary hearing, and she convinced the judge to offer jury instructions that allowed for a finding of second degree murder on the second count.”
    “There had to be a basis.” Archer pressed for more information as he moved the chair slightly and sat down.
    “Technically there was, but I’ve never been a fan