Read Online Trial and Terror by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

it.” Joe figured this was the best way to get Velloni to speak with them.
    â€œRight now I’ve got to get back to the trial,” Velloni said, interest sparkling in her eyes. “Can I meet you later? Right here, quarter after five?”
    â€œSure,” Joe said.
    â€œPerfect,” Velloni said, rushing away.
    The Hardys took a seat in the back row of the courtroom, figuring they would watch some of the trial before continuing their investigation. First Bernie Myers called Nellie to the witness stand.
    Myers got Nellie to explain that Nick had always been a model boy when they were growing up, never once getting into trouble with the law. She also explained that Nick was a very loving person, someone she and her parents could always count on.
    Joe noticed a middle-aged couple sitting in the front row. By the family resemblance, he could tell they were Nick and Nellie’s parents.
    â€œMyers was right,” Frank whispered to Joe. “Nellie seems to be making an excellent impression on the spectators and jury.”
    When Myers finished with his questioning, he sat down and gave Nick’s arm a supportive squeeze. Frank watched Patricia Daggett standfor the cross-examination. She studied Nellie a moment, and Nellie looked right back at her, not the least bit intimidated by the prosecutor.
    â€œMiss Rodriguez,” Daggett said pleasantly, “I take it you and your twin brother are very close.”
    â€œYes, we are,” Nellie said.
    â€œAnd I take it you’ve looked after each other a good deal over the years,” Daggett said.
    â€œYes, of course we have,” Nellie said.
    â€œIn fact,” Daggett said with a smile, “I’ll bet when you were kids, if one of you did something wrong, the other would help cover it up.”
    â€œObjection,” Myers called out to the judge. “Miss Daggett has no way of knowing this.”
    â€œSustained,” the judge said with a nod, indicating that he agreed with Myers. “Stick to the line of questioning,” he said sternly to Daggett.
    â€œLet me put that a different way,” Daggett said to Nellie. “Did you help cover for each other when one of you did something wrong?”
    â€œObjection,” Myers called to the judge. “This question has no bearing on the case.”
    â€œOn the contrary,” Daggett told the judge, “this is a very important point.”
    â€œOverruled, Mr. Myers,” the judge said. “You may proceed,” he said to Nellie.
    Daggett returned her gaze to Nellie, waiting for an answer. “Yes,” Nellie said calmly. “Isuppose Nick and I helped cover for each other when we were kids. But that doesn’t mean—-”
    â€œAnd now that you two are adults,” Daggett said, walking slowly toward the jury box, “I suppose you would still do just about anything to help your brother. Is that correct?”
    â€œWithin reason, I suppose,” Nellie said.
    â€œIn fact,” Daggett said, resting a hand on the railing as she gazed at the jury, “I suppose you might pretend your brother did not try to kill his ex-fiancée when, in fact, you know that he did.”
    A flurry of whispers blew through the courtroom. “Objection!” Myers cried out, rising to his feet. “Your Honor, the prosecutor is way out of bounds here! She has no way of knowing if—”
    â€œSustained,” the judge said, casting a stern look at Daggett. “I will ask the jury to ignore that last comment by the prosecutor.”
    â€œHe can ask the jury to ignore the comment,” Joe whispered to Frank, “but they still heard it.”
    â€œWhich is exactly what Daggett wanted,” Frank whispered back. “She sure is sneaky.”
    Daggett now approached Nellie, her high heels clicking on the courtroom floor. Something about the way she moved reminded Frank of a spider spinning a web. “Miss Rodriguez,” Daggett