Dead in the Water

wire-transferred into an account in the Cayman Islands, so by now it could be in any bank in the world.”
    “I have no further questions for this witness, Your Lordship,” Sir Winston said, then sat down.
    The judge turned to the defense table. “You may cross-examine.”
    Stone stood up. “Your Lordship, may I have a recess for a few minutes in order to consult with my client?”
    The judge stifled a yawn. “You may not.”
    Stone looked at Allison, who sent him a sympathetic glance. He was going to have to wing it with this witness.

Chapter
51
    S tone took some papers from a file folder and rose to address the witness. “Mr. Stendahl, how long ago did Paul Manning undergo the physical examination for his insurance policy?”
    Stendahl consulted his notes. “Two years ago last week.”
    “And did your company’s doctors see Mr. Manning after that date?”
    “Not that I’m aware of.”
    “Had they seen him before that date?”
    “Not that I’m aware of. He had no earlier policies with us.”
    Stone was getting into shallow water now, and he hoped he would not run aground. “Did he have any earlier policies with any other company?”
    Stendahl consulted his notes. “None.”
    “Mr. Stendahl, when you are investigating an applicantfor life insurance, is there a central record of health history you can consult?”
    “Yes. If the applicant has had medical problems, we can usually find out about them.”
    “But if he hasn’t had health problems, and if he hasn’t previously applied for life insurance, there would be no record of his height, weight, or blood studies, would there?”
    “No.”
    “Did you find any earlier medical records of Paul Manning?”
    “No.”
    “So you don’t know what occurred with regard to Mr. Manning’s weight and various blood studies either before the examination or between the date of that examination and the date of his death?”
    “No.”
    Stone breathed easier. He held up the documents for the bailiff. “May the witness read from these, Your Lordship?”
    “He may.”
    The bailiff took the documents and handed them to Stendahl.
    “Mr. Stendahl,” Stone continued, “what are the documents you have just been handed?”
    Stendahl flipped quickly through them. “They appear to be the results of another physical examination taken by Mr. Manning.”
    “On what date?”
    “A year after our company’s doctors examined him.”
    “Would you read the first paragraph, which has been highlighted?”
    Stendahl found the paragraph. “‘Paul Manning is a forty-year-old author who has come in for a physical examination prior to an extensive sea voyage. Mr. Manning has no complaints, but he is desirous of being examined and taking a copy of his medical records on his journey. Mr. Manning is six feet, two inches tall and weighs…’” Stendahl paused.
    “Go on, Mr. Stendahl.”
    “‘…weighs two hundred and sixty-one pounds, rather too much for a man of his frame. The results of blood tests show a serum cholesterol count of three hundred twenty-five and serum triglycerides are four hundred and ten. These are both dangerously elevated, the high end of normal being two hundred and twenty for cholesterol and one hundred and fifty for triglycerides. Because of these numbers, in conjunction with Mr. Manning’s lack of regular exercise, I have advised Mr. Manning to immediately undertake a program of exercise, a diet low in cholesterol and other fats, and to bring his weight down to a maximum of two hundred pounds.’”
    “Does this sound like the man your doctors examined?” Stone asked.
    “No. It would appear that Mr. Manning changed his eating habits after our exam.”
    “Do you think it possible that Mr. Manning might have lost weight and watched his consumption of fats prior to your examination, so that he would have been insurable, then reverted to his old ways after the exam?”
    Sir Winston was on his feet. “I object, Your Lordship. This calls for a conclusion on the part of the witness.”
    “Sustained,” the judge said.
    “Let me put it another way, Mr. Stendahl,” Stone said. “Would you think that the man described in this later exam was, and I quote, ‘a heart attack waiting to happen’?”
    Sir Winston was up again.
    “I withdraw the question, Your Lordship,” Stone said, cutting him off. “We would like the medical examination report to be Exhibit Number One for the defense.” Now he had to wade further into shallow water, violating