Mickey Haller 4 - The Fifth Witness

mean, really! Henchmen? Counsel is clearly engaged in playing to the media in the courtroom at Mr. Opparizio’s expense. I once again urge you to move these proceedings to chambers before we continue.”
    “We’re staying put,” Perry said. “But Mr. Haller, I’m not going to allow you to call this witness just to let you grandstand for the jury. What’s his connection? What’s he got?”
    I nodded like I was ready with an obvious answer.
    “Mr. Opparizio founded and operates a company that acts as a middleman in the foreclosure process. When the victim in this case decided to foreclose on the home of the defendant, he went to Mr. Opparizio to get it done. That, to me, Your Honor, puts Mr. Opparizio on the front line of this case and I would like to ask him about this because the prosecution has stated to the media that the foreclosure is the motive for the murder.”
    Zimmer jumped in before the judge could respond.
    “That is a ridiculous assertion! Mr. Opparizio’s company has a hundred eighty-five employees. It is housed in a three-level office building. To—”
    “Foreclosing on people’s homes is big business,” I interjected.
    “Counsel,” the judge warned.
    “Mr. Opparizio had nothing whatsoever to do with the defendant’s foreclosure other than the fact that it was handled by his company along with about a hundred thousand other such cases this year,” Zimmer said.
    “A hundred thousand cases, Mr. Zimmer?” the judge asked.
    “That’s right, Judge. On average the company has been handling two thousand foreclosures a week for more than two years. This would include the defendant’s foreclosure case. Mr. Opparizio has no specific knowledge of her case. It was one of many and was never on his radar.”
    The judge dropped deep into thought and looked like he had heard enough. I had hoped not to have to reveal my ace in the hole, especially in front of the prosecutor. But I had to assume Freeman was already aware of the Bondurant letter and its value.
    I reached down to the file in front of me on the table and flipped it open. There were the letter and four copies, ready to go.
    “Mr. Haller, I’m inclined to—”
    “Your Honor, if the court would indulge me, I would like to be allowed to ask Mr. Opparizio the name of his personal secretary.”
    That gave Perry another pause and he screwed his mouth up in confusion.
    “You want to know who his secretary is?”
    “His personal secretary, yes.”
    “Why would you want to know that, sir?”
    “I am asking the court to indulge me.”
    “Very well. Mr. Opparizio? Mr. Haller would like the name of your personal secretary.”
    Opparizio leaned forward and looked at Zimmer as if needing his approval. Zimmer signaled him to go on and answer the question.
    “Uh, Judge, I actually have two. One is Carmen Esposito and the other is Natalie Lazarra.”
    He then leaned back. The judge looked at me. It was time to play the ace.
    “Judge, I have here copies of a certified letter that was written by Mitchell Bondurant, the murder victim, and sent to Mr. Opparizio. It was received and signed for by his personal secretary Natalie Lazarra. The letter was turned over to me in discovery by the prosecution. I would like Mr. Opparizio to testify in court so that I can question him about it.”
    “Let’s take a look,” Perry said.
    I stepped away from the table and delivered copies of the letter to the judge and then to Zimmer. On my way back I swung by Freeman and offered her a copy.
    “No, thanks. I already have it.”
    I nodded and went back to the table but stayed standing.
    “Your Honor?” Zimmer said. “Can we have a short recess to look this over? We haven’t seen it before.”
    “Fifteen minutes,” Perry said.
    The judge stepped down from the bench and went through the door to his chambers. I waited to see if the Opparizio team would take it out into the hall. When they didn’t move, I didn’t. I wanted them to worry that I might overhear something.
    I huddled with Aronson and Trammel.
    “What are they doing?” Aronson whispered. “They had to have known about the letter already.”
    “I am sure the prosecution gave them a copy,” I said. “Opparizio acts like he’s the smartest guy in the room. Now we’re going to see if he is the smartest guy in the room.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “We’ve got him between a rock and a hard place. He knows he should tell the judge that if I ask about that letter he will take the Fifth