The Innocent Woman

hand. “I’d prefer not to get into what she told you. But did anyone else come to your apartment at that time?”
    “Ah, yes, they did.”
    “And who would that be?”
    “Her boss. The attorney. Steve Winslow.”
    Dirkson turned, pointed. “The same Steve Winslow who is the attorney for the defendant, Amy Dearborn?”
    “That’s right.”
    “He came to your apartment that night?”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “And what time was that?”
    “It was late. Around midnight.”
    “Did he tell you why he was calling on you at that hour?”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “And what reason did he give?”
    “He explained that there had been a burglary at the jewelry store about my music shop.”
    “A burglary?”
    “That’s right.”
    “He didn’t say there had been a murder?”
    “No, he did not.”
    “Did he ever tell you there had been a murder?”
    “No. He referred to it only as a burglary.”
    “And why had he come there at this hour to tell you about this burglary?”
    “He wanted to know if I’d seen anyone going in or out of the building.”
    “What did you tell him?”
    Branstein spread his hands. “Just what I’ve said here in court. That I saw two people. A man and a woman.”
    “Did you describe these people to him?”
    “Yes, I did.”
    “Did he seem interested?”
    “Objection.”
    “Sustained.”
    “You described the woman as having short brown hair?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Did you tell him she looked like anyone you knew? Or reminded you of anyone you knew?”
    “As a matter of fact, I did.”
    “Oh? And who was that?”
    “I told him she looked like the woman who used to work upstairs. I think I said the only reason I hadn’t thought it was her was because she hadn’t worked there in a while.”
    “And who was the woman who worked upstairs?”
    “The defendant, Amy Dearborn.”
    “I see. And did Mr. Winslow question you about the man you saw going upstairs?”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “He asked you to describe this man?”
    “That’s right.”
    “And how did you describe him?”
    “Like I say. As a long haired hippie. Long brown hair, T-shirt and jeans.”
    “And it was the defense attorney, Steve Winslow, who asked you to describe this man?”
    “Yes, it was.”
    “Are you certain of that?”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “How can you be sure? Did Mr. Winslow look exactly as he does today?”
    “Actually, he did not.”
    “Oh? In what way did he look different?”
    “His hair was wet and had been combed back and tucked under his collar. As a matter of fact, when he was there talking to me, I had no idea that he actually had long hair.”
    “But it is the same person? You recognize Steve Winslow, even though he has long hair now?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “You can identify him as the person who called on you in your apartment later that night?”
    “Yes, I can.”
    “But you cannot positively identify the young man with shoulder length brown hair that you saw going into your building that night?”
    “No, I cannot. The fact is, I only saw him from the back.”
    “But you are certain of the fact that around midnight on the night of the murder, Amy Dearborn’s defense attorney, Steve Winslow, was in your apartment asking you who you saw going in and out of the building that night?”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Branstein. No further questions.”
    Steve Winslow stood up. “Mr. Branstein, you were asked what reason I gave you for calling on you at that time of night, were you not?”
    “That’s right.”
    “I believe you said that I said that I was interested in who went in and out of the building.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Didn’t I also tell you that you might be a potential witness, in which case I would advise you to get in touch with the police?”
    “Objection, Your Honor. Incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial.”
    “It’s the same conversation, Your Honor. If the prosecution asks for part of a conversation on direct, the defense is entitled to the entire conversation on cross.”
    “Objection overruled.”
    “You did say something to that effect.”
    “Didn’t I tell you that you might well be a witness, and didn’t I suggest that you tell me what you knew and I would then take the responsibility of advising you whether or not you needed to communicate with the police?”
    “I believe you said that, yes.”
    “And after you told me what you had seen, what did I advise you to do?”
    “You advised me to go to the police.”
    “You