The Lincoln Lawyer

through the door behind the box, the judge turned her focus onto Minton.
    “Mr. Minton, do you want to tell us about your witness?”
    “Dwayne Corliss is a cooperating witness who spoke with Mr. Roulet when he was in custody following his arrest.”
    “Bullshit!” Roulet barked. “I didn’t talk to -”
    “Be quiet, Mr. Roulet,” the judge boomed. “Mr. Haller, instruct your client on the danger of outbursts in my courtroom.”
    “Thank you, Your Honor.”
    I was still standing. I leaned down to whisper in Roulet’s ear.
    “That was perfect,” I said. “Now be cool and I’ll take it from here.”
    He nodded and leaned back. He angrily folded his arms across his chest. I straightened up.
    “I’m sorry, Your Honor, but I do share my client’s outrage over this last-ditch effort by the state. This is the first we have heard of Mr. Corliss. I would like to know when he came forward with this supposed conversation.”
    Minton had remained standing. I thought it was the first time in the trial that we had stood side by side and argued to the judge.
    “Mr. Corliss first contacted the office through a prosecutor who handled the first appearance of the defendant,” Minton said. “However, that information was not passed on to me until yesterday when in a staff meeting I was asked why I had never acted on the information.”
    This was a lie but not one I wanted to expose. To do so would reveal Maggie McPherson’s slip on St. Patrick’s Day and it might also derail my plan. I had to be careful. I needed to argue vigorously against Corliss taking the stand but I also needed to lose the argument.
    I put my best look of outrage on my face.
    “This is incredible, Your Honor. Just because the DA’s office has a communication problem, my client has to suffer the consequences of not being informed that the state had a witness against him? This man should clearly not be allowed to testify. It’s too late to bring him in now.”
    “Your Honor,” Minton said, jumping in quickly. “I have had no time to interview or depose Mr. Corliss myself. Because I was preparing my closing I simply made arrangements for him to be brought here today. His testimony is key to the state’s case because it serves as rebuttal to Mr. Roulet’s self-serving statements. To not allow his testimony is a serious disservice to the state.”
    I shook my head and smiled in frustration. With his last line Minton was threatening the judge with the loss of the DA’s backing should she ever face an election with an opposing candidate.
    “Mr. Haller?” the judge asked. “Anything before I rule?”
    “I just want my objection on the record.”
    “So noted. If I were to give you time to investigate and interview Mr. Corliss, how much would you need?”
    “A week.”
    Now Minton put on the fake smile and shook his head.
    “That’s ridiculous, Your Honor.”
    “Do you want to go back and talk to him?” the judge asked me. “I’ll allow it.”
    “No, Your Honor. As far as I’m concerned all jailhouse snitches are liars. It would do me no good to interview him because anything that comes out of his mouth would be a lie. Anything. Besides, it’s not what he has to say. It’s what others have to say about him. That’s what I would need time for.”
    “Then I am going to rule that he can testify.”
    “Your Honor,” I said. “If you are going to allow him into this courtroom, could I ask one indulgence for the defense?”
    “What is that, Mr. Haller?”
    “I would like to step into the hallway and make a quick phone call to an investigator. It will take me less than a minute.”
    The judge thought for a moment and then nodded.
    “Go ahead. I will bring the jury in while you do it.”
    “Thank you.”
    I hurried through the gate and down the middle aisle. My eyes caught those of Howard Kurlen and he gave me one of his best smirks.
    In the hallway I speed-dialed Lorna Taylor’s cell phone and she answered right away.
    “Okay, how far away are you?”
    “About fifteen minutes.”
    “Did you remember the printout and the tape?”
    “Got it all right here.”
    I looked at my watch. It was a quarter to ten.
    “Okay, well, we’re in play here. Don’t delay getting here but then I want you to wait out in the hall outside the courtroom. Then at ten-fifteen come into court and give it to me. If I’m crossing the witness, just sit in the first row and wait until I notice you.”
    “Got it.”
    I closed the phone and went