Creighton Manor (39 page)

Gillian smiled. "You two are the best." She rose from her seat. "One more favor, will one of you pick up my mail while I'm gone?"

"No problem." Jerry nodded.

Judge Turloff was a man of impeccable character. He took his job seriously and wanted to uphold the law. He felt he had never convicted a man that didn’t rightly deserve it, but now . . .

He took his time looking over the evidence of this new case. Zachary Creighton was brought into his courtroom for trial. He had spoken with Creighton at length. He liked the man and believed him to be innocent of the charges that were brought against him. Of course, there was no proof other than his gut feelings on this matter. The evidence on the other hand was overwhelmingly stacked against him.

Again, he went over the damning evidence in his mind: Josephine Locke’s testimony, the wife missing, and Creighton’s knife used to stab Dora Chandler. Dora was barely holding on to life by a thread. Creighton claimed that he kept the knife under his pillow and didn’t know who would have known it was there. Nor could he give any enlightenment as to who would have wanted to harm his housekeeper.

As far as Judge Turloff could find out, Creighton held no ill will toward Dora Chandler. Robbery could have been the motive, but nothing was taken from the home. If only the woman would regain consciousness to tell them who attacked her, but her doctor gave little hope for that. He was sure it was only a matter of time before the poor woman would succumb to her fate. She would have been dead already if Josephine Locke hadn’t paid a call to the home and found her.

The matter of Creighton's missing wife bothered him the most. When he asked Creighton pointblank if he had murdered his wife, he denied it with such fervor that again he felt Creighton spoke the truth. He had asked Creighton to tell him where his wife was, but he had refused to give him an answer.

If he would contact his wife and have her show herself, he might be able to look further into the attempted murder of Dora Chandler. However, without Zachary's cooperation, his vague story of where his wife was residing left him with no choice. He had to agree to go ahead with the trial.

He slammed his fist on his desk. Zachary Creighton would be found guilty of that, he was certain. At this moment, he didn’t care for his job. He would have to live with the awful feeling of sending an innocent man to his death.

***

Arthur Mann, assigned to the prosecution looked over his notes before he glanced up at the witness. "Can you state to the jury what Zachary Creighton told you Madame Locke?" He leaned against his table. Zachary knew the young lawyer had reviewed the evidence against him and if the man’s smug expression was any indication, he believed he would win this case. He was only going through the motions.

"I most certainly will." Josephine was very eager to tell her story. "I was at Zachary's home and he threatened me."

"Threatened you," the young lawyer stressed looking at the jury. He then looked back to Josephine Locke. "Why don't you tell us exactly what he said.”

"When I asked him where Gillian was, he said that he got rid of her. He said that he didn't stand for meddling females. He glared at me the whole time with those piercing, blue eyes of his. Of course, I knew what he was implying. He didn't like me meddling either and if I didn’t watch my step I would—"

"I object!"  Ellery jumped to his feet. "Your honor, Madame Locke is speculating what Zachary had meant by his words."

"Point taken." The judge nodded. He looked at Josephine. "Repeat only the conversation that you had with Mr. Creighton and do not add your own conjectures."

Josephine nodded.

Arthur Mann walked around the table and approached Josephine. "There was another thing that you noticed. Zachary stated his wife was visiting her relatives. Why do you have
a
strong belief that this is false?"

"Because Gillian didn’t take any of her clothes with her."

"And how do you know this?"

Josephine pulled at the collar of her dress. "I came to call and while Dora went outside to find Zachary, I went upstairs and checked out things myself. Her drawers were full and she had dresses still hanging upon the pegs. It didn't look like she had packed a single item." Josephine sat back in her chair with a satisfied look, daring Zachary to say anything about her uninvited snooping.

Arthur Mann smiled and sauntered over to the ju
ry. "Don't you find that odd?”
He raised his hands in a shrug. “Zachary claims his wife is away visiting family, yet the woman doesn’t pack a trunk. Think about this gentleman. Would any of your wives leave town without their personal belongings? I don't think they would."

The jury nodded their heads in agreement to what Mann had presented to them. Zachary hoped Ellery could think of something to sway their opinion back to his side. The eager, young lawyer was not going to make this an easy task.

"That's all, your honor
.”
Arthur Mann went back to his seat.

The judge looked to Ellery. Ellery stood and walked over to the witness stand. "Josephine, could it be possible that
Gillian might have clothing at her
relatives
’ place of residence?
”

"Well, I . . . I suppose so," Josephine said slowly.

"How was it Josephine that you happened to have access to Gillian Creighton's room? Did Zachary give you permission to make your own investigation?"

"Objection!" The young lawyer jumped up from his seat. "Your honor, I don't see what difference it makes if Zachary gave his permission to go upstairs or not."

The judge waved his hand. "Please, stay with the facts of the case, Mr. Livingston."

"I am trying to establish the character of this witness, which I feel is vitally important to this case."

"All right then. Objection overruled, but proceed
cautiously," Judge Turloff warned.

Ellery turned his attention back to Josephine. "Please, answer the question. Did Zachary give you permission to go upstairs?"

"Well no, but—"

Ellery didn't allow her to finish her statement. "No, is a good enough answer. So as a good and upstanding person, you felt it your right to go into Zachary's home and sneak around without permission?"

"You have it all wrong—"

"I do? I thought, you said that you did not have
permission."

Josephine was red with anger. “You’re twisting what I said. I won’t play your fool, Mr. Livingston.”

Ellery continued with a new approach. "Let's go on to another question, shall we? Can you tell me what Zachary said to you, that you were so sure he had done some harm to his wife?"

She
pursed
her lips together.

“You must answer the question, Madam Locke,” Judge Turloff informed her.

She harrumphed. "Well, he wouldn't tell me when Gillian was going to return. He acted very odd about it." Josephine glared a Zachary.

"Oh, I see. It's all clear to me now
.”
Ellery tapped his head drawing Josephine’s attention back to him. "Zachary would not give you the information when Gillian would return. This translates into he murdered her?" His sarcasm was not missed.

Zachary
concealed a hint of a smile behind his hand.
There were unsuppressed chuckles from the people in the courtroom.

The judge was not pleased and hit the gavel down on the desk. "Silence in the courtroom."

"No, that's not what it means!" Josephine voice rose with frustration. "It was all the things put together that made me suspicious."

"Tell us, please
.”
Ellery leaned against the table, folding his arms in front of him. He waited for Josephine to continue.

"Well . .
.”
Josephine paused as if unsure where to begin. "Well . . . there was the statement of Tyler’s. He said she's in a better place. What else could that mean? You only say that when someone has passed on."

"Really? Why I can think of plenty of places that are far better than here and it has nothing to do with the afterlife."

The murmurs in the courtroom unsettled Josephine’s composure, making her desperate to be heard. “If he didn't kill her, why doesn't he
tell all of us where she is?”
She stood and pointed her finger at Zachary. "Prove your innocence, Zachary Creighton and have Gillian show her face in this courtroom."

Judge Turloff pounded the gavel against the desk. "That will be all,
Madame
Locke. Be seated this instant."

"That's all right your honor,” Ellery said. “I’m through questioning the witness
.”

Zachary breathed a sigh of relief that Ellery wouldn’t provoke Josephine Locke further. That last outburst wouldn’t help him.

Ellery returned to the table and took a seat.

"You may step down." Judge Turloff waved to Josephine. She stepped down from the witness stand. Lifting her chin ever so slightly, she went back to her seat.

Judge Turloff looked at Arthur Mann. "Call your next witness."

The young lawyer stood. "I would like to call Zachary Creighton to the stand
.”

"I object!"  Ellery immediately jumped to his feet.

Zachary wiped his damp palms on his pant legs. What was Arthur Man up to?

The murmuring rose again until the judge hit the gavel down once more. "Silence now or I will remove every one of you from this courtroom." The room stilled. "Now, Mr. Livingston on what grounds do you object?"

"That my client is distraught over this whole ordeal and is not up to being unduly questioned
.”
Everyone knew Ellery was grasping at straws, but Zachary gave him credit for trying.

"Your honor, you would think Mr. Creighton would jump at the chance of saying something to clear his name," the young lawyer stated, looking at Ellery
,
daring him
to say something to the contrary.

Judge Turloff spoke before Ellery could say anything. "I believe Mr. Creighton should have his say. Objection is overruled. Zachary Creighton, please approach the bench.”

Zachary reluctantly rose from his seat and approached the witness stand. He lifted his right hand to be sworn in. After the formalities, Arthur Mann approached him. "Tell us Mr. Creighton, were you forced to get married?"

"Objection!" Ellery shouted.

"Overruled!" the judge shot back with a warning look. He looked at Zachary.

"You will answer the question."

Zachary already felt a foreboding over the interrogation and they hadn't even begun. He answered, "Yes."

"Did you pull a knife on Gillian before you two were wed?"

Zachary blinked in surprise. Obviously, Arthur Mann had done his homework. "I can explain— "

"A simple yes or no will suffice."

Blood pounded in his temples, knowing his answer would inch him closer to conviction.

“We’re waiting, Mr. Creighton.”

"Yes."

Most of the men on the jury frown
ed
their obvious disapproval.

Arthur then walked over to his table and opened a box. He took out a knife and raised it above his head for all to see. "Is this the knife you pulled on your wife? Is this the very knife that you plunged into Dora?"

Ellery again jumped up from his seat. "I object!"

"Let me rephrase my question then." Arthur headed him off. "Is this the knife you pulled on your wife and is this, the very knife that someone,” he over exaggerated the word someone, “...used on Dora?"

Dread weighed down
on
Zachary, his answer choking in his throat. "Yes
.”

"What was that?”
He
cup
ped his ear. “The jury
didn’t quite make out what you said
. Please, repeat your answer, a little louder this time."

"Yes,"
Zachary
complied. His eyes flickered warily to the jury to gauge their reaction.
Frowns of disapproval lined their faces as
they turned and whispered among themselves.

The lawyer put down the knife. "How was your marriage?"

"Good as one can make it." Zachary squirmed in his seat.

"That's why you and your wife didn’t share the same room?"

Hell and damnation, how did he know about their living arrangement? Then it dawned on him how he came by his information. His gaze riveted to Josephine Locke, who stared back with her pious attitude, condemning him. Why couldn’t the old biddy mind her own business? He looked back at Arthur Mann. "There's an explanation—"

Again, the lawyer interrupted. "Just answer the question. Did you and your wife sleep in separate rooms? A yes or a no, please."

Zachary had no choice but to answer. "Yes.”

The lawyer approached the witness stand so that he stood directly in front of Zachary. His brown eyes narrowed. "Where is Gillian Creighton?"