Silent Witness by Rebecca Forster Page B

that not everyone with money to pay for it deserved a defense. But a minute was all she took. The price paid to get and keep a place like this was just too damn high. Ridiculous billable hours. No time to call your own. Clients who turned your stomach or broke your heart or tugged at your conscience. Colleagues who wanted everything you had and more. Lovers who faded into oblivion in the face of a trial that lasted longer than a relationship ever could. Being sought after, smart and rich made for a tough life. Only a few were cut out to make it big and it was evident that Jude Getts was one of the anointed. Josie could feel his energy before she even crossed his threshold.
    ''Here you are. The DA's having a field day.'' Jude greeted her as if she was just in time for cocktails. He motioned to a client chair.
    ''Who's that with him?'' Josie asked as she took a seat.
    ''That's Sharon Flaggerty, the Pacific Park spokesperson.''
    ''Turn it up.''
    Josie wiggled her fingers at the plasma screen embedded in the wall. Jude touched a button somewhere on the desk and the sound went up. It was a wonderful toy and the exquisite color and clarity did Sharon Flaggerty's blonde good looks justice. What was coming out of her mouth was equally slick. She was a well spoken, businesslike young woman who seemed to have mastered the art of the spin and it was spiraling toward the Daily Breeze reporter.
    ''Of course it's been difficult for Pacific Park to remain silent and endure the charges of willful misconduct and negligence levied against us by Mr.Getts. We are a family owned, family oriented business and it hurts that some people think we participated in a cover-up. As you now know, we could not release information relevant to a civil trial while we were cooperating with the District Attorney on a criminal matter. Pacific Park was dedicated to getting justice for a young boy, even if our own reputation suffered.''
    ''Are you going to take any legal action against the judge who sanctioned you for withholding evidence?'' someone called.
    ''No, of course not.'' Sharon Flaggerty feigned shock with practiced grace. ''There's no reason to affidavit the judge for doing his job. It is now clear to Judge Benson that we would have compromised the DA's investigation by complying with Mr. Getts' request for information. The judge has rightly granted a motion to formally stay the civil case pending the outcome of this criminal action.''
    ''Damn!''
    Jude's hand hit the arm of his chair but a glance told Josie he wasn't as much upset at the ruling as he was getting a kick out of the park's strategy.
    ''Shh,'' Josie admonished as the next reporter asked the question of the day.
    ''If you knew it was murder, why not hand over the evidence two years ago?''
    ''It wasn't until Mr. Getts brought the civil action that we re-examined the information we had on Tim's accident,'' she said with sincere regret. ''Seeing the evidence in hindsight made us reevaluate our initial conclusion that Tim's death was an accident. Even after that re-evaluation, we weren't sure there had been any wrong doing. That's why we relied so heavily on Mr. Cooper, the District Attorney. He followed up and it was his decision to pursue this as a criminal matter.''
    There was a hue and cry as everyone asked the same questions. What tipped the balance? What made the DA sure he could get a conviction? Could she be more specific regarding the evidence against the suspect. No, Ms. Flaggerty said, but John Cooper could. Graciously, she stood down and John Cooper stepped up to the microphone. His wonderful voice, his seamless delivery, his perfect choice of words made John Cooper seem more intelligent than he was. He talked so long without saying anything that some of the reporters began to drift away. Jude Getts had the DA's number, too. He turned down the sound before John Cooper finished his first compound sentence.
    ''So,'' Josie turned toward Jude. ''What's she talking about? What