15 Chapter 15 - He talks like a parrot!

WITNESS'S TESTIMONY 1 - HUGH PALTON (I WAS THERE TO WARN HER)

"Yes.I was there, in her appartment on the night of murder. But I have a perfectly logical explanation for that. I was there to warn her.The way she left us at the restaurant had me woried a lot.When I got to her place, she opened the door for me. She told me to wait in the living room for a while and went into the kitchen to get a drink.I waited for her like five minutes.

She came back empty-handed.Unfortunately there wasn't any drink in her fridge.She said that her day-time maid must have thrown'em out. I said that it's ok and I didn't really need a drink.I told her what I needed to tell her and then left the place.That's all.The whole thing happened in like 15minutes at most."

"Well that's pretty.....logical and short."

It's true his testimony is really short.

"Your Honor can I cross-examine him now?"

"Go ahead."

Well if he doesn't have a chink in his armor, I guess I'll just have to pierce through it.

...............................................................................................................

CROSS-EXAMINATION 1

"Mr.Palton"

"YES."

He is taking a high tone with me.

"You said that you went there to warn her, correct?"

"Yes"

"Warn her about what?"

"That I can't tell you.It's unrelated to the case."

Mr.Payaya turned to the judge and said

"It's true Your Honor.Mr.Palton had told us in confidence at the station yesterday about what he wanted to warn the victim. It is irrelevant to the case."

"......................."

Before the judge could say anything, I need to do something.

"Objection. Your Honor, the prosecution can't just decide whether it's relevant or not by himself.I think it's up to the court to make that decistion."

"What are you trying to prove Mr.Morals? You can't just get every witness to say things they don't want to.Words are dangerous. Once they are blurted out there is no going back.And it is the witness who would suffer from consequences."

"BANG BANG BANG."

Our arguments got heated a little.

"Silence!!"

"..........................Both the prosecution and defense made a good point.So here is what I thought. Witness will state the brief idea of what he wanted to warn the victim.Just enough to let court clarify the situation"

"......................Fine."

Said by Mr.Palton.

"It was nothing actually.You see,Devvy, when she left, she said some horrible stuff to Edward that she would reveal IT to the press.That could stir up a scandal in both her and Edward's future careers,mostly Edward's. He is a rising star of my agency.I can't let anything get in his way to the success.You know how media works.

Even one malicious rumor could drag celebrities down to the bottom. So I warned Devvy that if she revealed whatever she was thinking, it would risk both of their current successes.That's all I can say.I can't tell you what IT was."

"Fair enough" I said.

"I told you Mr.Morals that it is pointless.Now your bluffing has become as wide and plain as your big chin."

"Mr.Payaya is right Mr.Morals. Can you stop making foolish requests or I warn you it wouldn't do any good to your proceeding in this trial."

Great now I got a warning.

"Ahemm....let's circle back to your testimony Mr.Palton, shall we?"

"........OK....."

"You said that you waited for Miss Love in living room while she went to get a drink for you?"

"Yep"

"Where exactly were you in that room?"

"I waited on the couch"

"So you noticed the vomit, right?"

His expressions suddenly changed at the end of my question.

"Ohhhhhh…yeah...THE vomit.It wasn't Josh or Daisy.

It is totally embarassing to say but it was me who vomitted.I'd had a lot of drinks at the party.I apologized to Devvy for that when she came back.She said it was fine and that she would clean it up later."

"That is odd Mr.Palton beause we both know Miss Love had a bit of OCD.She wouldn't look at vomit rather clean it up."

"Tsk…tsk...tsk....Have your spikey hairs pierced through your brittle skull and damage your tiny brain Mr.Morals? I'm sure she meant that figuratively.That she would call a cleaning service in the morning or have her day-maid cleaned it up or something.

More importantly, you seem to be awfully interested in vomit Mr.Morals.Perhaps, are you considering that as a job option when things don't work out for you as a lawyer anymore? You know, a professional vomit cleaner?"

"Grrrrr.............Objection Your Honor.The defense requests that the proseuction to refrain using vicious words and verbally assaulting well......me!"

"Hmm.....I'll allow it since it is slightly amusing."

OH MY GOD.No one likes me.

"Thank you Your Honor."Mr.Payaya said with a smug.

"Are you done with your examination Mr.Morals? I need to make a decision.I don't have time"

"Just wait a moment Your Honor.I'm about to finish."

I was in a jam.I don't know what to ask anymore.Nothing is wrong with his statements. He is lying.I know it.I just don't know how to prove that. My eyes wandered around the courtroom for no reason.Then I saw Daisy in audience seat. And that gave me an idea.

"Mr.Palton. When did you say you arrived at the apartment?"

Without even thinking he answered.

"Oh...I didn't know the time.I was totally unaware of it."

Damn it.He didn't slip.

"Did you by any chance see Daisy or Josh while you were there?"

"NO.I didn't see any of them.I told you I was only waiting in the living room.I don't know if they were in other rooms though. I didn't see or hear them during my brief visit which, once again, happened in the living room.So....."

He is really keeping himself out of the case by talking like a parrot. Payaya must have trained him really well.

"Are you sure? I asked you because you said that you'd had a lot of drinks that night."

"I'm sure.I may be drunk but I hadn't lost my senses yet.It was late that night and Devvy lived alone.So it would be scandalous if people found out that I was visiting her at that hour.Plus I felt really embarrassed after the vomit thing. So I got out of there as fast as I can once I'd said what I needed to say.You see I was in a bit of a hurry.That's why I didn't even notice that the receipt fell off of my pocket."

"Is that why you didn't even take off your shoes?"

He looked puzzled by my questions.

"What shoes?"

Then suddenly Mr.Payaya butted into our conversation.

"What Mr.Morals meant was your shoes Mr.Palton. You even left prints with them on the floor.Remember?"

Suddenly his expressions went back to parrot’s mode.

"OHHHH......yes.I didn't even take off my shoes because I thought it would be over in a second.So......"

What the hell just happened? Why did Mr.Owl-eyed just interrupt us?

Why did Mr.Palton get weird about his shoes? Suddenly a lightning flashed through my head.

HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP!

I figured it out.Now everything makes sense.

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