"Broussard, John A - Kay Yoshinobu - Domesticated Violence" - читать интересную книгу автора (Broussard John A)

Back at the office, Kay finally found time to look at the file she had picked up from Murakami's receptionist. The police report contained a confession that was essentially the same as the one Candace had recited to Kay. The rest of the contents provided little of significance, with one exception. The item that caught Kay's full attention was a lurid color photograph with a note in Murakami's spidery handwriting clipped to it.

The note read, "Mrs. Doland claims this occurred at their home on January eleventh of this year. She did not report it to the police at the time. She did go to the Napua Clinic for treatment where she told the doctor it was a fall resulting from slipping on a rug. She now says her husband struck her."

Murakami's apparent skepticism at a photo of Candace's horribly bruised face and blackened eye reinforced Kay's earlier decision to drop by the hospital for a visit - and for more information about the case than she was finding in the folder.

The old attorney looked tired, but his eyes still contained the remarkable brightness Kay remembered as a first year law student. She had learned much from him and still referred to him as sensei, teacher. Murakami in turn always used her Japanese name.

"It is so nice to see you again, Keiko," he said, reaching a hand up from his hospital bed.

"And nice to see you, too, Sensei, though I wish I were doing so back in your office with you practicing law."

He waved a dismissive hand. "There comes a time for all of us when we have to accept the passage of time." His face broke into a smile. "Perhaps this is what I needed to persuade me to retire. And law practice is losing much of its appeal."

"The Doland case?" Kay prompted.

"Yes. I'm afraid I may have passed an unbearable burden along to you."

"You don't believe her?"

"As you know, clients do have the unfortunate tendency of being less than frank with their attorneys. I'm afraid Mrs. Doland has that tendency to a remarkable degree, and she isn't sufficiently intelligent to carry it off convincingly."

"So you feel her self-defense argument is a lie."

"Most certainly. And, as you have undoubtedly recognized by now, it is not one that will stand up well to cross examination."

"But the photo?"

"I was suspicious, but after checking with Dr. Lim at the Clinic, the dates and the condition check out. It's not a doctored photograph."

That will save me a trip to the clinic, Kay thought. "So you suspect that Mrs. Doland may have actually been provoked into killing her husband without it necessarily being self-defense."

"I would go further than that. I think the killing was premeditated. The fact that her story is so inadequate would seem to indicate that the killing was poorly planned. For one thing, she has a very confused notion about Mr. Doland's finances. I got the distinct impression that she thought she would inherit all of his money."

"Is that why she's claiming self-defense?"

"I believe so. Somewhere she's heard that if she is found not guilty because the death was accidental or because she was simply defending herself, then she would inherit the entire estate. But, what she doesn't realize is that she'll be very fortunate to get off with a manslaughter charge. In that case, she'll receive only half of the money, which is hers by law, of course. However, that is still a very substantial amount. There was no pre-nuptial agreement, by the way."

"Wasn't he married before?"

"Yes. His first wife died of cancer about three years ago. No children. Just one living relative--David or Dennis... something like that--son of an older brother. In any event, as I said, I regret burdening you with the case. But she still deserves the best defense possible, and I know you can provide that."

On the drive back to the office, Kay rummaged through her mixed feelings. It was nice to see that Murakami had so much faith in her skills as an attorney, but she wasn't looking forward to defending someone who lied--and did so with such ineptitude. She was still mulling over the need to confront Candace and find out what really happened, when Sid greeted her at the entrance to her office.

"Got some news for you," he said.

Kay only half listened as she slipped into her chair. The news he had for her finally got her full attention.

"I was in the prosecutor's office trying to work out a plea for Domie Schmidt."