"You learned the name Markowitz so you could use it in court?"

"Objection."

"Overruled. Witness may answer."

"You learned the name Markowitz?"

"That's right."

"No further questions."

Fleckstein was on his feet. "Miss Clemson, when you say you learned the name Markowitz, you don't mean that, do you?"

The witness was taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"

"In other words, you were not taught the name Markowitz. It was not a new concept to you. You knew the name before. When your memory was refreshed, you recalled the name Markowitz, isn't that right?"

Judge Hobbs looked curiously at the defense table. "That's certainly leading and suggestive, Ms. Baldwin."

Becky smiled. "I don't want to be overly technical, Your Honor. I think we all understand the situation here."

"You knew the name Markowitz? Your recollection was merely refreshed?"

"That's right."

"That's all."

Becky rose with a smile. "Yes, Miss Clemson. And how was your recollection refreshed?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Were you told the name Markowitz? How was the name Markowitz presented to you?"

"It was on the check."

"Made out to Cora Felton Markowitz?"

"That's right."

"The attorney showed you the check to refresh your recollection?"

"Yes."

"So," Becky said, "when you identified the check, Plaintiff's Exhibit Number One, you were identifying it not from having my client present it to you at the bank, you were identifying it from having the attorney for the plaintiff present it to you to refresh your recollection. When it was given to you in his office for you to study so you would be able to identify it on the stand."

"Objection, Your Honor!"

"Overruled. Witness may answer."

"Yes. That's where I saw the check."

"Your Honor," Becky said, "I move the evidence, Plaintiff's Exhibit Number One, be stricken from the record. It now appears the witness cannot identify it as a check presented to her by my client, but merely as one presented to her by the plaintiff's attorney."

"Granted. The check may go out."

"Oh, Your Honor."

"Mr. Fleckstein, you will have every opportunity to resubmit it. From the evidence I just heard, the check is clearly inadmissible."

"Yes, Your Honor." Fleckstein fumbled through his papers. "Perhaps I could have a recess to adjust to this development?"

"Very well. Court is adjourned until Friday morning at ten o'clock."

Cora was pleased with the way things had gone in court until she saw Melvin looking over at the defense table with a huge grin on his face.

He wasn't looking at her.

Cora sucked in her breath.

The creep!

She glanced around just to look away and saw her nemesis, Bambi, standing in the back of the courtroom, glaring at Melvin with a look she knew well, a look she had often used on Melvin when he was still her husband, a look of frustration, exasperation, irritation, and practically any other -ation she could think of-good G.o.d, why were words coming back to haunt her? She wasn't really a wordsmith. Thoughts were ping-ponging around in her head to the point of making her doubt her own sanity.

d.a.m.n it.

She hadn't felt this way since she'd been married to the louse.

CHAPTER.

29.

Cora, Sherry, and Aaron were having lunch in the living room and celebrating the day in court.

The only thing spoiling it was Rick Reed.

"Has there been a breakthrough in the Randolph murder case?" Rick began. "Despite the confusion surrounding the case, a person of interest has emerged. A young woman who had spurned the advances of the decedent. The facts emerged in court today, during the alimony hearing of Bakerhaven's own Puzzle Lady, Cora Felton. On the witness stand, one Lilly Clemson, a teller at the bank where Mr. Randolph worked, admitted that the decedent had made advances toward her which she had spurned. It appears to be the police theory that if those advances had continued, that might be a motive. Miss Clemson declined to comment, but Police Chief Dale Harper had this to say."

The picture cut to a shot of the chief on the front steps of the police station.

"No, I don't think it had anything to do with the murder."

Rick stuck his microphone into the shot. "Then why are you investigating it?"

"We're investigating any lead, however slim. If the guy wrote a crank letter to your TV station, I'd have to check it out. It wouldn't mean we suspected you of the crime."

The camera cut back to the head shot of Rick. "Well, it's nice to know I'm in the clear, but it would also be nice to shed some light on the situation. Chief Harper claims there's none to shed. Not very promising in a homicide already over twenty-four hours old. This is Rick Reed, Channel Eight News."

Cora froze the TV, put up her hand. "Okay, this is not my fault."

Sherry looked at her. "No one said it was."

"Yeah, but if I hadn't married Melvin, and divorced Melvin, and gotten involved in an alimony dispute, and hired Becky Baldwin to represent me, and let her rip the witness apart on the stand-"

"Let her?" Sherry said. "It looked like you were masterminding the whole thing. What were you whispering in her ear?"

"You were in court? You should take it easy in your condition."

"I'm not in any condition!"

"That's right. You're in no condition. You should stay home, do some light cleaning, cook dinner."

"Should I also write your column?"

"Unless you want me to take a crack at it."

"Yeah, wouldn't that be a hoot."

"Is there anything to this business with the teller?" Aaron asked.

"Oh, no. Not you, too."

"If it's news, I need to know. That doesn't mean I'm going to write it."

"It isn't news," Cora said. "That's the whole point. It is not news. Non-news. Unnewsworthy."

"That's not fair," Aaron said. "You can't yell fire in a crowded theater and then blame people for running out."

"That's a horrible example."

"Why?"

"You want to hold people responsible for everything that lawyers do? It would be an utter disaster. You'd be constantly overa.n.a.lyzing trivialities. It would be like what instant replay did to pro football."

"You watch pro football?"

"In my day I made a hundred bucks on a Super Bowl."

"They had Super Bowls in your day?" Sherry said.

Cora's mouth fell open. "Oh, you're asking for it."

"You'd beat up a woman in my condition?" Sherry said.

That tripped Cora up. "Your condition? What condition?"

Sherry smiled. "See, it's no fun for you if there's nothing to push against."

"Kids," Aaron said, "it's really nice watching you spar. But we have this murder. I'd be happy for any lead."

"You and Chief Harper," Cora said.

"He's got nothing?"

"Not a d.a.m.n thing."

Buddy jumped up, spun in a circle, and ran barking to the front door.

"You expecting someone?" Cora said.

"No. You hear a car in the drive?"

"No."

"Then no one should be there."

"Buddy seems to think so."

"Maybe he's wrong," Sherry said.

There came a knock on the door.

"Or maybe he's right," Cora said.

"Don't we have a doorbell?" Sherry said.

"Yes, we do," Cora said. "It can't be anyone. If we ignore it, maybe it will go away."

"Oh, for goodness' sakes," Aaron said. "If you girls are just going to snark at each other..."

"Snark?" Cora said.

"You know what I mean. Sit there and keep arguing and I'll go see who it isn't."

Aaron went out and returned a moment later, ushering in the last person Cora expected to see.

Bambi.

The young woman was clearly out of her element. She had stumbled up the driveway in high heels. One shoe was slightly wobbly, which might have indicated the heel was breaking or might have merely reflected the fact that she'd had too much to drink. She swayed unsteadily and fought to keep her balance, while the toy poodle darted in and out around her feet as if she were his best friend ever.

"He's precious. Can I take him home?"

"Not going to happen," Cora told her.