The Silent Ones [✔️] (#2 in the Chilvati Series)

FOURTEEN

"Lieutenant Robins, in your own words tell us again what you saw that day," the DA said.

She was back on the stand, intent on not letting Anderson rattle her. "Sergeant Abrams and I were walking our beat when we saw two men in business suits talking to four young men. Approaching on foot, we witnessed the two pull out guns and move the others into the alleyway. A shot was fired as we were closing in. The two men fled. When we reached the alleyway, we found one victim bleeding from a gunshot wound. I pursued the two suspects to a black Cadillac which sped off. I fired once, hitting the back taillight. At that time, a third man in the back seat of the car turned to look at me."

"Can you identify that third man?"

"Yes, it was Enzo Lombardi." She pointed across the room.

"No further questions, your Honor." The DA returned to his chair.

Anderson stood up. "Lieutenant Robins," he drew out as he crossed the room to stand in front of her.

Virginia lifted her chin, bracing herself for the worst.

"Were these young men all wearing the green armbands of the group nicknamed the Green Soldiers?"

"Yes."

"Did you see the faces of the two men who were allegedly assaulting these youths?"

"No."

"And have the"—his fingers made air quotes—"Green Soldiers been able to identify these two men?"

"Objection." The DA stood. "Those men are not part of this case."

Anderson looked at the judge. "I'm just trying to determine their link to my client, your Honor."

"Overruled," the judge answered.

Anderson turned back to Virginia and waited in silence for her answer.

"No."

"Okay, let me get this straight. The four Green Soldiers can't identify these men. You can't identify these men. So, we are relying on a glimpse of a third person in the back seat of a car as it was speeding away. . . How long would you say that glimpse lasted?"

"Not very long."

Anderson lifted his arms up, spreading them wide for the judge's benefit. "Five seconds? Ten seconds? Come on, Lieutenant. Aren't you trained to remember these little details?"

"Two seconds," she said, her eyes narrowing.

"Ahhh, I see." His hand came up and pulled at the bottom of his chin. "So, in two seconds, you, and only you, got a good enough look at a man sitting in the backseat of a car, as it sped away from you, in order to be able to identify him without a doubt?"

"Yes," she said, glaring over at Enzo.

"You said you shot out the taillight?"

"Yes."

"Does my client own a black Cadillac?"

"Yes."

"Did anyone check my client's car to see if it had damage to its rear taillight?"

"Yes." She knew where he was going with his questions. The Chilvatis owned a whole fleet of black Cadillacs.

"And was there any damage?"

"No." She pushed to get her point out there. "That's not to say it wasn't a Chilvati-owned vehicle."

"You didn't get the license plate number?" Anderson's jaw dropped as if this was the first time he had heard this valuable piece of information.