“No. He wants me to give him an alibi, but, I can’t lie for him anymore. I didn’t see him in February at all.”
“Thank you very much, Ms. Lagrande.”
Chapter 36
NICKY GAINES TYPED on his tablet, “Red Dog was standing in back. Caught yer amazing direct.”
Yuki smiled at Gaines, deleted the message, and turned her attention to Kinsela, who, to date, hadn’t been worth the two grand an hour Keith Herman was paying him.
Kinsela approached Lynnette Lagrande and put his hand on the witness stand, as if he were gently touching the witness herself.
“Ms. Lagrande, what was the Christmas gift that Mr. Herman gave you?”
“A diamond necklace.”
“Do you know the value of that necklace?”
&n
bsp; “Not really. Maybe twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“And do I understand correctly that you kept the necklace?”
“I kept it. It was for pain and suffering.”
“Really? A legal term. Well. Ms. Lagrande, did you also accept a new Lexus sedan from the defendant in January of last year?”
“Yes. Keith gave me a car. It was a birthday present.”
“I believe the going rate for that car is in excess of sixty thousand dollars, is that correct?”
“I don’t know.”
“You kept the car.”
“Yes.”
“It’s worth more than your annual salary, isn’t that right, Ms. Lagrande?”
“Yes. I suppose it is.”
Kinsela walked to the witness stand, then asked loudly, “Did the defendant ever give you money?”
The witness tossed her hair defiantly. Yuki leaned forward. Lynnette knew Kinsela was going to go after her, and Yuki had coached her to remain calm and matter-of-fact—take a moment to think before answering if she were attacked.
But the witness answered angrily, “I’m not a whore, Mr. Kinsela. Do not call me a whore.”
“Your Honor?”
“Ms. Lagrande, you must answer the question or I will be forced to find you in contempt. Mr. Kinsela. Please ask the question again.”
“Did you receive cash from the defendant? Yes or no.”
“Yes. And so what?”
“Did you tell him that you liked nice things?”
“I don’t remember.”