Chapter 66
“Mr. Cooper, do you have any more witnesses to call?” Judge Lambert asked.
There was a moment of silence. Beau Lee looked over at Nellie, then at Alvarez, and finally over at Hollis Montrose, whose head was bowed in despair.
“Mr. Cooper. Do you have any more witnesses to call,” she repeated.
“Your Honor, I would like to call a rebuttal witness.”
There were rumblings in the courtroom. “Is this a new witness or have they testified in this trial previously?” the judge asked.
“Your Honor,” Beau Lee started. “This is a new witness who has offered not only to rebut what was said during this trial by the police officers, but also to rebut the statements that were made in all the criminal investigations, including the Internal Affairs investigation, the Chicago Police Department investigation, and the State of Illinois Department of Law Enforcement investigation.”
Nellie was thrown. He checked his notes and nervously tapped his feet as he contemplated what was at stake. What on earth was Beau Lee doing? He scribbled out a big question mark and gestured for Alvarez to look.
Alvarez just mouthed at him, “I don’t know.”
“That’s a big statement,” Judge Lambert said. “Who is this rebuttal witness?”
Beau Lee took a deep breath. “Corrine Dunham,” Beau Lee announced. “The wife of Officer Jackson Dunham, who testified during this trial.”
The courtroom exploded with chatter. Capes and Finn then slipped out of their seats and exited the courtroom.
“Objection, Your Honor.” DaSilva and Dillard were up out of their chairs. “What does she have to offer?”
“Everything,” Beau Lee said. “Her testimony will contradict what her husband and these other officers testified to during this trial. And it will exonerate Hollis Montrose.”
The sketch artist was drawing like a fiend. Reporters were typing in live updates on news sites and on social media at the unexpected turn.
Harpo leaned back and stole a glance at Jack, who appeared agitated. Chaz and Leonard were whispering something to him. Jack brushed them away.
Nellie shot Beau Lee a questioning expression. They met eyes, then Beau Lee looked away, his face unreadable.
“Your Honor,” DaSilva said. “I object based on spousal immunity. A wife’s testimony against her husband is not—”
“Your Honor,” Beau Lee interrupted. “Under the Federal Rules, the spouse who is called to testify can either invoke spousal privilege or choose to waive it and testify. Corrine Dunham has been married to Officer Jack Dunham for eighteen years. I tell you today, with everything I stand for, that she has some important testimony that is relevant in every way to this case.”
Judge Lambert gazed out at DaSilva, Jack, and all the other police officers packing that side of the courtroom. She then regarded Beau Lee. For a fleeting moment, her eyes met Rocky Montrose’s. Then she looked at Hollis, whose look of dejection persisted.
The judge cleared her throat. “This better not be theater, Attorney Cooper,” she said sternly.
“On my word, it’s not.”
“All right, I’ll allow the rebuttal witness.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. The defense calls Mrs. Corrine Dunham to the stand.”
Capes and Finn opened the courtroom doors and walked on either side of Corrine.
She had on dark sunglasses and was dressed in a rust-colored suit over an ivory blouse.
She wore conservative low black heels. A few whispers spread through the courtroom as she took the stand.
She turned to face the courtroom and the judge had the bailiff swear her in before she sat down.
“Ma’am, can you please state and spell your name for the record,” Beau Lee asked.
Corrine complied and the judge made a request. “Mrs. Dunham, would you kindly please remove your sunglasses?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said softly. She then removed her sunglasses. The gasps were audible and plenty.
Judge Lambert’s breath caught at what she was seeing. She banged her gavel. “Order! Order in the court!”
Corrine’s face was a mosaic of black and blue. Her left eye was bruised and bright red. It was evident that her lip had been busted. And the right side of her chin was badly bruised.
My God, Rocky said to herself.
Nellie and Alvarez couldn’t take their eyes off of her. None of them could. The sketch artists were on overdrive.
Harpo was speechless. After a moment, he composed himself, leaned over to Capes, and whispered, “What kind of monster did that to her?”
Capes gave him a look that seemed to say it was obvious.
Judge Lambert was on the brink of being emotional. She struggled to contain herself. “Mrs. Dunham, are you sure you’re okay to give testimony in this courtroom today?”
“I’m fine, Judge,” Corrine said.
“Okay then, Attorney Cooper, you can proceed.”