Chapter 25
I WATCHED DEXTER Lewis leave the prosecution table, walk over to where Ms. Brodeski was fluffing her ruffles and preparing for her fifteen minutes of fame.
At Lewis’s questioning, Ms. Brodeski said that she was a postmistress and established that she lived directly next door to Victoria Carmody.
Lewis asked his witness, “Would you say that you and Ms. Carmody are good friends?”
“Good neighbors, anyway. Both of us are divorced, and sometimes we talk about men.”
“All right, Ms. Brodeski. Now. Did you see Ms. Carmody on the thirteenth of June, the day before the assault Mr. Del Rio is charged with committing?”
“Yes. I just got home from work, and Vicky was watering her lawn. We exchanged a few words.”
“What was the gist of this conversation?”
“Vicky said that an ex-boyfriend was coming over the next night to return her camera. She was glad to have it back, because she had a photo on it that she took of Sylvester Stallone.”
“And did Ms. Carmody mention the name of the man who was going to be coming over the next night?”
“Yes. Rick Del Rio.”
“Thank you, Ms. Brodeski. Your witness,” Lewis said to Eric Caine.
But Brodeski kept talking, explaining to Dexter Lewis’s back and everyone in the room, “I didn’t like Rick. I told Vicky from the beginning that he was troubled and angry. And I was right. That’s why she broke up with him.”
Eric Caine stood and spoke angrily from the defense table.
“Objection, Your Honor. Let me count the ways. The witness’s uncalled-for remarks are her opinion as well as irrelevant and prejudicial. Then she topped it all off with a little hearsay, and I object to that as well.”
The judge said, “Quite right, Mr. Caine. Ms. Brodeski, don’t volunteer opinions. Mrs. Gray, please strike the testimony from the record. Jurors, please disregard the witness’s remark. It may not be considered during your deliberations. Any questions? Mr. Caine?”
Caine said, “I have no questions for this witness.”
Dexter Lewis dismissed Ms. Brodeski, who beamed proudly when she walked past Del Rio. Then Lewis said, “The People call Mr. Bradley Sutter.”