Capitol Offense by William Bernhardt

cowardly.”
    “And apparently,” Dennis added, “the psychotic.” He flipped a page on his legal pad and changed the subject. “Thanks for giving Christina and me a chance to get to know each other better, Ben. I think we’ve managed to bond.”
    Ben glanced at Christina, but he wasn’t seeing a bonded expression on her face.
    “I want Christina to appear at trial with us,” Dennis continued. “In fact, I’d like her to sit beside me. Close beside me. I want the jury to see that she likes me. That she isn’t scared of me. If she isn’t scared of me, why should they be?”
    “We can arrange that,” Ben said.
    “But I’m charging double for the liking part,” Christina added.
    “From what I read,” Dennis continued, “more than half the jurors will likely be women, so having a woman at our table is prudent. Can we get someone black?”
    Ben’s lips parted, but no words came out.
    “To sit at the table with us. A big chunk of the jury will also likely be black. And Hispanic. The Tulsa jury pool tends to draw disproportionately from the north side.”
    Ben took a deep breath and scribbled on his pad. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “I mean, it’s important that the jury feel commonality with me, right? Makes it easier for them to sympathize?”
    “You are very well informed, Dennis. As usual.”
    “And coldly logical about it, to boot,” Christina noted quietly.
    “I understand you’re going to appear on
Nancy Grace,”
Dennis said, changing the subject.
    Christina’s eyes widened. “This is the first I’ve heard of it. I think that’s a very bad idea.”
    Ben averted his eyes. “I, um, haven’t made a decision yet.”
    “Ben, she’ll tear you apart.”
    “I don’t think that matters,” Dennis said. “Everyone expects Nancy Grace to be Nancy Grace. You can still make your case. Few potential jurors are likely to be watching CNN at that particular moment.”
    “Then what’s the point?”
    “The point is that the
Tulsa World
will almost certainly run an article about the fact that you will be or were on
Nancy Grace
, right?”
    Ben considered. “Probably so.”
    “And they’ll call you for your comment. And they’ll run it just as you give it to them. And six-tenths of the people in the potential jury pool will read it.” He folded his hands. “That’s the point.”
    Ben wasn’t sure whether he should be very impressed or very afraid. Or whether, if Dennis avoided prison, Ben should hire him as a jury consultant.
    Dennis continued. “I’ve been giving a lot of thought to our affirmative defense. Temporary insanity.”
    “Why am I not surprised?”
    “The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced we should argue that I entered a dissociative state.”
    “Why don’t we wait and see what the psychiatrist has to say?”
    “Why don’t we plan out our defense and tell him what to say?”
    “That’s not the way it works.”
    “Oh, please. Offer him a lot of money.”
    “I won’t buy testimony.”
    “Can’t you prepare him to testify? Honestly, we’re just talking about giving him an idea what terminology he should use. I don’t see why that should bother him.” Dennis paused. “Especially if he’s getting paid a fortune. Make him earn his fee. Everyone else does.”
    Christina pushed herself out of her chair. “This is about as much of this as I can take.”
    Dennis appeared wounded. “What? Just when I thought we were starting to get along.”
    “I will not be a part of this charade! This man is not grieving. He’s scheming! He’s got the whole thing worked out to the finest detail. Probably had it all worked out before he came to your office that first time and before he—”
    “Christina!” Ben cautioned. “This is our client.”
    “Well, I’m sorry, but I think it’s time we had a serious come-to-Jesus meeting. Long past time, actually. This cold, calculating approach doesn’t persuade me.”
    Dennis raised his chin. He looked at her firmly,