New Tricks - By David Rosenfelt Page 0,60
of this slimy worm make them even harder to take.
There is no way I can let this guy have Waggy.
My first question on cross-examination is, “How long has it been since you were in partnership with Walter Timmerman on a dog?”
“A little over four years,” he says.
“How many dogs have you owned since then?”
“I’m not sure. I would have to check the records.”
“I’ve checked the records,” I say. “Does eleven sound about right?”
“Sounds right,” he concedes.
“The records also say that Walter Timmerman has had fourteen dogs since then. Does that sound about right?”
“I wouldn’t know,” he says.
“You and your close friend and partner didn’t discuss these things?”
“We did. I just wouldn’t know the exact number.”
“So between you, you’ve had twenty-five dogs since your partnership ended?” I ask.
“Our partnership never ended.”
I nod. “I see. You no longer owned dogs together, but you were partners on some metaphysical level. How come your partner didn’t leave the dog to you in his will?”
“He left it to his wife. I’m quite sure that if he had any idea she would be killed, he would have included me as well.”
“So you believe he made a mistake in leaving you out?”
“Yes. Definitely. It surprised me.”
“I can imagine your shock, especially after you left him your dogs in your will.”
Robinson doesn’t respond, so I ask, “You did leave your dogs to your friend and partner, Mr. Timmerman, didn’t you?”
He suddenly becomes more subdued, and it doesn’t take Freud to sense an intense anger beneath the surface. “No.”
“So you made the same mistake that surprised you so much when Mr. Timmerman made it?”
“I’m afraid that I did.”
There’s little more I can do with Robinson except get some things on the record in case the worst should happen and he gains custody.
“If you had possession of the dog, what would you do with him? Would he be a household pet?”
“The first thing I would do is have my trainer, Ms. Potter, evaluate him and determine what his potential is as a show dog.”
“Because that’s what you think Mr. Timmerman would have wanted?”
He nods at finally hearing something he can agree with. “Exactly.”
“So he would spend the first month or so at Ms. Potter’s training facility, so as to see if he is capable of fulfilling Mr. Timmerman’s dream. Is that what you are representing to this court?”
“Yes.” He’s not happy at the direction this is going.
“And if he were judged incapable of mastering the training necessary to be a successful show dog, you would then have no interest in keeping him?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“So what do you say?’
“I’d deal with that situation if it came up, but I doubt that it will.”
“No further questions.” I at least got him on record as promising to keep Waggy at the trainer’s facility for a month. I’m not sure how that will help, but I’d feel better if he were there than at Robinson’s.
I have no witnesses to call, since my position is that Steven remains the rightful heir. The only place I can make that point is in my closing argument, and I’ll get to have the final word, as Markinson will be speaking first.
He’s a smart guy and has caught on to Hatchet quickly, so he leaves out anything referring to the health and well-being of the dog. Instead he focuses on Robinson being the court’s only real option. Mrs. Timmerman is dead, Steven is obviously not in a position to take the dog, and there are no other candidates.
He adds the importance of a timely decision being reached, since show dogs must start their training at an early age. Obviously Walter Timmerman would have trained Waggy as a show dog, and the court has an obligation to try to follow through on his wishes when they are as obvious as this. If Charles Robinson is named custodian, he will see that Timmerman’s wishes come true.
It is a professional, persuasive closing, and the truth is that no matter what I say, it is likely to carry the day.
“Your Honor, as you know, Steven Timmerman is currently on trial for murder. You also know that I believe him to be wrongly accused, but that is now for the justice system to decide. And that decision will be reached in a relatively short period of time.
“Mr. Robinson’s alleged close friendship with Mr. Timmerman has not been demonstrated by a shred of evidence before this court, only by Mr. Robinson’s own testimony. And their partnership in the showing of dogs, such as it