Cruel Justice Read Online Free PDF

course, but I don’t think she ever touched me.”
    Bullock’s frustration mounted. “Mr. Applebee, are you changing your testimony from … earlier?” Bullock was attempting to remind the witness his immunity could be revoked without reminding the jury that his testimony had been bought and paid for.
    “Not at all. The touching came later.”
    “Fine. Where were you when it occurred?”
    “In the relaxation temple.”
    Bullock’s eyes looked skyward. “What were you wearing?”
    “I was in my shorts and she had, um, removed all her clothing.”
    “Were you sitting or standing?”
    “Sitting.”
    “And where were you sitting?”
    “On the bottom of the tub. Temple, I mean.”
    “And where did she touch you?”
    “Well …” He looked down at his hands. ‘That’s kind of personal.”
    Judge Hart intervened on Bullock’s behalf. “I’m afraid you’ll have to answer the question.”
    Applebee squirmed uncomfortably. “All right, ma’am. If you say so. I just hate to—you know. Especially with ladies present.”
    “Answer the question,” Bullock growled.
    “She touched me on—” He stretched his neck and loosened his collar. “Well, she touched Little Elvis.”
    Ben stared down at his legal pad. What a classy practice he had. No wonder he’d endured three years of law school.
    Bullock continued. “And with what part of … her anatomy did she touch you?”
    “Please, Mr. Prosecutor,” Judge Hart said. “Can’t we leave a few things to the jurors’ imaginations?”
    “If you wish, your honor. Mr. Applebee, did this … touching appear to occur by accident?”
    “Uh, no.”
    “And did Ms. Johnson appear … awkward about it?”
    “Oh, no. On the contrary, she handled herself very adroitly.”
    “What happened after she … touched you, Mr. Applebee?”
    “That’s when the police broke in.” He sighed heavily.
    “Indeed.” Bullock’s face became stern. “But you weren’t disappointed about that, were you?”
    “Oh, no. Of course not,” Applebee said. “I was relieved. I had begun to suspect that she … wasn’t a trained health-care professional.”
    Ben and Christina exchanged a look.
    “That’s all I have,” Bullock said, stepping away from the podium.
    “Very well,” Judge Hart replied. “Care to cross, Mr. Kincaid?”
    “Yes, your honor,” Ben said, springing to his feet.
    “You may inquire. If you dare.”
    Ben positioned himself between the prosecution table and the witness. “Tell me, Mr. Applebee, had you ever been in a hot tub before?”
    “No.”
    “Did you find it … unpleasant?”
    “Well, no. I found it … quite stimulating.”
    “How deep was the water?”
    Applebee frowned. This was obviously not the line of questioning he’d been prepped for. “I’d say about three feet, from the bottom to the top. Maybe more.”
    “I see.” Ben moved in closer. “And I believe you testified that you were sitting on the bottom of the tub.”
    “That’s correct.”
    “Did you move later?”
    A line formed between Applebee’s eyes. “No.”
    Bullock rose to his feet. “Your honor, I’m not following Mr. Kincaid’s line of questioning.”
    That’s the general idea, Ben thought. “I’ll tie it up, your honor.”
    “Please do, counselor. We’re all waiting breathlessly.”
    Ben turned back to the witness. “Then you were still sitting on the bottom of the tub when Ms. Johnson allegedly touched”—he pressed his fingers against his forehead—“Little Elvis.”
    “That’s correct.”
    Ben paused. “Mr. Applebee, let’s be honest with the jury. You’ve been granted immunity by the prosecution, right?”
    “Well …” He glanced uncertainly at Bullock. “Yes …”
    “The only reason you’re testifying today is because you made a deal with the prosecutors exonerating you if you testify against Jessie.”
    “Well … that isn’t the only reason. …”
    “Tell us the truth, Mr. Applebee. When you got into that hot tub, you weren’t