The Night Fire: A Ballard and Bosch thriller (Harry Bosch 22) Read Online Free PDF Page A

your answer to Ms. Saldano’s last question?” Haller asked.
    “I would, yes,” Stein said. “I was just going to say that the blood scan from the hospital showed a proper level of the drug in his bloodstream. Any scenario other than proper administration doesn’t add up. Whether he was hoarding and then overmedicating, or not medicating and took a pill after the crime, it would have been apparent in the levels on the scan.”
    “Thank you, Doctor. How long had you been treating Jeffrey before this incident occurred?”
    “Four years.”
    “When did you put him on paliperidone?”
    “Four years ago.”
    “Did you ever see him act aggressively toward anyone?”
    “No, I did not.”
    “Did you ever hear of him acting aggressively toward anyone?”
    “Before this … incident, no, I did not.”
    “Did you get regular reports on his behavior from the group home where he lived?”
    “I did, yes.”
    “Was there ever a report from the group home about Jeffrey being violent?”
    “No, never.”
    “Were you ever concerned that he might be violent toward you or any member of the public?”
    “No. If that had been the case, I would have prescribed a different drug therapy.”
    “Now, as a psychiatrist you are also a medical doctor, is that correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “And when you reviewed this case did you also look at the autopsy records on Judge Montgomery?”
    “I did, yes.”
    “You saw that he was stabbed three times in close proximity under the right armpit, correct?”
    “Yes, I did.”
    Saldano stood and objected.
    “Your Honor, where is he going with this?” she asked. “This is beyond the scope of my cross-examination.”
    Falcone looked at Haller.
    “I was wondering the same thing, Mr. Haller.”
    “Judge, it is somewhat new territory but I did reserve the right to recall Dr. Stein. If the prosecution wants, we can go to lunch and I will recall him right afterward, or we can just take care of this right here. I’ll be quick.”
    “The objection is overruled,” the judge said. “Proceed, Mr. Haller.”
    “Thank you, Judge,” Haller said.
    He turned his attention back to the witness.
    “Doctor, there are vital blood vessels in the area of the body where Judge Montgomery was stabbed, are there not?”
    “Yes, blood vessels leading directly to and from the heart.”
    “Do you have Mr. Herstadt’s personal files?”
    “I do.”
    “Did he ever serve in the military?”
    “No, he did not.”
    “Any medical training?”
    “None that I am aware of.”
    “How could he have known to stab the judge in the very specifically vulnerable spot under the judge’s—”
    “Objection!”
    Saldano was back on her feet.
    “Judge, this witness has no expertise that would allow him to hazard even a guess at what counsel was about to ask him.”
    The judge agreed.
    “If you want to pursue that, Mr. Haller, bring in a wound expert,” Falcone said. “This witness is not that.”
    “Your Honor,” Haller said. “You sustained the objection without giving me a chance to argue the point.”
    “I did and I’d do it again, Mr. Haller. Do you have any other questions for the witness?”
    “I don’t.”
    “Ms. Saldano?”
    Saldano thought for a moment but then said she had no further questions. Before the judge could tell the jury to take a lunch break, Haller addressed the court.
    “Your Honor,” he said, “I expected Ms. Saldano to spend most of the afternoon on cross-examination of Dr. Stein. And I thought I would take up the rest of it on redirect. This is quite a surprise.”
    “What are you telling me, Mr. Haller?” the judge asked, his tone already tinged with consternation.
    “My next witness is my DNA expert coming in from New York. She doesn’t land until four o’clock.”
    “Do you have a witness you can take out of order and bring in after lunch?”
    “No, Your Honor, I don’t.”
    “Very well.”
    The judge was clearly unhappy. He turned and addressed the jury, telling its