The Pretend Boyfriend novel Chapter 98

He eyes Brian again with a guilty expression on his scrunched features.

"And why didn't you?" Norma Hennessey says.

Manny hesitates.

Brian nods. Just tell the truth, it's OK.

"I wasn't sure what was going on. Mr. Morton ... he has always been good to me. Polite, always. I wanted to give him a chance to explain. And it's the first time this has ever happened with one of his ladies - "

"That will be all, Mr. Polchek. Your witness." Norma nods at Karen.

Karen stands up.

"You were going to say something about Mr. Morton's ladies, Mr. Polchek. Please continue."

Manny says apologetically, "Mr. Morton ... he was always good with the ladies. He usually brings plenty of ladies home."

"Ladies? Do you mean hookers?"

"No!" Manny seems aghast. "These are nice ladies. Uh well, ladies who are not hookers, I mean."

"Plenty of ladies?"

"Yes. Before Mr. Morton moved out, he had plenty of ladies come to ... visit him."

"Were these overnight visits?"

"Yes."

"Would you say Mr. Morton had an easy time attracting the ladies?"

"Oh, yes," Manny avows. "He's a handsome man. And charming. And rich too. Ladies go for all that."

Brian cringes. Manny has always idolized him for his looks, money and charisma. A lot of guys did - before his fall from grace, of course.

"How many ladies has Mr. Morton had over in his apartment?"

Manny freezes, unsure if he is to continue.

"Go on," Karen coaxes him. I'm his attorney. I won't let him come to harm.

"Uh, hundreds over the years."

"Hundreds of different ladies?"

"Yes."

"Not the same ones twice?"

"No ... except for Ms. Fox." Manny points at Sam, sitting in the audience. "She stayed over plenty of times."

Brian glances back at Sam, who nods at him encouragingly.

Karen continues, "Have any of these ladies over the years seemed reluctant to you, Mr. Polchek?"

"In what way do you mean?"

"I obtained a sample from the semen stains I found inside her vagina. I examined her anus and rectum as well. There were signs of forced entry. Tears around the perineum."

Norma Hennessey picks up a report.

"The DNA in the semen sample was cross-matched to that of Mr. Morton. They were a perfect match."

"Would these findings be consistent with rape, Dr. Granger?"

"Objection!"

"Overruled. The witness may proceed to answer the question."

Brian feels himself get a little hot under the collar. The trial has taken a downswing for the worse.

"Yes," Dr. Granger says, raking her gaze into Brian's face. "These findings are consistent with both violent rape and sodomy."

Her expression says: I'll get you, you fucker.

A few more questions, and then Norma Hennessey says, "I have no further questions for this witness."

Brian can almost feel the damnation hanging in the air over his head. Some of the jury members, especially the women, were practically burning him at the stake already with their scorching glares.

Shit.

Karen stands up.

"Dr. Granger, is it possible that these findings ... these lacerations and signs of traumatic entry in and around Ms. Faulkner's private parts ... be also consistent with being brutally penetrated by an inanimate blunt object?"