Read The 8th Confession for Free Online

herself.
    "You heard Rose Glenn say that she's absolutely sick at heart, that whatever she said or did when she was on the verge of death was misinterpreted and used to indict her innocent daughter."
    Hoffman shook his head, left his notes on the lectern, and walked to the jury box, then locked his hands behind his back and swept his dark eyes over the jurors.
    "The prosecution has used the crime-scene video in order to stir your emotions because that's
all
they have. And that video, as moving as it is, is not proof that Stacey Glenn is guilty of
anything.
"
    Hoffman took the jury through his case, citing the two neurologists and the psychiatrist who testified that Rose Glenn was in shock when she was interviewed by Inspector Chi, that her responses were completely and totally unreliable.
    He said that while the toll-taker
believed
he saw Stacey Glenn, a transaction with any driver lasted a few seconds at most and, in this case, his glimpse of said driver had taken place in the dark of night.
    "There is no record of the Forester's license-plate number," Hoffman said to the jury, "and no videotape of the driver.
    "Bernice Lawrence," Hoffman went on, "the neighbor who swore that she saw Stacey's car in her parents' driveway… well, she's a good citizen and she was trying to help. Maybe she saw a similar car or maybe she got the date of that sighting wrong—but regardless, she admits she never saw Stacey.
    "Using common sense, we are unlikely to believe that my client would be stupid enough to park her car in front of her parents' house and then go inside to kill them. It's ridiculous.
    "You've seen what Tony and Rose Glenn's bedroom looked like after the attack," he said. "Can you believe that a person could raise a crowbar, strike with enormous force, lift and strike again a dozen times, and not get a hair or a spot of blood on their clothing?
    "Stacey was brought in for questioning within hours of the tragedy. Her hair, her hands, her whole body, was examined. Her apartment was searched, and her shoes and clothing were tested thoroughly in the crime lab.
    "There was no evidence on her person.
None.
    "Stacey's car was reduced to buckets of nuts and bolts, and
no evidence
was found.
    "Regarding the key left in her parents' front door, I ask you: how many of you keep a spare key under the mat or in some other obvious place where anyone could find it?
    "And the call to Wayne Chadwell, the insurance broker?
    "Stacey was being a good daughter. Her parents were getting old. She checked on their policy because she wanted to be sure they were
protected.
    "In sum, folks, there's no forensic evidence whatsoever linking my client to this crime.
None.
    "And because the police have the questionable testimony of a severely injured woman, they have pinned this crime on Stacey—and they never considered anyone else. Is there reasonable doubt in this case? I submit to you there's nothing
but
reasonable doubt.
    "Rose Glenn lost her husband and almost died. And now the prosecution is asking you to compound this poor woman's tragedy by taking away her daughter as well.
    "Stacey didn't do it, folks.
    "And there's no evidence to support that she did.
    "I urge you to find Stacey Glenn not guilty on all charges. And I thank you."

Chapter 16
     
     
    C INDY, FRESH IN a pink wraparound dress under her coat, hair gleaming, looking as though she'd stepped from a department-store window, skirted the filthy drug addicts loitering outside the three-story redbrick building on Fifth off Townsend and thanked a toothless young man who held open the door for her.
    The ground floor of "From the Heart" was one large, green room, with a cafeteria-style hot table along one wall, folding tables and chairs set up in rows, and ragged people milling—some talking to themselves, others eating eggs from paper plates.
    Cindy noticed a thin black woman eyeing her from a spot near the entrance. She looked about forty years old and was wearing a bold print blouse over