My Yakuza, A.J. Llewellyn [best book clubs TXT] 📗

witness to any of what we in the law field call, the foundation of the case. Without that, the case fails on its own merits.”

He then sat down much to everyone’s surprise, including the Judge.

“That’s all you have for your opening, Counselor?” the Judge asked.

“That’s all that’s needed, your Honour,” he replied cockily.

“Very well, call your first witness, Mr. Saunders.”

As the Harada team sat back feigning disinterest, the D.A. loudly said, “The State calls Detective First Grade Kono Takumi.”

There was a roar in the courtroom as Kono and his escort entered.

“He’s alive!” Alia shrieked at the TV screen. “I knew it! I knew it! I knew my boy had no murder in his heart! If he’s alive then my baby didn’t kill him. My baby must be alive.”

She dropped the glass to the floor, the bartender rushing over to clean up the mess. The elderly lady’s hands shook as she covered her face. She sat on the bar stool and wept.

Chapter Ten

Pandemonium broke out in the courtroom as everyone realised that the dead detective wasn’t so dead and was now making an appearance. As Kono waited by the witness chair for the judge to restore order, Kono’s escort took up positions near the witness box and jury. Loud Japanese arguing could be heard rattling off at the defence table as Harada looked as if a snake had bitten him.

Finally the judge was able to restore order and warned the entire courtroom that it would be cleared if any more outbursts were heard. He also warned the defence table and told Harada to shut up and that only his attorney was permitted to speak in court unless he was personally addressed by the court.

“Your Honour, the defence moves for a mistrial based on the fact that the state kept a key witness isolated from the defence and in fact put on an elaborate charade to make everyone believe this witness was dead! This is outrageous and detrimental to my client’s ability to get a fair trial.”

“Response, Mr. Saunders?”

“Your Honour. It was necessary for the state to protect the life of this witness after it was learnt that the Yakuza had sent an assassin to murder the detective in order to prevent him from appearing in this courtroom today.

“Furthermore, the defence was in no way prejudiced by the lack of availability of the witness in view of their having deposed of the witness prior to his leaving the public arena. The testimony that the witness will give today has already been made known to the defence under oath. I also personally sent them a notarised document last night letting them know that Detective Takumi would be here today.”

“I got no such note,” Harada’s attorney fumed.

The judge held up a signed receipt. “Your signature is here. You were notified at ten p.m. at your place of residence.”

Harada’s attorney looked flustered, rifling through his paper work.

Saunders continued. “We further felt that if it was known that the first assassin had failed to carry out his contract, that the Yakuza would send as many assassins as necessary to get the job done. Therefore, your Honour, the state took the only action it could to guarantee its ability to produce this vital witness who will lay the foundation for this case that defence counsel was so concerned about in his opening statement.”

Denizen shot back with, “Your Honour, how do we know this alleged assassin wasn’t just a cop pretending to be an assassin in order to give them the excuse for what they’ve done?”

“Your Honour, we have the man who was sent to kill Detective Takumi in protective custody and can produce him in this courtroom to testify to the truth of this matter if necessary.”

“In view of all that has happened here this morning, and taking into consideration both the objections of defence Counsel and the rebuttal by the District Attorney, I deny the motion for a mistrial and after breaking early for lunch, we will resume this trial precisely at one o’clock this afternoon.”

“All rise.”

After the Judge left the courtroom, the deputy sheriffs took Harada back into custody. He became agitated as they put handcuffs on him to take him to the holding cells in the courthouse. Kono walked over to the D.A. with his escort as members of the Harada clan stared at Kono with daggers in their eyes.

“Well, that went well, don’t you think?” Kono asked.

“It was beautiful. I anticipated defence objections to continue. I was prepared to respond. Fortunately, we have a sane Judge, which isn’t always the case.”

“Kono, we need to move you out of here and back to the conference room. I don’t like the looks you’re getting from the Yaks over there,” said the Sergeant.

“Fuck them, but okay.”

Once they were back in the conference room, another officer brought in lunch for everyone and for a few minutes the only noise was the happy munching sounds from sandwiches being eaten. A knock on the door revealed Lieutenant Jerrell who came down to check on his boys and to make sure everyone was okay.

“Damn, Kono, you got rings under your eyes. Is that stress or lack of sleep?”

“A little of both I think, boss. I’ll be so glad when this thing is over.”

“Why don’t you take a couple weeks off and go on vacation somewhere? Hell, take a cruise or something and take someone special with you,” he said with a smile.

“I dunno, maybe, I’ll have to think about it. I’ve got other cases sitting on my desk as well as this one. If I go on vacation, the cases will get reassigned to another overworked detective and I don’t like that idea.”

A bailiff entered the room and made an announcement.

“Gentlemen, the start of the afternoon session has been pushed to two o’clock. The Judge requires you to remain in the courthouse if you are testifying or may be called to testify.”

“What’s going on? Why the delay?” the Sergeant asked.

“I’m sorry, I have no further information. Possibly someone from