The Eighth Sister (Charles Jenkins #1)(112)

“The entire company was gone,” the agent said. “I mean everything was gone, even the carpet. I took pictures because I’d never seen anything like it.”

The jurors loved the man’s incredulity, as well as the photos Sloane broadcast on the court’s computer monitors.

Again, Velasquez declined to cross-examine.

After the leasing agent, Sloane called Claudia Baker and established her job as the receptionist at the building where CJ Security maintained an office. Then he said, “At any time during your employment did the FBI come to CJ Security’s offices?”

“Yes,” she said. “An agent by the name of Chris Daugherty came to the office.”

Upon prompting, Baker provided the date of Daugherty’s visit.

“Did Agent Daugherty say why he was there?”

“He said he knew Charles Jenkins worked for the CIA. He said he wanted the files of CJ Security so he could confirm the relationship.”

Sloane thanked Baker and sat.

Velasquez quickly stood. It was possible, Jenkins thought, as he watched Velasquez charge the lectern, that they had underestimated her preparation. Then again, he knew Sloane had laid a trap and was hoping Velasquez stepped in it. “Ms. Baker, you fielded calls for CJ Security, including calls for Mr. Jenkins?”

“Yes.”

“At any time in your employment did you field a call from a man named Carl Emerson?”

“I don’t recall. It’s possible but . . .”

“You don’t recall that name. How about Richard Peterson?”

“I don’t recall that name either.”

“Did Mr. Jenkins ever tell you he was traveling to Russia?”

“No.”

“Did he ever tell you that he worked for the CIA?”

“No.”

“Did he ever tell you that he had once worked for the CIA?”

“No. I didn’t know about it until I read it in the newspaper.”

“You said FBI agent Daugherty came to CJ Security’s offices and said ‘we know Mr. Jenkins worked for the CIA,’ is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t write down any notes detailing such a conversation, did you?”

Velasquez had just stepped in Sloane’s trap and made her first mistake of the trial. She’d asked a question to which she did not know the answer.

“I did, actually.”

Velasquez froze, and in that instance, Baker pushed on. “I called Mr. Jenkins and told him what the FBI agent said to me, and Mr. Jenkins asked me to transcribe what the FBI agent said, date, and sign it. He said I should mail the document to myself and to his attorney.”

Velasquez knew she’d backed herself into a corner. She had no choice but to ask the next question. If she didn’t, Sloane would. “And you did that?”

“I have the envelope right here.” She pulled it from her bag. “It’s still sealed.”

Sloane stood when Velasquez sat. After establishing the date of the postmark, he had Baker open the envelope and read her statement. Then he said, “Did you field calls made to Mr. Jenkins’s cell phone?”

“No. Not unless he forwarded his cell phone to the office.”

Sloane thanked and dismissed her.

After the lunch recess—a much-needed reprieve that allowed Sloane to catch his breath and go over Addison Beckman’s testimony with her—he called the forensic psychiatrist. He established her background and went through each test and its purpose. “What conclusions did you reach as a result of putting Mr. Jenkins through all of these tests?”

“I concluded Mr. Jenkins was telling the truth, and I told you to believe him. I also concluded that Mr. Jenkins was fiercely loyal to his country.”

Sloane sat and Velasquez took the lectern.

“Ms. Beckman, did you question Mr. Jenkins as to the reasons why he left the CIA in 1978?”

“I did not.”

“He didn’t tell you that he walked away from the agency without even telling his station chief that he was quitting?”

“No. My focus was on the present.”

“He didn’t tell you he left the agency because he was disgruntled?”

“We didn’t discuss it.”

“He didn’t tell you he was disillusioned?”

“We didn’t discuss his reason for leaving in 1978.”

“But you did conclude he was fiercely loyal to his country, right?”

“Yes.”

Velasquez’s tone became increasingly more incredulous. “But in reaching that conclusion you didn’t consider that he left his job at the CIA and walked away without telling anyone why he was leaving or where he was going?”

“He walked away. He didn’t betray his country.”

“Not then he didn’t,” Velasquez said.

Sloane shot to his feet. “Objection.”

“Sustained,” Harden said, not waiting for anything more to be said, and shooting Velasquez a reproachful look.

“You also administered tests and concluded that Mr. Jenkins was telling the truth—is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“Did Mr. Jenkins tell you that his training to become a CIA operative included how to pass an interrogation?”