The Perfect Alibi (Robin Lockwood #2)(29)

“I do not have the scientific training to answer that question, Judge, but none of the witnesses with that training have been able to answer it either. All I can say is that the evidence in the Braxton case raises a reasonable doubt about my client’s guilt.

“Your Honor should grant Mr. Hastings bail and a new trial,” Kreuger continued. “I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that any jury would have had a reasonable doubt about Mr. Hastings’s guilt if it heard the evidence concerning the DNA in the Braxton case that you heard today.”

“Mr. Kellerman?” Judge Redding said.

“I urge the Court to deny the request for bail. Mr. Hastings is a very dangerous man. If he’s freed, Miss Stark may be in danger, as may other women Mr. Hastings may assault.”

“Mr. Kellerman, you are arguing that Mr. Hastings is dangerous, but is he? The crucial evidence in your case against him was the DNA evidence that has been called into serious question by the testimony we heard today. Do you concede that there is an excellent chance Mr. Hastings would have been acquitted if the jury had heard this evidence?”

“I … There was Miss Stark’s testimony.”

“True, but the case boiled down to a ‘he said, she said’ situation with Miss Stark admitting that she had a grudge against Mr. Hastings and her lawsuit giving her a reason to present false testimony. It’s clear to me that it was the DNA evidence that tipped the scales in favor of a conviction. Can you convince me otherwise?”

Kellerman started to say something. Then he stopped and shook his head. “I can’t disagree in good conscience with your analysis, but the fact is that the DNA in Miss Stark’s rape case matches Mr. Hastings’s DNA.”

“I can’t accept that as a fact, given what I heard today,” the judge said. “There’s a real scientific mystery here, and I’m going to give you time to solve it by setting a hearing on Mr. Kreuger’s motion for a new trial for a month from today. In the meantime, I am going to release Mr. Hastings on one million dollars’ bail.”

Blaine Hastings didn’t move a muscle until the judge left the bench. Then he leaped to his feet and pumped Les Kreuger’s hand. “You were amazing! I can’t thank you enough for getting me out of that hellhole.”

“We’re not out of the woods yet, Blaine,” Kreuger cautioned. “All the judge did was set bail. It will take a lot more to convince her to give you a new trial.”

Before Blaine could say anything else, Blaine’s father and mother swarmed Kreuger.

Vanessa Cole had been sitting in the back of the courtroom. Robin followed her up the marble steps to the DA’s office.

“What’s going on, Vanessa?”

“I have no idea. Rex and I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon talking to some of the top scientists who deal with DNA, and they’re all stumped. All they could say was that we were describing something that was not possible and that one of the tests had to be in error.”

“Do you have any idea which one?”

“Not at this time. But if it’s the test from Blaine Hastings’s case, your client could be in a lot of trouble. So, I suggest that you try to figure out why Blaine Hastings’s DNA and Ray’s DNA are identical.”





CHAPTER TWENTY


As soon as Robin was back in her office, she called Randi Stark, who put the call on her speakerphone so her mother could hear.

“There’s been a development in your case,” Robin said.

“What happened?”

“Blaine Hastings is free on bail.”

“How could that happen?” Maxine shouted. “He’s supposed to be locked up.”

“A woman was raped while Hastings was in jail. The rapist didn’t use a condom, so they found his sperm and tested it for DNA. The DNA in the rapist’s sperm is a match for Blaine Hastings’s DNA.”

“So, this other rapist has the same kind of DNA. What does that matter?” Maxine said.

“That’s impossible, Mrs. Stark. Except for identical twins, no two people can have the same DNA.”

“I don’t understand,” Randi said. “I know Blaine raped me, so it has to be his DNA.”

“There’s been a suggestion that you had intercourse with someone else before you went to the party,” Robin said. “That it was this man named Ray, the man who raped this other woman.”

“They’re calling my Randi a liar?” Maxine spat out.

“No, but everyone, including the forensic experts, are very confused. This has never happened before.”

“I did not lie,” Randi said forcefully. “And I did not have sex with any man that night before Blaine.”

“I believe you, but everything is up in the air until the scientists figure out what’s going on.”

“Are we going to get police protection while that animal is out?” Maxine demanded.

“The police don’t protect citizens unless there’s something concrete like a threat or an assault.”

“So, my Randi has to be brutally murdered before the police will act?” Maxine asked belligerently.

“I don’t think it will come to that,” Robin said. “Hastings knows he’ll be right back in jail if he calls Randi or comes near her. But you should be on your toes. Record any calls you get and call me if you see someone suspicious hanging around.”