Trial by Fire [antikvár]

Chapter i The corridor outside the courtroom resembled the inside of a TV station. Lights, tripods, steel equipment cases, twisted cords and heavy cables were strewn around in the narrow corridor, while technicians sprawled out along the walls, sipping coffee and talking among themselves. A reporter for the Dallas Morning News spotted the prosecutor, Stella Cataloni, and the Dallas County District Attorney, Benjamin Growman, huddled in a corner in the corridor. Thinking he might be able to get a statement during the recess, he rushed over. 'Do you think Gregory Pelham will be convicted this time?' he said, holding his portable tape recorder up close to the district attorney's face. 'Absolutely.' Tall and lean, Growman was dressed in a dark Armani suit and a white starched shirt bearing his initials. His nose was pronounced, his eyes closely set and his lips thin. At fifty-seven, his hair was sprinkled with gray, but he was still a handsome man, accomplished and confident. 'Why did he get off the first time?' 'The trial resulted in a hung jury,' he answered. 'You know all of this, Abernathy. Give us some space here.' He turned back to his conversation, but Abernathy continued thrusting the tape recorder at him. 'Pelham was recently arrested for attempting to molest a