CHAPTER 14 Steve smiled reassuringly at his client, though he wasn’t feeling confident. He rose to cross examine the prosecution’s witness. “How long have you known Johnny Martis?” “Almost six years.” “Was Johnny a very close friend of yours?” “Yes. He would do anything for me, and I for him.” “Even to the extent of committing perjury?” The Public Prosecutor was on his feet. “Objection.” “I beg your pardon, Your Honor,” said Steve graciously. “When did Johnny last come to your house?” “At 6.p.m. on the 6th of September.” “When did he leave?” “The next morning, Sir. He said that he had a quarrel with his girl friend, and was not going home that night.” “Did he often stay overnight?” “No, Sir.” “But was it unusual for him to quarrel with his girl?” “They were always quarrelling after she became a teacher.” “Yet this was the only night, the very night when she was killed, that he happened to stay with you?” The witness knew he had blundered. “What did you do that night?” asked Steve. “We went to a movie at Metro.” “The name of the movie?” “Tomorrow never dies.” “Was it on the 6th night, Sir?” “Yes, I’m very sure.” “But that movie was changed on the 4th of September. On the 6th, a very old movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” was showing.” The witness began to sweat under his collar. “Johnny Martis was not with you that night. At 6 p.m. he was at a bar in Penny Street, already quite drunk,” Steve said. “No more questions for this witness.” Turning to the Judge he said, “Your Honor, I have already proved that the witness has given a false alibi to Johnny Martis. Now I would like to call my next witness.” “Proceed.” A young man was sworn in. “Mr. Mukerjee, did you lodge a complaint with the Police about your car that was stolen?” “Yes, Sir. I had parked it on Currimboy Street, and gone to visit a friend. As I was coming back, I saw a man get into my car and drive off. It was only an old jalopy but it was mine.” “Did you get a good look at the man? Would you be able to recognise him?” “Certainly. He passed under the street light before he could get in. I shouted, and gave chase, but he was too quick.” “At what time was that? “ “At about 9 p.m.” “Look around and see if you can recognise the thief. Then tell me, when did you get your car back?” “That’s him,” the witness said, pointing to Johnny Martis. “The Police found my car abandoned, on the Highway way out of city limits, on the next day.” “Incidentally Your Honor, Currimboy Street is the next parallel to Penny Street.” The Judge looked at his watch. “What has the car theft to do with the murder?” he wondered. It was time to adjourn for lunch. “At this precise moment, Brother James walked into the Court room. His eyes fell on Julie sitting like a stricken bird, and his heart went out to her. Brother James hadn’t the slightest inkling about Court room procedure. He raised his hand and said, “I have something of importance to tell you.” The marshals moved closer to evict him. But looking at the earnest face of the man in the white soutane, the Judge said, “Approach.” “I must be heard Your Honor,” pleaded Brother James. “If not, a miscarriage of justice will take place.” “This is most unusual,” said the Judge, “But seeing you’re a priest, and have travelled a long way, I’ll let you take the stand.” “Let him be sworn in. What do you have to say, Padre? Be quick and be brief.” James repeated the story, from the time he had seen the old jalopy speeding down the road, to his rescue of Julie, and the state in which he found her. He described how he had kept her in a farm worker’s hut, and nursed her back to health. The people in the Court listened in hushed silence. Then they began to clap, as their sympathies had always been with the girl. The Judge brought his gavel down and called for silence. “In the light of this new evidence, the man who calls himself Johnny Martis should be taken into custody. The Court will adjourn for three days, until further investigations are made. Mrs. Julie Khaleeli may be released.” Brother James looked at Julie. The smile on her face and the gratitude in her eyes, were balm to his troubled soul. Whatever punishment was meted out to him now, he would endure it gladly, knowing that he had saved the innocent girl. He did not wait to speak to her. No. That episode in his life was closed forever. He would now go to the Vicar General, and make his confession. As he hurried along the pavement, he knew that a full confession was his only recourse. He hoped the man would be lenient. “Temptations come to one and all, even to a priest,” said the Vicar General. “But, my Son, I think you are not ready as yet, to be able to resist the devil. The only punishment that I can think of is to take you away from the farm you love so much, and send you back to the seminary for two years.” James bent his head low to hide his emotions. Tomorrow, the news would be out among the Brothers of the priesthood. Oh the shame of such a punishment! But that was his retribution. He spent the next three days in prayer and penance. On the third day, the newspapers bore the headlines, “TIMELY EVIDENCE OF PRIEST SAVES INNOCENT GIRL. JOHNNY MARTIS CONFESSES TO THE MURDER OF HIS LOVER, MOTIVATED BY JEALOUSY.” The Vicar General was moved by the sincerity of the young priest. He decided to withdraw the punishment. As a chastened Brother James started back to the farm, the elderly priest gave him his benediction. In his hand, James carried a letter of reprieve to Father Bernard.   The End cd