“Yes, yes, that’s right. And you didn’t give that money to Abril Arrington?”
“No.”
Marcus went to the defense table and returned with another piece of paper. “Your honor, this is a copy of Abril Arrington's bank statement. I like to have this and Mr. Daniels bank records entered into evidence.”
The judge glanced at the document. “So entered.”
“Mr. Daniels, if you didn’t give that money to Ms. Arrington can you explain why she made deposits of those identical amounts on the days following your withdrawals?”
“All right,” Scott shouted. “I gave her the money.”
“Why, if not to invest in a business?”
“She said she needed it, and I gave it to her. I would’ve given her anything. Anything she wanted.”
“You loved her that much?” Marcus said softly.
“Yes. I would’ve done anything for her.”
“Anything, Mr. Daniels—anything at all. Would you kill for her?”
“Objection,” Paxson yelled.
“Sustained.”
“I have no more questions for this witness, your honor. However, I reserve the right to recall him in the future,” Marcus said and sat down next to Panthea. Happy that he was finally able to do something in her defense.
24
Olivia got off the plane at LAX, made her way through the crowd and went to the Hertz counter to retrieve her rental car. She had an hour and a half to meet Harrison Fuller at a quaint little café in Beverly Hills. Fuller had recently gotten back from Africa and returned Olivia’s call. When she asked him about Abril Arrington and told him that she was dead, Fuller said he didn’t know who she was talking about. But after she described what the woman looked like, Fuller said t
hat her description sounded like a woman he knew as Aerona Carter.
Olivia asked Fuller if it would be alright if she came out to LA to show him a picture and ask a few questions. He readily agreed to meet with her and Olivia was on her way. She wasn’t really looking forward to fighting traffic down Beverly Drive to get there, but she knew she had little choice in the matter.
Nate ’n Al’s was a Deli on North Beverly Drive that Fuller chose because he had a meeting there later that day. When Olivia walked into the Café, there were four couples seated at tables throughout the small restaurant. Olivia looked around thinking she must’ve beaten Fuller there. When suddenly, a woman stood up, stared at her and smiled.
“Olivia?” the woman questioned. Olivia’s head snapped toward the corner where she was seated with a man whose back was to the door.
Olivia silently nodded, smiled and made her way over to the table.
“I’m Connie Fuller. Harrison is my husband,” she said and pointed toward the man who was chatting away in what sounded like a discussion he didn’t want to have. He looked up at Olivia then pointed toward his left ear. That’s when Olivia noticed for the first time that he was talking on the phone.
“I—ah—.” Olivia didn’t quite expect to be joined by Fuller’s wife of all people.
“It’s okay,” Connie, the tall thin red head said as she sat. Olivia noticed her roots were gray, and the crow’s feet at the corners of her green eyes remained long after her smile had vanished. Her skin was pale and her fingers looked frail and wrinkled.
“He’s always on the phone. He told me all about this Abril or whatever her name is; such a mess. I just wish he’d learn to stay out of trouble,” she said easily.
“So Mr. Fuller told you all about our discussion? I mean, what I’m here to discuss with him,” Olivia asked just to be clear.
Before Olivia could absorb everything Connie was saying, Harrison, an older white man with skin that looked like he’d seen one too many sunbathed days or tanning beds, looked at her.
“Like I told you over the phone, honey, I saw a girl named Aerona Carter,” Fuller said as soon as he completed his call.
Olivia handed Fuller a picture of Abril Arrington. “That’s her.”
“How long were you involved with her, Mr. Fuller?”