“Yes,” said Andrews. “They’re being examined. And we’ll check this one, too.”
Decker and White looked through the desk drawers while Andrews started searching through a cabinet.
Later, after they were finished, Decker went back out to the clerks. “‘Res ipsa loquitor.’ Mean anything to you?”
Angstrom said, “It’s a Latin term. It means ‘Things speak for themselves.’”
Sykes added, “The concept is used in civil cases. Negligence, that sort of thing. Shifts the burden of proof to the defendant.”
“Give me an example,” said Decker.
“An animal part found in a can of vegetables. A plane engine catching on fire. An AC window unit in a high-rise falls out and kills someone. The result itself speaks to there being negligence or some illegal or actionable act by the defendant. In other words, it wouldn’t have happened at all if someone didn’t screw up. It’s not applicable in criminal cases. There the burden of proof remains with the government at all times, of course.”
They walked out of the courthouse with Patty Kelly’s home address.
“Do you know Kelly?” Decker asked Andrews.
“No, not really. But I’ve never heard a bad word said against her. She’s been with the judge since Cummins joined the court.”
After a ten-minute drive they reached a neighborhood of well-kept modest houses with meager lawns, tall and short palm trees, and lots of rock and gravel accents in various colors. Decker assumed that was popular down here because rock and gravel didn’t need to be watered and the sun couldn’t kill them.
A late model red Kia SUV was parked in the driveway.
They knocked on the door and waited. Finally, they heard footsteps.
Only the person who opened the door wasn’t Patty Kelly.
Chapter21
YES?” SAID THE MAN, WHOwas in his sixties, with salt-and-pepper hair, and a loose, couch-potato frame.
Andrews flashed his badge and said, “We’re here to see Patty Kelly. And you are?”
“Iam her husband, Steve Kelly. Is this about the judge?”
“Yes. How’d you hear?”
“Someone from the court called here this morning.”
“And your wife?”
“Patty’s not here.”
Decker said, “She called in sick today.”
“She didn’t sleep well last night. She had time off she needed to take, so she did.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“Maybe to the store. She mentioned last night she had some shopping to do. She was gone when I got back in the house from working outside. Probably went to just take her mind off the judge. She’s been gone a few hours now.”
“Can you call her?” asked Decker. “And let her know we’re waiting?”
“Sure.” Kelly took out his phone and called. It went right to voice mail, so he left a message. “I’m sure she’ll call right back. She always does.”
Five minutes later his phone had not rung.
Decker said, “Try texting her.”