Page 42 of Mending Fences
“Miss Vandemark suffers from asthma and usually has an inhaler with her.”
“Were you successful in reaching her side?”
“With the help of two of the photographers, I reached her about the time the police arrived.”
“Which two photographers helped you?” The lawyer gestured to the courtroom.
Daniel pointed to Vic. “This one, Vic Jamison, whom I’ve met on occasion, and the taller man there with the gray sideburns, whose name I did not know at the time.”
“Were you able to locate Miss Vandemark’s inhaler and assist her?”
“Yes and no. The contents of her bag had spilled, and someone had stepped on the inhaler and broken it. I stood to tell the EMTs this and saw they couldn’t get through.”
“What happened then?” The lawyer took a step toward the jury.
“A whole lot of shouting, and me, Vic, the doorman, and the police trying to clear a path. Flashes going off, photographers still taking photos.”
“Did you see who hit the EMT?”
“No, but I did see him go down.”
“How long of a delay do you estimate was caused in Miss Vandemark’s care?”
“Including my inability to get to her bag and an intact inhaler, at least ten, maybe twelve, minutes.” As they’d agreed, he did not say anything about how the inhaler worked. There would be an expert witness for that later.
The attorney for the defense started his questioning.
“Mr. Crawford, did you at any time hit or push any of the photographers?”
“I pushed my way through the crowd and photographers, but I did not use excessive force.”
“What was Miss Vandemark wearing?”
“Objection.”
“Sustained.”
“Other than locating the inhaler, did you administer any first aid to Miss Vandemark?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“One of the hotel employees was already administering first aid, and there was nothing I could do. As has been previously stated, I am not a medic.”
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
Daniel sat down, and Vic took the stand. At the break, the assistant DA informed Daniel he would be contacted if he were needed in the courtroom again, so he hurried to meet with the realtor about an apartment
Daniel shuffled the papers in front of him and shifted his phone to his other ear. “Thanks for looking at the contract, Morgan. I don’t want to be in the same hotel as Miss Vandemark, and I should be able to move in Thursday.”
“You could move in tonight if you were willing to live without a bed.”
“It’s the desk I need. Between you, Colin, and Bonnie, I haven’t had a chance to leave the hotel room since I got back last evening trying to keep up with work. I have one of those dates tonight, too, don’t I?”
Morgan chuckled. “Not all the women we have arranged for your social calendar can fake eating bad sushi for lunch and cancel your evening plans just to get out of her contract like yesterday. At least tonight’s is to benefit a school in Haiti and you both felt that was a good cause.”
Daniel knew he wouldn’t get another reprieve after both Monday and Tuesday night to himself. “You said you had news about the Indiana estate?”
