He was not hungry, but he could hear Sandra's voice saying, "You have to eat to keep up your strength."

There were two men and two women seated in the booth next to him. One of the men was saying, "She's a h.e.l.l of a lot worse than Lizzie Borden. Borden killed only two people."

The other man added, "And she she didn't castrate them." didn't castrate them."

"What do you think they'll do to her?"

"Are you kidding? She'll get the death sentence."

"Too bad the Butcher b.i.t.c.h can't get three death sentences."

That's the public speaking, David thought. He had the depressing feeling that if he walked around the restaurant, he would hear variations of the same comments. Brennan had built her up as a monster. He could hear Quiller's voice. David thought. He had the depressing feeling that if he walked around the restaurant, he would hear variations of the same comments. Brennan had built her up as a monster. He could hear Quiller's voice. "If you don't put her on the stand, that's the image the jurors will carry in their minds when they go into the jury room to reach a verdict." "If you don't put her on the stand, that's the image the jurors will carry in their minds when they go into the jury room to reach a verdict."

I've got to take the chance. I've got to let the jurors see for themselves that Ashley's telling the truth.

The waitress was at his side. "Are you ready to order, Mr. Singer?"

"I've changed my mind," David said. "I'm not hungry." As he got up and walked out of the restaurant, he could feel baleful eyes following him. I hope they're not armed, I hope they're not armed, David thought. David thought.

Chapter Twenty.

WEN David returned to the courthouse, he visited Ashley in her cell. She was seated on the little cot, staring at the floor. David returned to the courthouse, he visited Ashley in her cell. She was seated on the little cot, staring at the floor.

"Ashley."

She looked up, her eyes filled with despair.

David sat next to her. "We have to talk."

She watched him, silent.

"These terrible things they're saying about you...none of them are true. But the jurors don't know that. They don't know you. We've got to let them see what you're really like."

Ashley looked at him and said dully, "What am I really like?"

"You're a decent human being who has an illness. They'll sympathize with that."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to get on the witness stand and testify."

She was staring at him, horrified. "I-I can't. I don't know anything. I can't tell them anything."

"Let me handle that. All you have to do is answer my questions."

A guard came up to the cell. "Court's coming into session." David rose and squeezed Ashley's hand. "It's going to work. You'll see."

"All rise. Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Tessa Williams presiding in the case of The People of the State of California Versus Ashley Patterson." The People of the State of California Versus Ashley Patterson."

Judge Williams took her seat on the bench.

David said, "May I approach the bench?"

"You may."

Mickey Brennan walked to the bench with David.

"What is it, Mr. Singer?"

"I'd like to call a witness who's not on the discovery list."

Brennan said, "It's awfully late in the trial to introduce new witnesses."

"I would like to call Ashley Patterson as my next witness."

Judge Williams said, "I don't-"

Mickey Brennan said quickly, "The state has no objection, Your Honor."

Judge Williams looked at the two attorneys. "Very well. You may call your witness, Mr. Singer."

"Thank you, Your Honor." He walked over to Ashley and held out his hand. "Ashley..."

She sat there in a panic.

"You must."

She rose, her heart palpitating, and slowly made her way to the witness stand.

Mickey Brennan whispered to Eleanor, "I was praying that he'd call her."

Eleanor nodded. "It's over."

Ashley Patterson was being sworn in by the court clerk. "You do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you G.o.d?"

"I do." Her voice was a whisper. Ashley took her seat in the witness box.

David walked over to her. He said gently, "I know this is very difficult for you. You've been accused of horrible crimes that you did not commit. All I want is for the jury to know the truth. Do you have any memory of committing any of those crimes?"

Ashley shook her head. "No."

David glanced at the jury, then went on. "Did you know Dennis Tibbie?"

"Yes. We worked together at Global Computer Graphics Corporation."

"Did you have any reason to kill Dennis Tibbie?"

"No." It was difficult for her to speak. "I-I went to his apartment to give him some advice that he had asked me for, and that was the last time I saw him."

"Did you know Richard Melton?"

"No..."

"He was an artist. He was murdered in San Francisco. The police found evidence of your DNA and fingerprints there."

Ashley was shaking her head from side to side. "I-I don't know what to say. I didn't know him!"

"You knew Deputy Sam Blake?"

"Yes. He was helping me. I didn't kill him!"

"Are you aware that you have two other personalities, or alters, within you, Ashley?"

"Yes." Her voice was strained.

"When did you learn this?"

"Before the trial. Dr. Salem told me about it. I couldn't believe it. I-I still can't believe it. It's-it's too awful."

"You had no previous knowledge of these alters."

"No."

"You had never heard of Toni Prescott or Alette Peters?"

"No!"

"Do you believe now that they exist within you?"

"Yes...I have to believe it. They must have done all these-these horrible things...."

"So you have no recollection of ever having met Richard Melton, you had no motive for killing Dennis Tibbie or for killing Deputy Sam Blake, who was at your apartment to protect you?"

"That's right." Her eyes swept over the crowded courtroom, and she felt a sense of panic.

"One last question," David said. "Have you ever been in trouble with the law?"

"Never."

David put his hand on hers. "That's all for now." He turned to Mickey Brennan. "Your witness."

Brennan rose, a big smile on his face. "Well, Miss Patterson, we finally get to talk to all of you. Did you ever, at any time, have s.e.xual intercourse with Dennis Tibbie?"

"No."

"Did you ever have s.e.xual intercourse with Richard Melton?"

"No."

"Did you ever, at any time, have s.e.xual intercourse with Deputy Samuel Blake?"

"No."

"That's very interesting." Brennan glanced at the jury. "Because traces of a v.a.g.i.n.al discharge were found on the bodies of all three men. The DNA tests matched your DNA."

"I...I don't know anything about that."

"Maybe you've been framed. Maybe some fiend got hold of it-"

"Objection! It's argumentative."

"Overruled."

"-and planted it on those three mutilated bodies. Do you have any enemies who would do such a thing to you?"

"I...don't know."

"The FBI's fingerprint lab checked the fingerprints the police found at the scenes of the crimes. And I'm sure this will surprise you- "Objection."

"Sustained. Be careful, Mr. Brennan."

"Yes, Your Honor."

Satisfied, David slowly sat down.

Ashley was on the verge of hysteria. "The alters must have-"

"The fingerprints at the scenes of the three murders were yours, and yours alone."

Ashley sat there, silent.

Brennan walked over to a table, picked up a butcher knife wrapped in cellophane and held it up. "Do you recognize this?"

"It-it could be one of...one of my-"

"One of your knives? It is. It has already been admitted into evidence. The stains on it match the blood of Deputy Blake. Your fingerprints are on this murder weapon."

Ashley was mindlessly shaking her head from side to side.

"I've never seen a clearer case of cold-blooded murder or a more feeble defense. Hiding behind two nonexistent, imaginary characters is the most-"

David was on his feet again. "Objection."