Written In Blood by Shelia Lowe Read Free Book Online Page A

rather be. He glanced down at his legal pad, then at Claudia. For several long seconds he just looked at her, saying nothing.
    Intimidation tactics.
    “Ms. Rose,” he said at last in a lazy drawl. “Earlier, we heard you testify about a range of variation . That’s what you called it, am I right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, let me ask you, in all your many years of experience , would you say there is generally a group of people who have a tendency to write their signature virtually the same way on nearly every occasion?”
    “Signatures are an individual matter. Some people write virtually the same every time, some don’t.”
    “Well, then, are there individuals, in your experience , who will write their signature remarkably different over a period of time?”
    “Again, it depends on the individual. Some signatures have a greater range of variation than others.”
    What do lawyers use as contraceptives? Their personalities. If Norris’ personality were bottled, the population explosion could be eradicated in a month.
    Frank Norris cleared his throat. “Well, would you say that older people, say, people in their seventies, who learned to write at a particular time in history, write significantly the same way?”
    Claudia knew at once where Norris was going. He was implying that a man of Torg Sorensen’s age would stick to the way he had been taught in school because back then penmanship was a big deal. When Torg went to grade school, knuckle rapping to produce perfect cursive was SOP. Nowadays, the ACLU would crawl all over any teacher who used a ruler on a kid’s knuckles if their running ovals weren’t up to par.
    “I have to repeat, Mr. Norris, it’s a highly individual matter and cannot be generalized.”
    He removed his eyeglasses and stared at her with a challenging expression. “Okay, then. In looking at the fifty—what was it, fifty-seven documents?”
    “Yes, fifty-seven.”
    “The fifty-seven documents, did you find any differences in the known documents?”
    “As I testified this morning, there was a small range of variation between the known signatures—some minor differences.”
    “And in looking at the questioned document, was there a range of variation in the alleged signature of Torg Sorensen on the will?”
    “There can’t be a range of variation in just one signature.”
    “Well, Ms. Rose, looking at the questioned signature, don’t you think the T in the name Torg is quite different from the exemplars you examined?”
    “There’s a slight difference, but a difference in the way a capital letter is formed is far less important than the many similarities , including—”
    It wasn’t what Norris wanted to hear and he cut her off.
    Parsons interrupted from his seat. “Objection, Your Honor. Counsel asked a question. He should allow the witness to respond.”
    Claudia waited for Judge Krieger to rule on the objection. He shuffled some papers and nodded at her. “Go on, Ms. Rose, you may finish your answer.”
    She decided to take advantage of the opportunity to give the judge another mini lesson in handwriting examination. “I was saying that there are far more important aspects of handwriting than just the way the capital letters look.” Judge Krieger leaned forward, paying attention now.
    “The spacing, proportions, and other more important unconscious factors like letter and word impulse in the questioned signature are virtually identical to the known signatures, even though the letter forms—like his capital T—were affected by his physical condition due to the stroke.”
    Claudia saw it on Norris’ face when he realized he had shot himself in the foot. Smart lawyers never ask a question to which they don’t already have the answer. He frowned. “All right now, Ms. Rose. You received the California Statutory Will with the alleged signature of Mr. Sorensen—the questioned document—from where?”
    “From my client, Mrs. Sorensen.”
    “And do you know where Mrs. Sorensen