Back in the hearing room, Sandoval was still on the witness stand. Eli was showing him some glossy photos.
“Doctor, referring to photograph number five, did you find a lateral contusion on the left side of the victim’s neck?”
“Objection, your honor,” shouted Michelson. “Victim?”
“Strike the word victim from the record,” Ferrara instructed. “You know better than that, Mr. Wolff.”
Eli nodded courteously and rephrased, “Was there a mark on the neck of the unfortunate deceased subject Hank Ellis?”
“He was wearing a T-shirt,” Sandoval said and pointed to the photo. “This mark is consistent with someone pulling on the shirt, the margin of the neckline cutting into the skin.”
In the back, Evans was grumbling again.
“That’s the only possible explanation?” Eli asked.
“It’s the most plausibl
