Chapter 21
“Mr. Davis, were you a customer of the Star Candy club?”
“Yes.”
“Please describe your visit.”
“At first I had a great time. The hostess was nice. Then I had too many drinks, and it went downhill from there.”
“How so?”
“I was wiped out the next day. Didn’t have a clear memory of what happened. I never had a reaction to drinks like that before. I began to suspect my drinks were spiked with something.”
“Do you have any evidence for that?”
“No. But a few days later I was contacted.”
“By whom?”
“Damon Fields. He mentioned meeting me at the club and suggested a confidential interview that would be worth my while.”
“What happened at that meeting?”
“He proposed financial investments. Said I could get a nice return. When I hesitated, he brought the hammer down. Mentioned some things I blabbed about while under the influence.”
“He threatened you?”
“Didn’t have to. I understood immediately where he was going and signed on the dotted line. If my wife and kids found out, I was finished.”
“So you signed agreements under pressure and the possible release of embarrassing and damaging information?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever meet Leon or Mark Pace?”
“Yes. I was introduced to them by Damon.”
“Did they say anything about your agreements with Damon?”
“Just that they were happy to have me on board.”
“Did they make any reference, at any time, to the damaging items Damon referenced?”
“No.”
“Do you have any information about Damon Field’s current whereabouts?”
“No.”
The defense now revealed their strategy. When Mr. Davis could not tie Leon or Mark directly to the extortion, it damaged the prosecution's case. Furthermore, as an extortion victim, Adams was just as likely to harm Damon Fields. Reasonable doubt was raised in the jury’s minds.
This pattern was repeated with every extortion victim the prosecution brought forward. None of them could tie direct evidence to the Pace cousins. Each of them was exposed as a possible suspect in Field’s disappearance/murder.
The remaining evidence surrounded the obstruction of justice charge. Sure, the brothers had been evasive. Yes, they had obstructed the investigation. But this was not evidence of extortion or murder. Their signatures were not on the financial documents. Only Damon’s signature was there.
The court had no choice but to drop the more serious charges. Each brother was sentenced to a short spell in the penitentiary on the obstruction charge. While the investigation remained open, no further action was taken against them.
Detective Jones and his colleagues were disappointed but not surprised. They had been through enough difficult cases to know the odds of conviction were against them.