But she was not heard. Tim Woodart snorted. "So you think they'll be
hesitant about punishing a dead man?"
"What do you think?"
Woodart strode forward and took Foster by the lapels of his coat,
gathered them into one hand, and lifted the crook out of the easy-chair
with an angry shake. "Then they can't book me for assault and battery
upon the person of a corpse," he gritted. His free hand came back and
forth across Foster's face, driving the heel's head from side to side.
Then Woodart shoved him back, letting go of the lapels and using that
hand to bury itself to the wrist in Foster's midsection. As Foster
folded forward, Tim straightened him up with an upward chop to the jaw.
Foster crumpled, and Woodart lifted him by the collar and dragged him
to the door, hurling him into the hallway. Foster turned, wiping blood
from his face, and spat like an angry cat.
"That'll cost you, punk," he snarled.
Woodart laughed.
"Laugh," leered Foster. "You can't bring suit for divorce against a
dead man, either!"
* * * * *
Harry Foster opened the door to his apartment and nodded quite
genially. "Come in, gentlemen," he said overpolitely.
State attorney Jones was less cordial, and Lieutenant Miller was harsh.
"You're Harry Foster."
"I am. Strange coincidence, isn't it?"
"Coincidence my--"
"Be careful," warned Foster. "You wouldn't want to insult a citizen,
would you? It might go hard with you."
"You're Harry Foster."
"I am."
"Then who was the man that was buried?"
"That is the coincidence," said Foster sorrowfully. "He was another
Harry Foster. I understand that he was a rascal and definitely needed
killing."
"Where were you when that deed was done?"
"Me? Look, sir, am I under suspicion?"
"Could be."
"Then produce your warrant! I shall take no guff from you nor any of
your ilk."
"Take it easy," said Jones. "An innocent man has nothing to fear."
"An innocent man," said Foster, "has plenty to fear. Scheming
politicians and courts who like to see convictions. Also there is the
protection of the Constitution of the United States that grants me the
right to do as I please so long as I am lawful about it."
"It also grants us the right to protect other people," said Lieutenant
Miller. "As for a warrant, we have a search warrant--plus the fact that
we know that murder was done in this apartment not more than two weeks
ago."
"You're in," said Foster. "And you may leave as soon as you can. I'll
not detain you."
"You know," said State attorney Jones, "this man answers the
description of the man who is wanted for any number of assorted crimes
from forgery to grand larceny. In every way he fills the bill. I think
we will arrest you, Mr. Foster."
"You'll be sorry. This is false arrest."
"Indeed. In this country, all arrests are false arrests because it is
a statement of intent that all men are innocent until proven guilty by
a court of justice! Ergo, we take you into custody whether innocent
or guilty and we will permit the judgment of the court to decide your
status. Coming quietly--or would you prefer to resist arrest?"
Lieutenant Miller looked eager. "Please resist," he said clenching his
fist.
"Unclench it," snapped Foster. "You touch me and I'll prove that you
wantonly and brutally attacked an innocent victim without provocation."
"I've provocation enough," snarled Miller. "My sister--"
"Your sister suffered deeply at the hands of this blackguard Harry
Foster," said Foster oilily. "But because he resembled me and wore my
name is no logical nor lawful reason for identifying your hatred of him
against me. That is a psychopathic failing, Lieutenant Miller."
"I'd like to make a pathological mess out of you," snapped Miller.
"Mr. Jones, you will remember that threat," said Foster. "As State
attorney, it is your duty to protect the innocent."
Jones closed his lips over hard teeth and said nothing. He would have
enjoyed the job of protecting Foster against a hungry hyena.
Foster went with them, but his manner was not that of a dangerous
criminal who had been apprehended. It was that of a man who knows all
the answers.
* * * * *
"The defendant, Harry Foster, is charged with Murder in the First
Degree," said State attorney Jones. "This is a strange case, gentlemen
of the jury. It is without precedent, and, therefore, your action will
establish a precedent. I charge you to consider not only the case at
hand and to try it with the utmost regard to justice, but to remember,
as you are considering the evidence to be presented, that this is but
the first of many cases that will certainly follow. I--"
"I object! The defendant is on trial, not the Judicial System of the
United States!" shouted Defense attorney Cranshaw.
Judge Carver said, "The objection is sustained. Strike that from the
record."
Jones turned to the Court. "Your Honor, I request that my statements
about the establishment of precedent be retained."
Carver nodded. "It is true that this case will establish a precedent.
Yet the trial at hand is the only thing of importance."
"I accept," replied Jones, and returned to the jury.
"I will attempt to show that the defendant did produce a living
duplicate of himself after which he killed the duplicate. I call for my
first witness the inventor of the device, Timothy Woodart."
Tim came to the stand and was sworn. There was considerable questioning
to establish the qualifications of the witness, during which Cranshaw
said to Foster: "This will be a thin case, Foster. Yet, if we can
establish a reasonable doubt, the result will be an acquittal."
"Thin nothing," laughed Foster. "Just tie 'em up as I told you!"
"All right," replied Cranshaw uncertainly. "But it will be like arguing
on one side for part of the time and then switching sides in the
middle."
"What do you care so long as we win?"
"I don't," grinned Cranshaw. "Listen--Woodart is starting to give
pertinent testimony."
"Mr. Woodart," asked Jones, "is it possible for your device to be
stopped at such a time as to leave a complete set?"
"Yes," said Woodart.
"And you've known this all along?"
"Naturally. I invented it."
"Then the device is essentially a duplicating device?"
Woodart nodded. "It is, but like all such devices, it requires power.
The laws of conservation of matter and energy make it impractical to
produce a myriad of devices from a recording."
"And why is the device practical for the production of panoramic
entertainment?"
"The initial power is expended in producing the first replica of the
original scene," said Woodart, "after which, the scene is obliterated,
which returns the power to the equipment for the construction of the
next frame. Aside from the conversion losses and basic inefficiencies,
the thing is then self-supporting."
"In other words, if it takes a kilowatt to establish one frame, that
kilowatt is returned to the equipment?"
"Yes," said Woodart, "though the power is more on the order of a
hundred thousand kilowatts."
"As the main party involved with the equipment, it is your duty to see
that it is kept in operating condition?"
"Yes."
"Then tell us, Mr. Woodart, at any time since the device was initiated
has there been any expenditure of great power that was unaccounted for?"
"There was."
"And your analysis?"
"On the night of May 18th the power demand meter showed the expenditure
of seventy thousand kilowatts. It is my opinion that--"
"I object! That is an opinion, not a fact!" exploded Cranshaw.
Jones smiled. "Counsel will admit that it is the opinion of a very
qualified man."
"I want it understood that this testimony is but an opinion!"
"Objection noted," said Judge Carver. "Proceed, Mr. Jones."