“But you remember a lot of details?”
“Yes.”
Mason, watching him with level-lidded intensity, said, “Your testimony wouldn’t be worth a damn, Freel. It’s too long ago. No jury would trust your memory.”
“I made notes,” Freel said. “I made a complete set of notes of certain cases that impressed me as being… well, being apt to come up again.”
“Why?”
“Because if I were ever called on to testify, I wanted to be certain that I could give the true facts.”
Mason said, “You mean you wanted something for blackmail.”
Freel’s shoulders seemed to slump. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his eyes avoiding those of Mason.
Mason said, “Look up at me, Freel.”
For a moment Freel continued to avoid his eyes, then, with an obvious effort, looked up at the lawyer.