The jurors compared the pages. Their expressions shifted from curiosity to alarm as they recognized the repeated wording.
Marcus turned back to the witness. "Did you actually investigate these crimes, Officer Williams, or did you fill out a template with a different defendant's name each time?"
"I resent the implication," the officer replied.
"Then explain how twelve different suspects in twelve different robberies all paced nervously outside the store, approached from the east, wore dark clothing, and fled in exactly the same direction."
Officer Williams was sweating now, his uniform collar damp despite the cool courtroom. "Criminals tend to follow patterns."
"So do fraudulent reports," Marcus said.
Richardson objected, but the judge allowed Marcus to continue.
Marcus lifted a new set of documents. "Officer Williams, are you aware that Mr. Davis filed insurance claims totaling forty-seven thousand dollars for merchandise allegedly stolen in these cases?"
"I don't handle insurance matters."
"Are you aware that your police reports supplied the documentation Mr. Davis needed to collect those payments?"