My friend Doug, the forensics expert witness, texted me that he was finished at 3 p.m. He wanted us to get together for dinner, but nothing opens until 5 p.m. so he said he would sit in his car and catch up on e-mails and phone calls.
I drove over and met him by 3:30 p.m. We went into the open pool room (no pool tables any longer) and we sat at the war and drank boxed red wine out of plastic cups to kill time. This is very "NOW" for Edgefield's rabble.
We walked over to the restaurant (Christine's) just as it opened.
We shared an appetizer of fried squash/succotash with a remoulade. He also had a salad. Doug ordered shrimp and grits (I begged him to consider a steak, but he said his wife is allergic to shellfish and he never gets to eat any, so...). I ordered a filet mignon with sides of creamed spinach and roasted corn.
The meal was superb. Doug was happy, I was happy. We said goodbye until next Sunday when we have our Zoom chat.
He said he was on the stand for two hours as an expert witness for the defense. He thought the prosecution would be tougher on his findings (because they were in the pre-trial session), but he said they concentrated on the fee he charges. Doug said he was used to that question and had suggested the defense re-question him about standards. He gets $295 per hour, full government-level per diem plus hotel and car rental. Not bad, i guess.
The trial will continue tomorrow...and maybe beyond. If and when I hear the outcome, I will post it here.