“This is the only chance that you’re going to have to explain the relationship to us,” Garrett said.

“I don’t know what you be talkin’ ’bout.”

“Sure you do,” Decker said. “We’re talking about your relationship with Ekerling. Those jewel boxes will be entered into evidence at your trial. So explain to us why Ekerling had your jewel boxes. If you don’t, some state prosecutor will provide his own explanation and make you look like a fool.”

“I ain’t got no relationship with Ekerling. That’s whack! I did not know him and I did not have no deal with him!”

Diaz said, “Travis, we’re trying to help you, and you’re not helping yourself!”

Garrett told him, “Only way we can help you is if you tell the truth.”

“I’m tellin’ you the tru’.”

“No, you’re not; you’re telling us smack.”

Diaz said, “Help yourself out because everything’s going to come out.”

Garrett said, “The best thing you can do is to stop playing games and admit that you knew Primo Ekerling.”

“Truth is easier to remember, Martel. What’s the big deal telling us that you knew him?”

Travis dug his heels in. “’Cause you’re tryin’ to make a connection and there ain’t none there. I don’t know him—”

“Now how do you think that’s gonna play?” Garrett said. “You keep on saying you don’t know him and then we show the jury the envelopes in your handwriting addressed to Primo Ekerling—”

“I tole you I sent the CDs out to a billion producers.”

Decker said, “Did you also send out a billion CDs with handwritten notes, saying: ‘Yo, here’s more. Let me know what’s happenin’?”

Eyes darted from one face to another. Martel looked down, then up, then anyplace except Decker’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

Blatant denial was best countered by blatant evidence. Diaz put a copy of the original note on the table. “Two experts have matched this note to your handwriting.”

Decker said, “What happened, Mr. Martel? Did Ekerling go back on the recording deal?”

Martel’s eyes scanned Decker’s face. Then he became defiant. He shoved the note away. “Someone must be copyin’ my handwriting, nomasayin’? There weren’t no deal, and I don’t know Ekerling and that’s all I gotta say.”

Decker said, “With all this evidence and the witness we have, you’re going to look very bad in front of a jury. He’s not saying nice things about you.”

“Wha’ witness?”

Now was not the right time to mention Rudy Banks. First Decker wanted Travis to admit that he knew Ekerling. “You know who I’m talking about.”

“You mean Gerry?” Martel shook his head and smiled. “Shit, Gerry ain’t telling you nothin’ he hasn’t tole you before. Talk about smack, man. That’s total bullshit!”