Beyond A Reasonable Doubt Read Online Free PDF Page A

still highly involved in local unions. Rumor had it that he was part of an underground dock mob at one time, but no one had ever been able to prove it. One thing she did know—he wielded a lot of power, and if she wanted to keep her job, she needed to tread very carefully.
    The limo stopped, and the driver came around to open her door.
    “Thank you,” Jenna said, taking a moment to smooth down her skirt and readjust her jacket. She felt dirty and wished she’d had time to take a shower and change before coming. Her self-esteem was at an all-time low.
    The door to the mansion was massive, and Jenna looked for a doorbell. Not finding one, she grabbed the huge knocker in the middle and banged it. It opened immediately, almost as if the maid had been patiently waiting on the other side to see if she would knock or go away.
    “Can I help you, ma’am?”
    “Jenna James. I believe Mr. Beaumont is expecting me.”
    “Follow me, please.”
    Jenna followed her through the formal sitting room and down a hall. She could hear loud voices coming from an open doorway. What the hell had she gotten herself into?
    “You’re asking me to believe William Elkins killed his wife, Kamela. That’s impossible.”
    “You don’t understand, Dad. That’s the whole reason Jordan is in prison. He caught him beating her. He went crazy. That’s why he stole the gun. Later, Olivia told him that it had gone on for years, getting worse. Jordan begged her to leave him, but she was afraid—afraid he would hurt Jordan or Michael. He killed her. I know he did.”
    The maid glanced at Jenna before knocking on the doorjamb and sticking her head inside. “Miss James has arrived, sir.”
    Clifford Beaumont ran a hand through his thinning grey hair and waved her off. “Send her in.”
    Jenna once again wished she’d had time to change as his cool grey eyes flicked over her from head to toe. She knew what he was seeing. Her natural curls, which she’d spent over an hour straightening this morning, were starting to frizz, her makeup had been rubbed off hours before, and her suit was rumpled as if she’d slept in it. Way to make a great impression, Jenna.
    “Have a seat, Miss James. I’ll get to you in a minute.”
    Jenna sat on the edge of a leather chair, once again feeling small and insignificant. His “I’ll get to you in a minute” had caused a trickle of sweat to flow down the groove of her spine and her mouth to go dry. “Maybe I should wait outside until you’re finished.”
    Beaumont ignored her comment, and she sat perfectly still as she observed the interplay between father and daughter. Clifford Beaumont was a big man, and Jenna had no problem believing the rumors she’d heard. Even wealth had not totally chipped away the roughness of the former dock worker. Only when his gaze touched his daughter did the chiseled features relax. The petite blonde barely came up to his shoulders.
    “He killed her because of me, Daddy. It’s my fault she’s dead.”
    Beaumont pulled his daughter into his arms and stroked her long blond hair. “Shush, honey. It can’t be your fault.”
    Kamela pulled out of the embrace and mumbled between sobs. “It is... I shouldn’t... have told... her. He’s going to hate me.”
    Beaumont’s face revealed nothing of his emotions as he pulled her back into his arms and gently rocked her back and forth. “Shhh. It will be okay. We’ll fix it, honey.”
    Jenna had no doubt that Clifford Beaumont could fix anything he set his mind to. As an officer of the court, she only hoped she wasn’t about to witness a crime.
    Beaumont continued to rock Kamela, shushing her sobs until finally there was nothing left but an occasional hiccup.
    “I’m pregnant, Daddy. I told Olivia. I wanted her to talk to the authorities, talk to Michael, help me get Jordan released. She got all strange looking. Said she was going to talk to William. He killed her, Daddy. He killed her because of me.”
    A pained expression crossed