Flight of the Jabiru Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’ve told you many times. ”
    â€œThen he’s a liar,” Lara shouted. She’d reached the end of her tether.
    Sergeant Andrews looked at Constable Formby and a silent message passed between them that made Lara nervous. The constable came from behind the desk and approached Lara, taking hold of one of her arms so firmly that it was painful.
    Lara panicked. “Ouch!” she cried. “Let me go!” She suspected she was about to be dragged off to the cells and she was overwhelmed with fright. She struggled to free herself, pulling her arm with as much force as she could muster. Constable Formby’s grip slipped as the seam on the sleeve of her jacket ripped. Lara’s arm was suddenly free but the inertia made her lose her balance and her arm flung behind her. Unfortunately, Sergeant Andrews was standing behind her, and she struck him full force in the nose. His eyes widened in shock, as his head snapped backwards.
    Realizing what she’d done, Lara gasped in disbelief. Blood started pouring from the sergeant’s nose and his eyes streamed with tears.
    â€œYou’ve broken my nose,” he growled angrily. He wiped the underside of his nose with the back of his hand and then glanced at the blood. His expression became grim.
    â€œI’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that, sergeant,” Lara rushed to explain. “It was an accident,” she added.
    â€œTake her away,” the sergeant hissed as he fumbled in his pocket for a handkerchief to mop the blood running down his face. He didn’t fail to notice that Hazel and Fred were laughing.
    Constable Formby took hold of Lara’s arm again. “Give me trouble again and I’ll slap the cuffs on you,” he threatened.
    â€œYou know that was an accident. Please don’t put me in a cell,” she begged. “I promise I won’t give you any trouble.”
    â€œYou’ve had your chance,” the constable said without empathy as he dragged her through another door.
    â€œYou know what happened was partly your fault,” Lara suggested, and received a scolding glare. “You didn’t mean it to happen and neither did I,” she added. “Just look what you’ve done to the sleeve of my beautiful jacket.”
    Lara was being led down a short corridor on well-worn floorboards that creaked. They passed rows of bars on her right, making up four cells in all. Each cell contained a few prisoners, who made lewd and terrifying comments.
    The constable unlocked the door to the last cell and pushed her inside. She was overwhelmed with the smell of stale urine and body odor.
    â€œYou now have two assault charges to deal with,” Constable Formby said as he locked the door again. “There’s a good chance you are facing a lengthy jail term.”
    It took a few moments for his words to sink in. “Surely you can’t be serious,” Lara said incredulously.
    The constable didn’t reply. He gave her a look that said he was deadly serious, which angered Lara. As he walked away, she called after him.
    â€œI hope you are going to pay for the repairs to my jacket.” She immediately realized that her words were ridiculous. The state of her jacket was the least of her worries.
    When Lara heard a door slam, she slowly turned around to face three pairs of curious eyes. Her cellmates looked like vagrants, disheveled and desperate. The women were middle aged, or perhaps time and their circumstances had been unkind. The man was quite elderly. He looked like many of the harmless vagrants around town. They were looking at her strangely.
    â€œDo any of you have something to say to me?” Lara asked with uncharacteristic aggressiveness.
    Neither the women nor the man were game to reply.
    An hour later, Walter arrived at the police station with a man he’d known for many years. They were accompanied by another man, the uncle of Walter’s friend, a solicitor. After