Flight of the Jabiru Read Online Free PDF

speaking to Constable Formby, they were allowed access to the cells. Lara had been sitting on the floor, as far from her cellmates as humanly possible in a confined space and had bemoaned her situation. She had even shed a few tears. Now she was deeply relieved to see her father. She rushed towards the bars that separated her from her father and clutched his hands.
    Walter could see she’d been crying and it caused him deep anguish. “Are you all right, Lara?” he asked anxiously.
    Lara nodded, almost too emotional to speak.
    Walter noticed her jacket and glared at her cellmates. “What did you do to my daughter?”
    â€œIt wasn’t them, Dad,” Lara said wearily.
    â€œCan you get me out of here?”
    â€œWe’re trying, but it’s not looking good,” Walter said worriedly. “Surely it isn’t true that you assaulted Sergeant Andrews, Lara?”
    â€œIt wasn’t like that, father. I pulled my arm free of Constable Formby’s grasp and accidently hit the sergeant in the face.”
    Walter sighed in dismay. “Is that how your jacket got torn?”
    Lara nodded. “It was Constable Formby’s fault as much as mine, but he’s not taking any responsibility.”
    Walter had been hoping it wasn’t true. He didn’t know what to make of all that was happening. “You remember Bill Irving, Lara?”
    â€œYes,” Lara said, turning her attention to her dad’s friend of more than twenty years. “Hello, Mr. Irving.”
    â€œLara,” Bill said, gesturing towards an older man carrying a brief case. “This is my Uncle Herbert. He’s a solicitor.”
    â€œHello, Mr. Irving. Can you get me out of here?”
    â€œI’d like to say I can,” Herbert said kindly. “But it won’t be easy. Apparently, Lord Hornsby is not allowing his son to be questioned, so there is no way to verify your story.”
    â€œCan’t you do something about that?”
    â€œNo. Harrison is a minor. We need Lord Hornsby’s permission to question him. And now with the assault charge filed by the sergeant...”
    Lara felt dismayed and her head dropped.
    â€œBut I’ll do all I can. You will be brought before the court very soon, I’m sure. Meanwhile, I’ll see if Sergeant Andrews will at least drop the charge of assault. Were there any impartial witnesses?”
    â€œWitnesses?” Lara brightened. “Yes, there was a man and woman sitting on the seats in the reception area. Their names were Fred and Hazel. Hazel is a prostitute, but I’m not sure why Fred is here. They must still be in the reception area because they haven’t been brought through.”
    â€œThere wasn’t anyone when we came in,” Walter said.
    â€œI don’t suppose you know their full names?” Herbert asked. “If you did, maybe we could find them.”
    Lara shook her head.
    â€œI’ll have a word with Sergeant Andrews. Perhaps he’s had time to cool down and see reason,” Herbert said, but he didn’t sound very confident.
    â€œThank you, Mr. Irving,” Lara said. “I had hoped I wouldn’t have to spend the night in here.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Lara. That is quite likely,” Herbert said.

CHAPTER THREE

    Herbert Irving could see how nervous Lara was when she was escorted into the courtroom and took her place beside him at her bail hearing. She had that I can’t believe this is happening expression that he’d seen so many times before on clients who were innocent, and he was sure that Lara was innocent. Bill had known Lara all her life, so he could vouch for her character, but apart from that, Herbert had represented people from all walks of life, so he could read them like a book. He had no doubt that Lord Hornsby had it in for Lara. He was sure the Lord knew what really happened but he was too humiliated to admit it.
    After two nights in the cells,